ALOHA Kakou, e Hawaii,
I come from a family of 5 Boys. I being the Oldest. On the request of my Mom I volunteered for the U.S. Navy. My date of taking the oath to join the Navy was set for Monday Dec. 5, 1958. On Saturday Dec 3, 1958 my Mom passed away in San Francisco. After bring my Mom home to Hawaii to rest at Sunset Memorial Park in Pearl City, I followed thru with the wish of my Mom and joined the Navy in January 1959. During my four years in the Navy, I was treated by all with great respect.
My brother next to me served in the Army. Being wounded three time in Viet Nam. Luckly he came home to Hawaii alive. My brother next to him served in the Air Force. I have other members of my family who thru the years and even now serve in the military of the United States. I lost a cousin who was killed in Viet Nam.
My Hanai, Kekapukainohea who some of you know also served in the Navy and Marines. Kekapukainohea is of the Spirit of being a Hawaiian.
Both Kekapukainohea and I have been attacked with Hate from Luwella "Kaohi" Leonardi on Maoliworld. Hate because of the stands that we take to correct the wrongs done to our people.
Wrongs of the past and of the wrongs of today.
I have devoted my life defending the rights of our people. I will continue to defend the rights of our people. In the defense of our people I have spoken up against all including my family members who I believe are Traitors to the rights of our people.
When there were actions at the State Legislature to support the AKaKa BILL, I many times was the only one there opposing the AKaKa BILL. As many Hawaiians including some of my friends were there in support of the AKaKa BILL.
Druing the only public hearing in Hawaii on the AKaKa BILL I was there in person and giving testimony against the AKaKa BILL.
At the State Legislature I supported Congressional amendments to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act to lower the Blood Quantum to 25% for those families on Homestead Lands to remain in their homes.
For many, many years I spoke out against native Hawaiians having to pay property taxes to their Hawaiian Homestead Homes that are held in Trust.
At the State Legislature I have spoken up against many actions to deminish the rights of native Hawaiians. Keep in mind, that I am not a native Hawaiian as defined in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
As I am of Hawaiian, Portugese, Irish, Scotch and English ancestories. I was raised in a family that I was Hawaiian. That I should always be proud to be Hawaiian.
Even when I moved to live in San Francisco, My Grandmother told me that San Francisco and all the lands there belonged to the Indians. That Hawaii was my Home. There were times that I went to school in San Francisco wearing the ALOHA Shirts of my Uncle Hayden. Everyone in school knew that I was from Hawaii.
After graduating from high school on June 11, 1957 I returned home to Hawaii. Today San Francisco is like a Second Home to me. Only yesterday my Haole Brother Johanness called me from San Francisco.
Johanness and I met in the 6th grade in school at the first day of class. On that day the Teacher asked all of us to introduce ourselves. After the class was over, Johanness followed me out of the class and asked me over and over, Are You Really from Hawaii?
Johanness was the frist person from San Francisco that invited me to have dinner with his family. Johanness is of Dutch and Canadian Indian ancestories.
I believe that "FREEDOM" is my birthright. I spent 4 years of my life in the U.S. Navy for my Freedom. I will continue to protect the rights of our people including their Right to be a Free People and Nation.
Long Live The Hawaiian Kingdom, o Pomaikaiokalani, Hawaiian Kingdom National Royalist 1993
Replies
The younger generation failed to know that back then there was a draft lottery with selective service. It was mandatory for us to register and receive our status for enlistment. The smarter ones anticipated the induction into the Army and applied for the other branches of service. Fortunately for me, I was 4-F and didn't have to worry about it. Those attending the university generally got deferred. It was a whole different world back then. My cousins went into the various branches: marines, navy, and army. My nephew did well in the Navy and retired with honors; a true Hawaiian warrior. I prayed everyday for his safety and from the DU and other toxins used in the war.
The Hawaiian subjects that were manipulated to service in the U.S. still have my respect because they fought as a Hawaiian warrior in the best tradition of one; no matter what country pressed them to fight. Under the Hawaiian Kingdom, we would still have our military to defend our territory even if we are a neutral nation; so they did what would have come naturally to learn the skills to defend our territory and our people. The U.S. has a practice of enlisting foreigners into their military; so it isn't unusual for our men to be pressed into military service.
