Vol. 21, No. 03 Ka Wai Ola o OHA – The Living Water of OHA Malaki (March) 2004 DefiningDefining HänaiHänai In the wake of the controversial Kamehameha Schools case, a workshop encourages Hawaiians to examine the traditional adoption practice By Sterling Kini Wong tionship was like blood. “What is dangerous about something like i‘ilani Smith, a founding member of that,” Smith said, “is that the courts do not the Hawaiian rights political action have the jurisdiction, the authority nor the Pgroup the ‘Ïlio‘ulaokalani Coalition, expertise to be making such definitions and says she was furious when she heard that assertions. But when they say that within U.S. Judge David Ezra had cited laws from the context of the legal system, it makes it the Kingdom of Hawai‘i to define the hänai seem as though it is official.” adoption tradition during the Mohica- In response to the controversy generated Cummings case against Kamehameha by the judge’s comments, on Jan. 24 Schools’ Hawaiian-preference admissions ‘Ïlio‘ulaokalani held the first of what it policy. hopes will be a series of workshops The case was filed after the school designed to demystify the definitions and rescinded its acceptance of seventh-grader applications of hänai. The first priority of Brayden Mohica-Cummings when it dis- the workshop, Smith said, was to establish covered that his mother’s claim to be who has the authority to define hänai. Hawaiian was based not on biological “Discussion on the definition can take bloodline, but on her adoption by a years,” she said. “All we want to do now is Hawaiian man. At a hearing to confirm a to be clear on who has the jurisdiction. It is settlement deal that allowed the boy to not the role of any individual, but up to the attend the school, Ezra commented that, Hawaiian people as a collective to decide.” A student protests legal attacks on Kamehameha Schools’ admission policy according to Kingdom law, a hänai rela- See HÄNAI on page 4 at the Kü i ka Pono march last September. Photo: Sterling Kini Wong Hawaiian inmates struggle to practice tradi- By Naomi Sodetani — experienced by incarcerated erence, harsh yellow lights glare Hawaiians. down from high, barbed-wire-topped walls that blot out the horizon and the With Native Hawaiians “We the evidence, inmates’ thoughts of freedom. comprising a disproportion- we not the crime.” Although scenes like this Kühiö Day commemoration at an Arizona ately high percentage of state —Skippy Ioane prison are becoming more common in prison populations — and a Big Island Conspiracy large number facilities where Native Hawaiian pa‘ahao (prisoners) are incarcerated, of inmates now being shipped n the chill desert pre-dawn, 10 winning the right to practice Native off to mainland facilities to men gather to form a circle. Some Hawaiian culture behind bars has alleviate overcrowding prob- are bare-chested, with lavalava I been a long and difficult struggle. lems — Hawaiian prisoners draped around their waists; the rest Inmate Harold Medeiros was one of have been struggling for the wear prison issue-drabs. One kicks the lead organizers of a Makahiki cer- right to practice their culture biting ants away, the only life appar- emony held last month at behind bars. This first ent in this dusty ‘äina so foreign to Diamondback Correctional Facility installment of a two-part his Kanaka Maoli feet. “E hö mai...” in Oklahoma, where hundreds of series examines the cultural the men chant softly in unison, their strengths — and challenges heads bowed. Unmoved by their rev- See PRISONS on page 4 IN THIS ISSUE Ka Wai Ola o OHA Kamehameha Schools’ new CEO plans Office of Hawaiian Affairs PRESORTED STANDARD to increase KS’ reach and strengthen 711 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Ste. 500 U.S. POSTAGE community partnerships. Honolulu, HI 96813-5249 PAID PAGE Honolulu, Hawaii See Dee Jay Mailer interview on page 6. Permit No. 298 6 Nurseries that grow native plants for landscaping are helping to rescue some of the world’s most endangered flora. PAGE See story on page 10. 