Bush the Kolea Bird avoids protests

Advertiser columnist Lee Cataluna describes Bush on his fundraising visit to Hawaii as a kolea bird, or Pacific golden plover, which shows up in Hawai'i late in summer and hangs around until late spring before heading out to cold places like Alaska. She cites Pukui and Elbert's Hawaiian-English Dictionary definition of kolea: "a scornful reference to foreigners who come to Hawai'i and become prosperous, and then leave with their wealth, just as the plover arrives thin in the fall each year, fattens up, and leaves; a less common figurative reference is to one who claims friendship or kinship that does not exist." And she asks: "How about a tour of Makua to see whatever is left after the last big brushfire?"

Hawaiian sovereignty supporters were among those protesting Bush in Waikiki, but which he avoided encountering. The protests were mentioned generally in an AP article which was picked up by several outlets. KGMB carried this story which mentions those "there to fight for native Hawaiian sovereignty," and MSNBC has this feed on the protests from KITV.

Hawaii Public Radio had a story that the plaintiffs in the Arakaki lawsuit spent $11,000 taking out a full page ad in one of Hawaii's dailies (I can't recall which) yesterday, hoping to get across to Bush their reasons for opposing the Akaka bill (which are of course quite different from the reasons why some Hawaiians oppose it). I guess they didn't hear that Bush doesn't read newspapers.

Gov. Lingle had discussions with Bush on Hawaiian issues:

Gov. Linda Lingle ... spoke with the president about a Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill that has stalled in the Senate because of Republican opposition. The governor, who also talked with Bush about the issue earlier this year during a trip to Washington, said the legislation was not near the top of his agenda as he wrestled with such issues as Iraq and the economy.
"But I did raise it to him, and now it may become something that he takes a closer look at," Lingle said.
...
Bush did not address the Native Hawaiian recognition bill or any specific Hawai'i issues. He said he appreciates "the unique contributions Native Hawaiians have made to this state and to our nation."
"We're blessed by the rich culture of the Native Hawaiian people," the president said.
...
Lingle said she spoke with the president on Native Hawaiian issues and that they interested him and the first lady. She noted that on a previous trip Laura Bush bought a book on Queen Lili'uokalani for her daughters and was aware of the queen's history.
Both the president and the first lady "pledged to learn more about this issue," Lingle said.
She said she accomplished what she wanted, which was to put the issue on the president's radar.

Here's the text of his fundraising address in Hawaii.

Posted: Fri - October 24, 2003 at 08:08 AM

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Bush the Kolea Bird avoids protests

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