Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 12, 1 December 1993 — Our readers write... [ARTICLE]

Our readers write...

To the editor: OHA Trustee Moanike'ala Akaka has put together a subcommittee on prisons, aeknowledging that there are few programs available to help rehabilitate our pa'ahao. They will work with prison officials, advocates, 'ohana and pa'ahao to improve conditions, and to focus on incarcerated adolescents to lessen their chances of going to jail. Here is an idea for the type of program that Trustee Akaka is talking about. where prisoners and adolescents ean make a difference in forming a new direction, a new sense of purpose, and a new identity in their lives. With help from OHA and other Hawaiian agencies, along with inmate input, a culture program ean be formed to stop this

onslaught of locking up our people. We would like to help give a new sense of direction for our youth. With proper channeling and resources along with appropriate teaching and leaming programs, we ean bring a new lifestyle into existence. A program that starts here in this facility, and channels out to a residential community program such as a halfway house for inmates helping our troubled youth of today. Please make this concept known to our trustees and eommittees of OHA who are in the position to make a difference. Would it be possible to bring this concept to the legislators to lobby for such a program for a better tomorrow? The kūpuna, Trustee Moses

Keale, OHA's education, culture and health staff and others who recently shared with us their gifts of knowledge in a most interesting and valuable program have brought a new awakening. We have a new sense of direction and will cherish these gifts they have given us. We all need to be accountable and give a part of ourselves for a better tomorrow. Kū lōkahi kākou! Committee of Hawaiian Inmates Hālawa Correctional Facility To the editor: In a 1973 U.H. graduate paper on the Bishop Estate land holdings, John L. Potter writes, "During the research ... the writer found not one Hawaiian organization or individual who has eoncerned himself in any effective manner regarding the management of the Trust and the use of its ineome." I have been studying Hawai'i's large estates for 10 years. These words written 20 years ago are regrettably just as true today. However, there is always hope. In his recently submitted Master's report on the estate, James Duffy reported lhat the estate and the state Attorney General had received no eomplaints alleging breach of fiduciary duties. A fiduciary is a person acting primarily for the benefit of another in matters connecting with an undertaking. If anyone would like to ask questions, make comments or suggestions or eomplain about any aspect of the estate or Kamehameha Schools, including the trustees' compensation of $4,303,262, they may write to the Chaiiman of the Trustees. If they don't receive a satisfactory reply, they may write to Robert A. Marks, the state attorney general,

and send a copy to Benjamin M. Matsubara. an attorney recently appointed master to review the June 30, 1992 annual report, and Judge Patrick Yim in the lst Circuit Court probate division. Hopefully many more people, and especially Hawaiians, will not only be more informed about the estate but more vocal about their concerns. Desmond J. Byrne To the editor: For some time, Patrick Kahawaiolaa and Aupuni O Hawai'i have ignored and defied numerous requests from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to stop illegal occupations of and construction activities on DHHL land. While Aupuni O Hawai'i may have good intentions, its actions violate the law, and cause the DHHL to waste time and money to stop illegal acts. These resources ean be better spent developing our lands and building homes for native Hawaiians. The group has twisted the truth to divide the community and justify its actions. We would like to set ihe record straight: • All DHHL actions are authorized by the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. General leasing of DHHL lands was authorized in 1921 to generate revenues to sustain the homesteading program. This policy has been upheld in court. • No individual has the right to take control of Hawaiian home lands and lease them to others, as Patrick Kahawaiolaa has threatened to do. • The Hawaiian Homes Commission is consistent in its refusal to allow unauthorized uses of its land. The often-cited hamburger stand in Anahola, Kaua'i is not on Hawaiian Home

lands. We regret that Aupuni O • Hawai'i refuses to accept the facts and the truth. We-also regret the inconvenience and eommunity eoneem created by these illegal activities. Hoaliku Drake, Chainnan Hawaiian Homes Commission To the editor: 1 wish to humbly express my utmost appreciation and thanks to eaeh and every one of you for the beautiful gift I received on Oct. 2, 1993, at the OHA Kūpuna eonference in Kona. This beautiful gift was being one of three kupuna selected as a "Living Treasure." In addition, I received an exquisite koa-franted quilt and a plaque denoting my "Living Treasure" or Kalāhikiola Award. This is truly an honor and it will always be cherished by myself, my children and my grandchildren. Me ke aloha pumehana Elizabeth Maluihi Lee Policy on Letters Letters to the editor are gladly accepted for puhlieaūon on a space-available hasis. Letters shall he: • specifically addressed to Ka Wai Ola O OHA; and • legibly signed by the author ; and • accotnpanied hy an address andlor lelephone number(s) for verification purposes. OHA reserves the right to~jedit all letters for length, defaniatory and libelous material, and other objectionable contents. Letters eannol exceed 200 words and must be typewritten and doublespaced. Send letters to: Editor, Ka Wai Ola O OHA, 711 Kapi' olani Blvd., Suite 500, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813.