10 Get On Board If you are Hawaiian, now is the time to All you need to register is verification of your step forward and kau inoa — place your Hawaiian ancestry through documents such name — to take part in the process of as a certified copy of a birth certificate self-determination. Today, the establish- showing Hawaiian parentage, or by prior ment of a new Native Hawaiian govern- verification through programs such as the ment is on the horizon and can be Department of Hawaiian Home Lands or achieved with the will and support of the OHA’s Operation ‘Ohana and Hawaiian Hawaiian people. Those who register will Registry. “Kumu ‘Ohana” or other means of eventually be able to help shape the legal verification will also be considered. nation to come. There is no blood-quantum minimum or age requirement. The process is open to anyone of indigenous Hawaiian descent, no matter Don’t let the wave of history pass you by. where you live worldwide or what your Make your voice heard. Kau Inoa to build beliefs are. This community-driven effort is a strong Hawaiian nation. being moved forward by a broad-based coalition of Hawaiian organizations with a Kau Inoa registration forms are wide variety of perspectives on Hawaiian available from most Hawaiian organizations, nationhood. As such, the Kau Inoa or by contacting the official repository of the registration is separate and unrelated to the registration records — Hawai‘i Maoli Inc., provisions of the federal-recognition “Akaka a nonprofit arm of the Association of Bill” now before Congress. Hawaiian Civic Clubs. Hawai‘i Maoli P.O. Box 1135 Honolulu, HI 96807 (808) 394-0050 K L K A EO AIÄULU KA LEO KAIÄULU LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Common cause among the severest. Whether it is today is a coalition of racist groups Board of Trustees called banishment, exile, deporta- who share a common agenda. Part A number of articles and com- tion, relegation, or transportation, of this agenda I believe, is to deny ments which involve sovereignty, compelling a person to quit a city, the Hawaiian People what is right- Haunani Apoliona nationalism and Känaka Maoli fed- or place, or county for a specific fully theirs. This subtle form of cul- Chairperson, Trustee, At-large eral recognition disturb me deeply. period of time, or life, has long been tural and ethic cleansing is a slap in Whether their statements support considered a unique and severe the face to any God-fearing people. Tel: 808.594.1886 the Akaka-Stevens Bill or not, the deprivation and was specifically The primary goal of these racist Fax: 808.594.1875 outlawed by the 12th section of the groups is to disband the Office of Email: [email protected] perception and view of every person and group is presented as correct English habeas corpus act, 31 Hawaiian Affairs and the Hawaiian John D. Waihe‘e IV and true — so where should I Car.II, one of the three great muni- Home Lands programs. In addition, Vice Chair, Trustee, At-large choose to stand? ments of English Liberty.” the admission of non-Hawaiians I am proud to be a Kanaka Maoli, However, here I sit, 3,000 miles into Kamehameha Schools, which if Tel: 808.594.1838 and only recently have my eyes away from Hawai‘i – the only place unchallenged could eventually lead Fax: 808.594.0208 I will ever call home. Ku‘u home ‘o to the dissolution of the school’s Email: [email protected] been open to the injustice that has been served among my people, for I Hawai‘i. programs altogether. Their ultimate Rowena Akana now see that I’ve been fed lies goal is to own Hawai‘i and fleece Trustee, At-large throughout my life. But time is Jacqueline Aloha Overturf billions of dollars generated through short and of the essence, and I must McLoud, Oklahoma tourism, Hawaiian exports, and the Tel: 808.594.1860 choose where I’ll stand. I open the prostitution of Hawaiian culture. Fax: 808.594.0209 To all you non-Hawaiians who Email: [email protected] newspapers and books to gain mana‘o in my decision, but whether call these islands “home,” you have Dante Keala Carpenter in a current newspaper or native his- Modern-day Cooks an obligation to stand with the Trustee, O‘ahu tory book, there is one common Hawaiians and fight the good fight. theme: division of beliefs among The current dilemma facing the There is no gray area between right Tel: 808.594.1854 modern day Hawaiians and the and wrong. Hawaiians: stand Fax: 808.594.0210 my people. Email: [email protected] The United States Government injustices they have suffered since together or subdivide and fall. You has this term, “divide and conquer,” the arrival of Captain Cook are one are surrounded by modern day Donald B. Cataluna so with this bill we must all do our and the same. It is a historical fact Captain Cooks ... with colds. Trustee, Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau best to be on the same page. This is and common knowledge that why I support the federal recogni- Captain Cook knew that the isolated Benjamin Ray Milam Tel: 808.594.1881 tion bill, because it will put us Pacific Islanders had no immuno- Kapolei Fax: 808.594.0211 logical defenses against the diseases Email: [email protected] Känaka Maoli all on the same page in thought and morale. Regardless that he and his crews were carrying. Linda K. Dela Cruz of where our political beliefs lie, The end result was the deaths of OHA reserves the right to edit all Trustee, Hawai‘i our direction will be the same.