Aloha,Recently while at lunch with 'ohana we were discussing our great grand aunty, Bernice Pauahi Paki Bishop and got to talk about the school waiving the tuition fees. I said to my cousins, they shouldn't stop there, they should waive the testing as well, to give our Hawaiian children a chance to attend Kamehameha schools. So they asked me to write an article in the Starbulletin which I did and it was posted in yesterday's editorial (March 8, 2010). Check it out.Bernice's mother Laura Konia, has at least three half brothers of which the eldest was Kaholi, who is my father's great grand father. Everyone present with exception of a few who didn't attend the luncheon represented one of the 14 brother and sisters in my father's generation. It was a wonderful gathering filled with chants, stories and talk of a family reunion. We had a great time, the food was great and a few of my cousins got themselves blasted drinking their favorites. Myself and a few other cousins did not drink alcohol but we had a great time catching up on family and what we are doing in our lives.Kupuna Pomai Kinney saw it in my e-mail as he wrote to me to go to Maoli world. I did, then I called him back and told him how this article came about...actually, I was surprised that it even got printed. One thing led to another and a response came in from Kaohi who responded by saying to be, "cautious" about pushing it too far. Well, that's my middle name, "push the envelope as far as possible" and see what happens. I wrote back to Kaohi's second responses but don't know if she got it, because when I pushed the "Send Comment" button, nothing happened and that box stayed grey. So frustrating sometimes.My cousins also saw it and they called to talk story again. We are now planning a family reunion. So all you folks related to: I, Moana, Keawe and Liloa please take notice and involve yourself so we can build a case for Kamehameha schools to also take notice of what our people are going to be saying and proposing from Kamehameha schools when it comes to the education of all of our Hawaiian chldren, don't matter if they are homeless or have a home, Pauahi meant for ALL the Hawaiian children to attend that school. That's how we feel.Got written feed back from Kaohi about the article and it is posted in the independence alliance page in this venue. I responded but don't think it went through so I'm going to sum-up what I wrote there in response to Kaohi.Kaohi is worried that Kamehameha schools would bring back the "lottery" system...I don't see any basis for that and wrote back to her that as long as we continue to share information and educate our family in the inner circle and work our way outwards into the community and the world, such as in these types of venues, eventually our people will catch on and do what needs to be done to secure their education, get a good job, give back to their community, build a house and educate themselves on Hawaiian Kingdom law, they will have more than what we had while growing up in this crooked system called the Fakestatehood.I proceeded by telling her that as na kupuna our kuleana should be to promote that ALL the Hawaiian children go to Kamehameha IF THEY SO CHOOSE...but that they shouldn't be kept out because they cannot pay or not pass the test...infact, if they fail at these two qaualifications...it is because of this hurddle that they should be admitted because they HAVE A NEED. I hope I was clear. Then she mentioned Ku Kahakalau and her husband with their children living in Waipio, that that is what our children need to learn and I agree, but not everyone can go to Waipio.I also shared that Ku Kahakalau and her husband Nalei are old friends way back in the Kaho'olawe 'ohana days and that I really aloha them for how and what they are teaching their chldren and living their lives the way our ancestors lived; growing taro, catching fish and talking Hawaiian, involved in Charter Schools, living in Waipio valley and enjoying their lives living off of those lands. What a way to live.I also shared that there is a need to allow all the groups pushing for independence to do their spiritual work and when they are ready, to come together when we can put all the puzzles together and work as one when the plan is clear..that one problem in this movement we have to all overcome is not to let prejudism and racism get in the way to blind us and block those non-Hawaiians who support what we are doing and where we are headed as a country...especially, it is only a handful of Hawaiians who holds animosity towards non-Hawaiians such as the Japanese, Haoles, Chines, Negros, Portugese, etc. that keeps the advanced forces from entering our struggle. That we hae to be open minded and always educate as many possible on many different front and to write in venues such as the editorial and in this venue as well.Kamehameha schools cannot say they don't have money. We know they have at least almost 10 billion dollars in their account. That should eliminate the tuition fees, but the testing has to also go or face more suits from non-Hawaiians who want to break that school down and make it a public school. (mark my words, with the state in dire straights you can bet that they have approached Kamehameha schools to PAY for their DOE system.) We cannot allow them to dip into our bank accounts...they will have create their own bank accounts or become Hawaiian nationals.In closing I want to apologize to all those that used to write to my page. For some reason I am "not ALLOWED" to write there anymore and don't know how long this site will last. Just know that I had nothing to do with what happened to my sites: The Whole Bag of Poi, Bernice Pauahi Paki Bishop, Kauhale O Waimanalo (which we ended)and all the other sites I joined as well. I apologize for the break in those communications and letting you all know that the problem does lie with the moderator to whom I complained and still the problem is no fixed. Smells like a political move against the progressive forces in the independence movement, time will tell.Again, thank you to Poma, Kaohi and my 'ohana for their responses. Let us continue to build our ties for the sake of the next generations.Take care and God Bless,Kawehi Kanui
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Aloha Kākou,On Tuesday, April 15, 2008 charter schools organized at the State Capitol to make a stand for the future of Hawaii by asking the legislature to prioritize education in our state. As usual, charter schools are fighting for funding and for the right to be on equal footing funding wise with regular D.O.E. schools. With charter school enrollment expected to increase across the state next year, the state currently has budgeted money for charter schools that would lower the instructional money alloted per student. This could mean a threat to programs, staff members, and other valuable components of charter school curriculum.Our Hawaiian charter schools have provided an opportunity for the community to choose an education that supports Hawaiian identity and perpetuation of ʻike Hawaiʻi. Please help support our keiki and lāhui by contacting the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the House Finance Committee, or the Governors Office and help them understand that funding is the best way to show that they truly believe the education of our keiki at charter schools is valuable.I have included web addresses to two letters that were published in the local newpapers written by my E.A. and one of my students at Hakipuʻu Learning Center . They really explain our experiences at the Capitol and what we are fighting for. Mahalo!http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/19/editorial/letters.htmlhttp://honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/OPINION02/804190309/1108#pluckcommentsCheck it out!
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