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About time we got rid of Hawaiian Entitlements

This idea of giving Hawaiians special privileges is unamerican. Abolishing them is first on my list of important things to do when we rewrite the constitution.

We've got the numbers to get this done now. So let's do it.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Willy on May 15, 2008 at 7:45pm: I think a U.S. legation with Ken Conklin, William Burgess some on this list. should go to the Hague and show them how Hawaii became the 50th State. End the argument. End the rhetoric. End of semantics. End the shame for American. Step up and be proud; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peter Kay on May 18, 2008 at 11:21pm: I think land uses issues are a very big deal and is something I'd love to see a discussion on.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peter Kay on May 18, 2008 at 11:23pm: Mr. Stewart,

As you can see, this site is all about free speech. Folks can talk about whatever they wish, including this one. I'm just pointing out that we're going nowhere on an issue that is way off the Constitution, not the title thread of this post.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peter Kay on May 18, 2008 at 11:24pm: Thanks Jimmy. I honestly feel we can pick much larger scope issues (as you have mentioned elsewhere: Education) that most can agree are problems that need adjustment.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rick M. on May 19, 2008 at 9:23pm: Kenneth Conklin will most likely be a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. We'll settle this question here and now by eliminating Article XII and then you Hawaiians can go have your arguments about which came first the chicken or the egg outside the venue of any governmental agency.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peter Kay on May 19, 2008 at 10:00pm: Rick, right now we don't even have a Yes vote on ConCon, much less delegates running. I would not count those chickens yet.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pam Smith on May 21, 2008 at 9:34am: People are always saying that Hawaii is a multi-cultural society, but what I see is that if you are of european decent your culture is discounted in favor of the polynesian culture. If we follow Dan's line of reasoning California and Texas should defer to Mexican culture and I guess that the rest of the country should be following native american culture. What makes America Great is that we meld all of our cultures into the American culture. Unfortunately, Hawaii's racist opinion that Hawaiian culture trumps all and anyone that disagrees should "go back where they came from" gives Hawaii's "aloha spirit" a black eye.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Keanu on May 23, 2008 at 6:45pm: Delegates are elected. I doubt Mr. Conklin has enough support to be elected as a delegate to a Hawaii State Constitutional Convention. I'd be willing to bet that today's voters are interested in progressive thinkers, not someone who spends all of his energy trying to eliminate programs that support Native Hawaiians. If a Constitutional Convention is convened, I don't expect Mr. Conklin's name to be on the list of delegates.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by territoryborn on May 26, 2008 at 4:02pm: Well done, Rick . Keep posting your views and the opponents to a con-con should have no problem defeating it in November.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ken Conklin on May 26, 2008 at 10:49pm: Some comments early in this discussion thread defended the concept that one of the things that makes Hawaii unique is the fact that beaches cannot be owned by private individuals, and that we guarantee access rights to the ocean. I would like to point out that access rights, gathering rights, etc. should not be based on race. If we wish to uphold the right of residents to have access to the beach, or to gather flowers and fruits from undeveloped land for subsistence use or for cultural purposes, then such rights should belong to all residents regardless of race. Thus we can support "Hawaiian entitlements" in the sense of Hawaii being a special place where our laws are different from the mainland, but we should oppose "Hawaiian entitlements" in the sense of "Hawaiian" being a name for a racial group.

I believe we are all equal in the eyes of God(s), and our government should treat us all equally under the law.

And so I support eliminating "Hawaiian entitlements" in the racial sense. And I think that is the topic which it was the intention of the creator of this thread to discuss, and is definitely a topic which the Con Con should deal with. The biggest mistake of the 1978 Con Con was to create OHA; and the only way to correct that mistake is to abolish OHA through another Con Con.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Keanu on May 27, 2008 at 6:57pm: Mr. Conlikn, as a "Civil rights" activist, what have you done to promote and protect civil rights outside of issues that relate to "Hawaiian entitlements"?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ken Conklin on May 28, 2008 at 6:31am: Keanu's post sounds like a personal attack, which is not worthy of a response. Our purpose here is to discuss Con Con issues, not to discuss individual personalities.

I must say, however, that there is only one ethnic group in Hawaii some of whose leaders are demanding to create a racially exclusionary government and/or to rip the 50th star off the flag; and whose leaders already operate branches of the state government and have racially-designated seats of the boards of other government agencies. The issue of "Hawaiian entitlements" is very complex and requires enormous effort my many people to defend unity and equality. I am proud to focus my efforts on this issue, and I hope others will join me.; ▶ Reply to This