In the end, it is possible that the lies about oha can all be traced to a few people.
Let’s fisk one: Mr. Ikaika Hussey has been in the main papers a great deal and now has his own web page disguising as a newspaper (http://www.hawaiistandard.com/).
Unfortunately, despite his being sought out by reporters for quotes, he is often disingenuous and inaccurate. As a result, he is one of the key sources of misinformation about OHA.
For instance, at the hearing on the Senate Bill that would effectuate the OHA settlement, he asked a number of questions about OHA's creation of a Limited Liability Corporation to manage Waimea Valley. He neglected to mention he had asked all of these questions previously of OHA and they had answered him. Grandstanding during testimony was apparently better than speaking the truth.
More recently his website links to a UH student newspaper website and Mr. Hussey highlights it and comments that this is a good article. The fact that he thinks that this piece of student journalism that was never fact checked is good is quite telling about his standards. The article itself is filled with many inaccuracies, including:
• Incorrectly stating that HB 266 does not provide for increases in annual payments over time
• Saying OHA will gain bonds (uh, it will gain funding from the bonds)
• Saying the US government manages all ceded lands
• Claiming OHA was holding its first community meeting on the settlement this past Monday (it was around the 35th)
If you want to believe in the continued independence of the Hawaiian Kingdom, fine. But remember that the Queen you love had a high standard for the truth you are woefully missing.
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6 comments:
Dear Mr/Ms "Oha Truth":
Thank you for your post.
I'm not a journalist, though I do believe in the value of journalism which allows the voices of the people to shine through the din of propaganda and deception, and most importantly, which hold power accountable. I think Blane Benevedes did a good job of that in his article, which is why I linked to it from my blog.
I'm curious as to why the title of your post refers to me: I'm neither the author nor editor of the linked article. It seems that your post is merely an attempt to discredit and defame me.
I've always believed in human fallibility, so I'll be the first to admit that I make mistakes. But here's one thing I know: I sign my own name to my letters to the editor and to my blog posts. I don't hide behind childish anonymity, because I believe that we need to be engaged in an honest, open dialogue in our community about the issues of the day.
Frankly, you are acting like a coward.
Unmask yourself, and let's have the honest debate that our community deserves.
Sincerely,
Ikaika Hussey
Dear Anonymous OHA Truth or whoever you are:
I've checked your reference to the article you stated that Ikaika commented on and noticed you embellished what is not printed. I, too, think it was well-written. Your disingenuous remarks make you less creditable and slanderous of Ikaika. If you are defending OHA's actions and intentions than you have done them a great disservice by lying and twisting the facts regarding the article mentioned. Your list of inaccuracies are not mentioned in the said article. You've embellished it with your own spin. So it's you being sloppy with the facts. Pot calling kettle black?
Ikaika did the right thing in asking the questions he aske OHA and probably was unsatisfied with their response. In keeping things in the open, many of us have the same questions and it should be answered publicly and put on record. I would not call that grandstanding. What better way to get to the truth?
We expect OHA and the State of Hawaii to be held accountable for all its actions, including its backroom deals. I see your complete profile is void of any information and I would also like to know to whom I am responding to. It's better to practice what you're preaching.
Tane
Dear OHA Truth,
I have to agree with Ikakai and Tane that this sort of activity helps no one. And I don't always agree with them.
But that's the point, we all get to disagree. We fight, openly more often than not, because the issues we face are complicated and critical to the future of our children. Yes, we need to get together. And I believe we are getting there. We get there through open dialogues after which we can still have aloha for one another as Hawaiians.
And while I don't always agree with Ikaika, I at least respect him, because he is open and public about his positions on issues. That's not an easy thing to do nor an easy decision to make.
I would like to believe you are well-intentioned. Misinformation hurts us all, but personal attacks are just not acceptable. I don't know if you are Hawaiian, but I would hope that if you are, you can appreciate that we must hold ourselves to a higher standard. Let us debate issues, and not reduce ourselves to the personal attacks that have kept our community divided for too long.
Aloha,
Trisha Kehaulani Watson
kehau@nativehawaii.org
Ikaika, Tane, Kehau -
Mahalo for the comments, but I stand by the post. Ikaika called the cited article "good" and it contained the inaccuracies cited. None of you showed otherwise.
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