OHA is selling us down river
J. Kehaulani Kauanui writes a commentary
in the
Advertiser:"It
is one thing for those against independence to opt out of that model of
sovereignty and pursue federal recognition. But the answer to whether or not
people are fully informed as they make their way toward federal recognition is
evident in the way OHA is creating and controlling the
process."It is true that prioritizing
the independence claim in lieu of federal recognition will not serve to protect
the federal funding for Hawaiians now threatened by the lawsuits. But those
worried about federal monies should consider what exactly they are willing to
forfeit in exchange for merely attempting to protect those
funds."The Council for Native Hawaiian
Advancement estimates that the federal funding stream to the state, for its
agencies serving Hawaiians, is estimated at $70 million a year. In other words,
the OHA trustees aim to sell us down the river to try to save less than 1
percent of the entire state's
budget."Stop the Akaka-Stevens Bill for
federal recognition.
Posted: Tue - February 3, 2004 at 10:34 AM