Native Hawaiian protests against Norwegian Cruise Lines

A grassroots not-for-profit Hawaii based organization announces the statewide protests by Na Kanaka Hawaii (Native Hawaiians) against Norwegian Cruise Lines, Pride of Aloha, inaugural cruise starting June 26th in Hilo and every port to follow.

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From: MOKU O KEAWE 'OHANA Please forward !!! Help get the word out.

KAHEA strongly urges everyone to join in Islands-wide protests of Norwegian Cruise Lines, "Pride of Aloha." Peacefully demonstrate at ports on Hawai'i Island, Maui, Kaua'i and O'ahu. Help send the message to NCL that they cannot continue to business as usual in Hawai'i.

From Kale Gumapac, President of Moku O Keawe 'Ohana "The cruise ship industry is making a direct assault on our culture, natural resources and our way of life that is going to have a devastating impact that will be felt for years to come."

Starting Sat. June 26 in Hilo, people will peacefully gather at the ports where NCL's Pride of Aloha will dock. Moku O Keawe Ohana (MOKO), a grassroots not-for-profit Hawaii based organization, announce statewide protests by Na Kanaka Hawaii (Native Hawaiians) against Norwegian Cruise Lines, Pride of Aloha, inaugural cruise starting June 26th in Hilo and every port to follow. A large network of Hawaiian groups have come together statewide to protest Norwegian Cruise Lines exploitation of our culture, our lands and our oceans.

HILO: Saturday, June 26
KONA: Sunday, June 27,
MAUI: Monday, June 28 and Tuesday, June 29
KAUA'I: Wednesday, June 30 and Thursday, July 1
HONOLULU: Friday, July 2 and Saturday, July 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June, 17, 2004

For More Information, contact:
Kale Gumapac, President Cellular: (808) 896-7420

MOKU O KEAWE OHANA

A grassroots not-for-profit Hawaii based organization announces the statewide protests by Na Kanaka Hawaii (Native Hawaiians) against Norwegian Cruise Lines, Pride of Aloha, inaugural cruise starting June 26th in Hilo and every port to follow.

MOKU O KEAWE OHANA STATEMENT

Moku O Keawe Ohana is a Na Kanaka Hawaii not-for-profit, economic based organization. The goal of MOKO is to educate, develop, establish and implement Hawaiian protocol and practices in every facet of business in Hawaii that affects Na Kanaka Hawaii. The protocol of Ho'okupu Aloha 'Aina and Ho'okupu Aloha Na Kanaka will be reestablished. We refuse to allow businesses to continue the exploitation of our culture, our lands and our oceans without protest. Na Kanaka Hawaii will stand in opposition to their imposed exploitation and degradation by protesting at each and every port-of-call throughout the State of Hawaii.

The initial focus of MOKO is on the cruise ship industry (specifically Norwegian Cruise Line) with sights on the hotel and airlines to follow. MOKO made several attempts to communicate with Bob Kritzman, NCL's vice-president of Hawaii Operations for the purpose of open discussion and development. Our calls were not returned and ignored.

"We will oppose all cruise ships coming into Hawaiian waters until their operations and a mutually respectful relationship is pono." says MOKO President Kale Gumapac.

"We will use all resources, laws and cultural practices to effect change that will effectively protect our culture and aina. Native Tenant Rights and Cultural Intellectual Property Rights are at the forefront of MOKO's position. Most important is the willing support of grassroots Na Kanaka Hawaii organizations and the Hawaiian community at large, and the unified desire for our issues and solutions to be heard."

The cruise ship industry is making a direct assault on our culture, natural resources and our way of life that is going to have a devastating impact that will be felt for years to come. Those businesses that stand to gain the most on the cruise ship business are willing to sacrifice the host culture as well as the local residents for their own financial gain, as pointed out by an impact study done by our State Legislature.

It is the position of MOKO and Na Kanaka Hawaii that any business in Hawaii, that is not Hawaiian owned, and in operation for the purpose of making money through the capitalization of the Hawaiian culture, (inclusive of sacred sites, natural and historic areas) will be expected to participate in a "cultural preservation assessment."

This assessment shall be used for the preservation, perpetuation and protection of the host culture, the land, historic sites, sacred sites and the beginning of an economic base for Na Kanaka Hawaii. Our cultural history, practices, birthright and self-determined economic development can no longer be ignored. As Kanaka Hawaii and stewards of our homeland, we rise to the kuleana or responsibility to protect the lands and oceans that we claim as Hawaii. end

For more information about cruise ship pollution, visit KAHEA Cruise Ship page at kahea.org

Posted: Mon - June 21, 2004 at 06:55 AM

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Native Hawaiian protests against Norwegian Cruise Lines

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