KAMEHAMEHA

LEGAL CHALLENGES WON'T DEFEAT SCHOOL 'OHANA

Like the rest of the Kamehameha 'ohana, I am elated that a settlement has been reached. I realize that it was the best scenario, to halt the costly litigation that has been dragging on for many years.

I am however, huhu that money had to be paid out to that individual, which will only encourage others, in the guise of using the racism issue, to make a "quick buck."

That certainly was not the purpose of Princess Pauahi's legacy. No problem. We will continue to fight any and all challenges put before us. We've done it before, we will do it again. I mua Kamehameha!

A PLACE TO HEAL

LET'S WORK TO MAKE HAWAIIANS WHOLE AGAIN

As a part-Hawaiian who left Hawai'i 20 years ago, I find myself very intrigued with the issues that have begun to be outlined in the Akaka Bill.

Hawai'i is what it is. A minority among its population cannot say — with the past 200 years of history being rooted in lies and the greed of some original colonists and their generational aspirants — that everything that happened will be thrown out. It just will not happen.

This radical point of view jeopardizes the remnants of a living Hawaiian identity.

As a Hawaiian who had to leave his homeland for a chance to be seen as an equal among my peers, I propose that we look at the ailments in the modern Hawaiian's means to be whole.

These ailments can be seen through the prison populations, alcoholism and drug addiction, the homeless population and domestic violence. These are just the symptoms of what ails us, and it is not defined by outside oppression but by inner emptiness. These are the venues of our brokenness.

OHA, you've got the money. Get some land and make it known that it is a proud and noble place for Hawaiians to go to and heal. Put together unbiased teams to work with them. Intersperse your program with respected kupuna who can fortify individual healing and renewed pride in what is Native Hawaiian.

Empower the population of the Hawaiian people today, then maybe we will have a fighting chance.

DEMOCRACY?

IT'S TIME FOR GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ

We are all in a dilemma as to what the solution should be in Iraq. It appears that President Bush wants to create a democratic Iraqi government before withdrawing U.S. troops.

Religion is the obstacle to this solution. The Sunnis and Shiites will never come to terms for a peaceful co-existence. Both sides have brainwashed the younger generation, saying "if you die in the name of God or fight a holy war, you'll go to heaven."

Gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops would be the only solution to this civil war. In the end, the Iraqi government will once again be ruled by a dictator: hopefully, a benevolent one.

CONSERVATISM

PM BLAIR CHAMPIONED NEW, COURAGEOUS IDEAS

Prime Minister Tony Blair is leaving office as one of the best leaders of Great Britain.

He saved the Labor party from being a permanent opposition by persuading its members to adopt new ideas: an independent Bank of England, privatization, a decentralization of public health and education systems. In fact many of these ideas sound similar to American and English mainstream conservatism.

As an American, I admire him for courageously supporting President Bush's Iraq policies. In this opinion he decided to do the right thing, instead of the politically expedient. Few politicians have done so. Prime Minister Blair is one of those exceptional world leaders.

AGING DRIVERS

OVER-MEDICATION MAY CAUSE AUTO ACCIDENTS

I read with interest your article of May 14 on aging drivers. I have a question to ask. How many drivers, over the age of 65, who are in an auto accident and at fault, have had their medications reviewed after the occurrence?

I would bet that a fairly high number of accidents are caused by over-medication, side effects or mix-ups in taking medications.

I recently read that in 2006, the pharmaceutical companies spent $5 billion on direct advertising to consumers. The drug companies want to medicate all of us, adding to their profits and to our ruination.

NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS

TASK FORCE SEEKS IDEAS

I am writing in response to the editorial that ran on May 7 regarding the neighborhood board system. A task force has been convened by the City Council to address many of the issues brought up in your editorial.
We have been meeting since November 2006 and ultimately will be putting together a list of recommendations to address community participation in terms of elections, running for seats and having well-planned meetings.
We also are looking at: