McCain against recognition of Native Hawaiians

[donsu]

http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=101331


The new chairman of U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee says he will oppose legislation that would allow Native Hawaiians to seek federal recognition similar to that granted American Indian tribes.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., succeeded Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., who had supported federal recognition but now has retired.

"When Hawaii became a state there was an implicit agreement at that time that Native Hawaiians would not receive the same status as Native Americans," McCain told Stephens Media Group's Washington bureau.

He said he would prefer to increase funding for existing Native Hawaiian programs.

"I would be much more supportive if there was an increase in the budget which would reflect the needs of Native Hawaiians than take it from the federally recognized tribes," McCain said.
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come on, native Hawaiians, fight back

somebody send McCain home and chain him in the basement. feed him pineapple chunks by Dole.

[medeak]

1. may be mistaken

but it was my understanding that purchasing property in Hawaii was actually a lease and property would fall back into native hands in 80 yrs or such?

I would be much more supportive if there was an increase in the budget which would reflect the needs of Native Hawaiians than take it from the federally recognized tribes," McCain said.

so he's saying that recognizing Hawaiians would hurt native americans...coming from AZ can understand his stand. (not a mccain fan btw)

[sam sarrha]

3. actually it is about the indigionus people being driven to the mainland

because it is too expensove to live in their ancestrial home land.

basically their land is being stolen and they are being driven out .. what the RepugNuts so best..

[Bampa]

6. I thought the Jesuits

I thought the property belonged to the descendants of the original Jesuits that stole the land.

[punpirate]

8. It's not the Jesuits, exactly.

When I lived there in the `60s, it seemed there were three principal landholders on Oahu--Bishop Estates (the descendents of the first missionaries to arrive there), the federal government, and Dole. Dole had about 10-15%, the feds about 30% and Bishop Estates most of the remainder. Land held by Dole was mostly in cane and pineapple production, and much of the land held by Bishop Estates was not sold, but occupied on long-term leases (in fact, it was common for apartment dwellers to pay two bills each month, one to the building owner and one to lessor of the land).

A small percentage of the land was owned outright by native people, but I suppose a lot of it has been sold to developers, given that many, particularly on the North Shore, were quite poor. Shacks made of flattened tin cans were common at that time.

As for the other islands, I'm really not sure about ownership. I think there are quite a few more individual landowners on the Big Island.

Cheers.

[Maria Celeste]

10. Actually Bishop Estate Is run for the benefit of Hawaiians

and in particular, Kamehameha Schools. Been a lot on controversy over how the trust and school have been administered over time. Check out www.starbulletin.com for the Broken Trust series of articles and upheaval that followed.

Kamehameha only accepts students who can verify some Hawaiian ancestry. No specific blood quantum is required. Kam Schools are tax exempt. A number of people has stated that it is discriminatory (imagine a tax exempted school that required its students to be traceable white, or Polish, or German...), but Kam has always won in the courts.

I looked into the Akaka Bill (as it is called in Hawaii). Its opponents will tie it up in court for an extended period, and their arguments have some merit. Its a typical political compromise mish mash which will undoubtedly have a host of unintended consequences.

However, history is clear, the Hawaiians were screwed royally (bad pun) by Europeans and Americans, and preserving some of what they had is called for. However, the Akaka bill may not be the best means to do so.

[punpirate]

14. Bishop Estates must have sold off...

... some properties then, because the amount of money generated by some of the leases should be extraordinary. As I recall, the Rainbow Hilton was on a 99-year lease, as were many others along Waikiki Boulevard, and I thought those leases were held by Bishop Estates.

Of course, I'm speaking of now almost forty years ago, and the few conversations I've had with residents there in recent times suggest there have been many, many changes.

Cheers.

[Maria Celeste]

15. Forced Lease Conversions

A while back (have to look it up), a law was passed that forced property owners (not just Bishop Estate) to sell that land to leaseholders who wanted to buy. That included private homes as well as condos/apts. Major heartburn on all sides. Leaseholders were afraid that they would be held to the term of the lease and forced out of their homes. Landowners were being told they had to sell, even if it was the only land they owned. Race cards were played all around. There have been some adjustments to the law over time and lots of court fights.I think a minor reprise of some of that is underway again recently.

[Bridget Burke]

13. Sorry, can't blame this one on the Catholics....

Missionaries did, indeed, play a strong part in the conquest of Hawaii. But they were good New England Protestants.

[whistle]

2. What? McCain has his head up his ass. What about Alaskans?

....they were brought in as a state at the same time. Did all native Alaskans receive American citizenship? This smacks of discrimination. How did Hawaii get into American hands in the first place? Didn't our military just wade ashore and take it 200 years ago?

[roguevalley]

9. there was a coup against the queen and they stole Hawaii. We

in alaska have been fighting the land battle forever. its so complicated up here my head explodes at the mere thought.

[whistle]

11. Alaska was purchased from Czarist Russia and I'm sure...

...the Czar never legally owned any of Alaska. But weren't native Alaskans given full American citizenship when Alaska became the 49th state in the union?

[Reverend_Smitty]

4. Heaven forbid...

the government give any money to an indigenous people who's land we have stolen. I'm not really up on the condition of native Hawaiians but I'm guessing with that state's tourism industry they are doing much better for themselves than Native Americans. Someone please educate me.

[davidinalameda]

5. is he afraid of casinos in Hawaii

or is just being an asshole

my vote is for the latter

[Union Thug]

7. US Capitalism at work!

Yes, the native populations have their land stolen from them through what amounts to at worst genocide and at best armed robbery or extortion, those that committed the crime get rich controlling land gained through this butchery. Then, they form armies and police forces to protect 'their' property 'rights' against theft and destruction (in the best libertarian fashion, mind you), and sit back and smugly wonder aloud why people question their 'moral authority'.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. What I recall of Hawaiian history

Through most of the 19th century, it was internationally recognized as an independent country. The king and queen were even received as equals in the British court.

In the 1890s, a group of American plantation owners staged a coup, arrested the queen (for "treason," of all things), and asked for admission to the U.S. President Grover Cleveland was against the coup and blocked their request--which the next president acceded to, making Hawaii a territory of the U.S., which it remained until statehood in 1959.

Native Hawaiians are the lowest-ranking socio-economic group in the islands.

[sea dee]

16. I'm a newbie (please don't kill me).

Sorry if I'm Hijacking this

But what ever happend to that Texas Indian scandel that Delay was connected too?

[IndianaGreen]

17. Was this an agreement with the descendants of Christian missionaries?

An agreement with the children of those disgusting Bible thumping pukes that stole Hawaiian lands from its native population, when they were not using the US Marines to slaughter them.

Give Hawaii and Puerto Rico back to its lawful owners, and let the colonials go back to the mainland.

[sea dee]

18. My memory is that all of Puerto Rico's natives are dead.

"An agreement with the children of those disgusting Bible thumping pukes that stole Hawaiian lands from its native population, when they were not using the US Marines to slaughter them.
Give Hawaii and Puerto Rico back to its lawful owners, and let the colonials go back to the mainland."

My memory is that all of Puerto Rico's natives are dead.