March 19, 2004

Entitlement Mindset

... A Great Big Mahalo (thank You) to my cousin Lyn Kauffman for this link to a CNN news story regarding the University of Hawaii, a public institution, and its preferential treatment of some Native Hawaiians
(Link was broken and has been removed. The story is that at the University of Hawaii, some Native Hawaiian Students were give special grants or funding specificaly because they are registered Hawaiian's... as of today 3-21-04 the inquiry has shown that the letter if not the spirit of last years rulling by the US Supreme Court regarding such discrimination at Michigan State School of Law was followed... It doesnt change my feeling that all such preferential treatment smacks of racisim)

This is one of the dirty little secrets of Hawaii. From birth children in Hawaii are taught that depending on your race you can do thus and so...Yes its true. I have heard more racial slurs here than I ever did in California were Im from originally. You would think you were in the 1950's South with an Asian twist to hear this stuff come out of the mouths of little kids...I have actually had these things said to me...

"If you are Japanese you are best off going into teaching or Civil Service.."

"Oh, you are Poutuguese? (actually perhaps, many people think so) Where is your farm? Does your husband turn bowls, "(wood working trade)

"she's Filipino- or Thai- or Chinese- or Korean... They are the best cooks and restaurant owners"

"Well, you're "Haole" (white) no wonder you are starting your own business for the Mainland Tourists, (not) You will do very well as they will understand you and you understand them and... Well its hard for Malahini (white newcomers to the Islands) to fit in (no kidding)... And you know we are all "Ohana" (family and related) and we tend to take care of our own first. Its our way..."

No wonder Woody is out of work. He was let go from the Toyota Dealership last year because..." Well, you aren't selling very many cars because you have no contacts and well, you know that so and so comes from a big family and so and so is Japanese and has connections at the University so we are going to keep them and let you go.... Sorry..."

don't tell me to sue... The judges here are all... You guessed it Japanese and race based suits don't have the chance of an ice cube in hell, cause you guessed it everyone is everyone's auntie or uncle here...

How does this happen in an America of "Equal Opportunity"? It starts young. The public schools here are a disgrace, considering We spend nearly $11,000 a year per student. Only 30 cent of everydollar makes it to the classroom. We have the only state run school system with no local school districts, or locally elected school boards. There is little incentive for improvement in a system that rewards the status quo with high paying jobs perks and the best retirement system around.

If you are at least one quarter native Hawaiian and registered in the official register as such you can qualify for the elite Kamehameha Schools
Set up as a part of a larger system which includes the prestigious Punahou School , The Kamehameha Schools are funded by the private trust of the last descendent of the Hawaiian Royal family the Princess Beatrice Pauahi Bishop. The trust that funds this is the largest private trust in America and is said to be worth over 15 billion dollars.

The education you receive there is top notch, filled with attention to character building and moral values. Most go there nearly free of charge and you must be part Hawaiian to get a slot there. It is said that other races can qualify but there never seems to be room for them.

So the Kam Schools kids learn among other things that the race card is the one to be played to get to the better things in life in Hawaii.

These policies have been challenged a number of times and they are up held in the courts here. These totally discriminatory policies are laid out in this document A lawsuit brought on behalf of a boy that was adopted by Native Hawaiians was settled out of court this year with the boy being allowed to stay in school. Another one was settled in favor of Kam Schools, because of past injustices to Native Hawaiians and that the schools no longer take Federal Funding. I dont understand how this can go on... If women can go to The Citadel, and blacks can enter the Virginia Military Institute, the a Haole can go to Kamehameha School.

I think its an injustice to Native Hawaiians to cater to them as though they are not capable of self sufficiancy. I also think it is an injustice to teach children that the content of their character is less important than the color of their skin. There is nothing in the Princesse's Will that states that children are to be excluded for any reason and there is enough money in the trust to educate Hawaii's children in perpetuity. I think that changing the policy to be inclusive rather than exclucive would go a long way to healing the wounds of the past and create a Hawaii that can meet the challenges of a new generation.

3-22-04 As a post script... On everyone of Woody's job apps for these guard positions, they ask " what is your race?" I told him please do not answer that, and the question is illegal to ask. Its like asking me if I am pregnant or going to get pregnant prior to an interview. I think it is sickening and where is the ACLU??