Subject: Re: 22,294 say `AE
Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 23:28:41 -0500 (CDT)



Kaona, you are, of course, right. . . To simply say "`ae" leaves
far too many things undiscussed.  But doesn't it amplify the current
debate?  Doesn't it broaden the scope of debate?  Doesn't it, for the 
first time in Hawaiian history, _invite_ transformation of the status 
quo?  I, too, am leary of those who would "valorize ancient ways" and 
I, too, have deep concerns about the racist rhetoric that colors much 
of the sovereignty debate.  Yet, I am uplifted by the `ae vote; it 
signals a time for emergence from lamentation (auwe).

You write that "it is the cry of the kanaka maoli that counts more than 
some 22,000 ballots."  I'm not exactly sure what you are getting at.  
It sounds as if you would dismiss the voice of 22,000 Hawaiians, but 
on what grounds? 

Lydia Kualapai


On 14 Sep 1996 Kaona wrote:

> "`ae" will never mean one thing and one thing alone in this case.
> we need to be careful of contemporary race-thinking and the way
> it continues to shut down the need to have struggles within the
> community of kanaka maoli in order to debate, ho`opapa our future.
>  
> nor does "`ae" mean that an election is the proper way to continue, 
> let alone a "constitutional convention." we have much to be 
> discussing, like how one can valorize ancient ways - even taking
> on a 'class' designation like "maka`ainana" without even
> blinking - within a possessive individualist-based political system
> as seen through the lens of marxist-informed social critique.  
> to simply say "`ae" is to leave far too many things undiscussed, 
> too many important things.  going on for years, this shows no
> sign of changing, or at least that has been my impression.
> 
> the sound of our "auwe" is still there, as it has been for generations,
> stronger and more meaningful because it needs no vote to be heard.
> when heard by those who know, who feel it in their na`au, who work 
> every day to address it, it is the cry of the kanaka maoli that 
> counts more than some 22,000 ballots, one more statistic to be 
> manipulated.
> 
> we are creatures of our own time, and the propaganda, the soundbites,
> and the old divisions of activists continue to dominate public
> discourse about this, putting us back, time and again, on
> romanticizations instead of fruitful kukakuka, all, i fear, 
> to our continued detriment.  
> 
> me ka ha`aha`a,
> -k
> 




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