About time we got rid of Hawaiian Entitlements

[Rick M.]

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.

[Della Au Belatti]

Hmmmm....I'm betting we share very different views of the world because I don't think I would characterize what we have in our State Constitution as "Hawaiian entitlements" that need "abolishing." Maybe some improvements, maybe some tweaking...I'm not sure, because I don't know enough to know how OHA, DHHL, etc. might be improved. What do others think out there who are more familiar with these institutions?

Also, I would tread down this pathway very carefully. We have access rights to beaches, in large part, because of the recognition that this is a special right that comes out of our unique history as Hawaii and the Hawaiian culture. I wouldn't want to lose these general public trust rights if it is all bundled under "the idea of giving Hawaiians special privileges."

[Rick M.]

This is America and it is time Hawaii got with the program re property rights. I think that those who believe in these American values of property rights are in the majority now even though they weren't at the last ConCon. I think we can get this stuff like Hawaiian Homes and special access to MY property taken out of the Constitution.

[Della Au Belatti]

I really believe that you will find that a majority of people in this State understand and respect the right of the public to have access to the ocean - not just those who own oceanfront property. I, for one, would not want to see access rights eroded. And, I would also hate to see local people here restricted from our beautiful coastlines much like the way large parts of mainland coastal areas appear to have been restricted.

[Rick M.]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about this and see which side has the majority come the Concon.

Rick.

[Al Beeman]

I hope we are considering a ConCon to tweak our exisiting constitution and perhaps modernize it to take into account the impact of modern communications technologies like the Internet, etc.

I do not want our constitution "rewritten." Nor do I want to see the status of Hawaii's founding culture diminished.

"Pono-ize," Modernize and Rebalance those are my goals for an upcoming ConCon.

[Rick M.]

"I do not want our constitution rewritten"

You want to tweak, we want to rewrite. That is the right the ConCon gives us. And the old guard is outnumbered. It is time to bring Hawaii into America and prune away all this old Hawaiian nonsense that is preventing progress. I truly believe that NOW we have the will and the majority to do this.

[Daniel Leuck]

Well put, and I am willing to bet you are in the majority even amoungst non-Hawaiian residents born outside the state.

[Kaunaloa]

Rick,

while i appreciate your passion for wanting to make institutional changes which you see as "bringing Hawai'i into the 21st century" i must caution you re: "the old guard is outnumbered." There are a lot of people throughout the state who, rightly or wrongly, are under the impression that they would "lose" something if various agencies had their charters and functions altered.

[Peter Kay]

I'll go a little further on your side, Della, in that I really wish our leaders would have long ago made the land makai of Kalakaua government property. And for that matter, makai of ocean-following highways (i.e. much of Kalanianaole).

I know that's way too long, but I definitely am grateful for the Hawaiian cultural tradition which lead to making beach access open to all.

[Peter Kay]

I would like to believe that the real value of this discussion is that we can understand and explore how to approach an extremely sensitive issue.

I was wondering when this point would come up and I'm glad that it did. It allows this site to demonstrate a balanced point of view.

I'm looking forward to see how this unfolds.

[Peter Kay]

Rick,

Look at Della's post that includes a survey. Why don't you put forth a survey and find out if you have a majority?

Certainly these are unscientific, but at least informational.

Go get a free account at Vizu.com, create a survey, and post it in your blog.

[Dan L.]

I think it’s odd how people come to a place and then want to change it to resemble the place they left. If you want to see what Hawai‘i might look like without the Hawai‘ian culture, study Southern California and Florida. What makes Hawai‘i such a marvelous place is the culture of aloha and pono which we get from the Hawai‘ian culture.

“Hawai‘ian” is not nonsense; it is Hawai‘i. America is made up of many strains, and ours is one of them.

And just what is “progress”? Closing the beaches to the public so a few millionaires can wallow in their wealth privately? Maybe introducing casino gambling would be a good thing, too. And by all means let’s forget this nonsense about taking care of the old, the young, and the unfortunate; that costs money that could better be spent on a Hummer for every millionaire in the state.

Why is it such a marvelous thing to “bring Hawai‘i into the 21st century”? If that means destroying everything -- such as open beach access and care for those who need help -- which makes Hawai‘i great, then I’m all in favor of staying in the last century.

Some people came here to live, because they love Hawai‘i now. Others came to make a fortune, because they love the money they can make by exploiting this place for personal gain. I am totally opposed to accommodating the latter view. If a place driven by wealth and power is what one seeks, then one should look somewhere else. Don’t try to destroy what we have here.