Maui News - December 4, 2011
KAHULUI - State Office of Hawaiian Affairs officials presented a proposed settlement to Native Hawaiians on Friday night in which the agency would receive $200 million in Honolulu real estate for revenue generated on Hawaiian monarchy lands.
But some of the approximately 50 people who attended the meeting at Maui Waena Intermediate School reacted with anger and distrust of OHA negotiating a deal with the state.
During a question-and-answer session, Foster Ampong said that having OHA, a state agency, negotiate with the state is like "a thief negotiating with itself."
"There's a perversion there," he said, maintaining that the state was trying to clear itself of liability over Hawaiian lands.
"It's really, really insulting to us here."
Ampong likened the proposed settlement to efforts to convince Hawaiians to support the Akaka Bill and its aim to have the federal government recognize Hawaiians as a native people.
He said both were being "shoved down our throat."
Ampong received a round of applause in support of his comments.
Comments
As you all know, I have disagreed with John Van Dyke and his supporters over the bloodquantum since the early 70s (1974). With that bloodquantum in place no entity can debunk the trust in monies owed and aina (no inventory). We have no fault, yet to be targeted as OHA(at fault) the responsible party towards those that are 50% plus bloodquantum and the general public (Hawaiians that chose not to live on DHHL).
Regardless of what we say at these open meetings, it is the Rehabilitation program vs Recognition and we are failing in both accounts. Those of us living on homestead are hanging by a thin thread to hang on to our homes, and family members in these difficult times.