I may not approve of the U.S. and its foreign policy, its relations and its wars; but I don't begrudge our people for joining a branch of service to keep in the international loop and learning those skills which is useful when we get de-occupied by the U.S. Again, this is a different world we live in today.
Mahalo to you for following you conscience as a true Hawaiian warrior and for representing our Hawaiian Kingdom and its people.
Tane
We are all caught up in the HEWA of the U.S.A. I have no regret being a U.S. Citizen in the past. I have no HATE for the U.S.A., it's military, Haoles or anyone or disagree with me. With what I know today I would never join the Navy as I did in the past.
In the past I knew the Chairpersons and members of the Kamehameha Day Celebration. I talked and talked to them about removing the Military from the Parade. When Kekapukai saw the Military in the Parade he got so NUHA and could not believe that they were in the Parade.
Kekapukai is now working on the No Treaty of Annexation Kue Signs. Printing out Ohana names on the signs. As I got about 25 Ohana names to put on the Kue Signs.
Malama pono, e Tane and mahalo nui no kou ALOHA. o Pomai
When there was a display of the Viet Nam Memorials on the State of Hawaii grounds, I went there to see the name of my cousin who was killed in that War. When I found his name on the Memorial Wall all the hurt that I felt when I first heard that he was killed in that War returned to me. The hurt that was felt by his parents and his two brothers.
The next day I typed a HPACH Letter to Senator Milton Holt who is my cousin and Representative Joe Leong who was my past Waialua Hawaiian Civic Club President. Asking both of them to introduce Joint Resolutions in the State Legislature having the State of Hawaii to place on the grounds of the State Capitol two memorials honoring the Military Veterans of Hawaii who were killed in the Korea and Veit Nam Wars.
In my HPACH Letter I told them that I wanted the Hawaii Veterans Memorials on the grounds of the State Capitol and no place esle. As I wanted the Hawaii Veterans Memorials to be a Sacred Place on the grounds of the State Capitol.
Today, The Hawaii Veterans Memorials are on the Ewa Side of the grounds of the State Capitol. I visit my cousin there many times. As it is easier for me to visit him there then to travel up to visit him at Puuowaina. My cousin's birthday is January 1 and I always remember at that time.
Times have changed since I was in the Navy in 1959. This is why I support the KUE of RIMPAC 2010. That it was wrong for the United States to use Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 and it is HEWA for United States to use Pearl Harbor to Make War on the World today.
On Dec. 7, 1941 my home at Pearl City was bombed. Not by the Japanese planes but by the guns from the Americans ships in Pearl Harbor. That is another story of my life.
Long Live The Hawaiian Kingdom,
o Pomaikaiokalani, Hawaiian Kingdom National Royalist 1993
I had an issue with Kekapukainohea but am glad that he onipa'a-s. We all pick and choose our own battles and am glad that you two no kea what others think of you.
Props to you for doing so much. (Kaohi too though both of you have your disagreements LOL) Despite all the dramaz and bantering about trivialities. Tit for tat while bringing up the past. You ignore all the "white noise" and stay on task and hold the flag high for the world to see. Props to you for that. Thank you thank you thank you.
All what I have done is for our people. No for me or for my family. I have never gone to the State Legislature or OHA with my hand our for me or for my family. As I am not an "I" person. They were members of my family who supported the annexation of Hawaii to the United States.
I have publicly openly talked about this about my family and were Traitors. The latest time being only July4th at Iolani Palace. I openly talk about this issue because I see Traitors among our peoeple. Traitors who supports the AKaKa BILL.
I see even Traitors right in the Hawaiian Independence movement. As the Worse Enemy to any people comes from within the people. Not from the outside of the people.
Without the support of many Hawaiians for the AKaKa BILL, the AKaKa BILL would be DEAD in the Congress of the United States. Many Hawaiians who are members of our families.
It's easy to throw Stones at the United States, its military and Haoles for the wrong that they do, but let all of us look very closely at our own families who are the True Enemies of our people.
Long Live The Hawaiian Kingdom, o Pomai