Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Regarding Ka‘iulani Huff

In the recent Planet Kauai Post, "From shoreline setbacks to iwi in the Brescia saga," Charley wrote: ''I'm not clear whether Huff is alleging that the rules were followed but the outcome resulted in some violation, or whether there has been an actual violation of the rules. It would be interesting as well to get some flesh on the accusation of a fraudulent land transfer.'
In the thread, I wondered where the action was leading and what would happen once construction began.

On Public Radio Tuesday afternoon, Ka‘iulani Huff was interviewed, or more accurately, given broadcast time to present her thoughts on the matter. The result was way beyond the TGI article or any speculation on this blog.

She made it clear that she was not "protesting." She made it clear that the word did not apply and neither did the word "taking." After all, how can you take something that you've always owned. What she did announce was that she was simply assuming control, or power, over land belonging to her. This included the whole neighborhood and beyond. It included the beach and out to sea "as far as the eye can see." Building on this, she also said that anyone wants to do anything on the North shore would have to come to her and that she "was going after Princeville next." When the radio host laughed, and each other time he did, she tersely said "This is no joke." I believe she meant it. She then talked about how people would have to go through her to use the beach and how the beach was going to be a "hostile experience" like it had been for her.

It was quite breathtaking actually; in the same way as the train wreck in the movie The Fugitive. We have seen barbers and boat tour operators reach this delusionary peak, stop paying taxes, lose everything, and end up in jail. At least they were not a danger to others in the process. I do think that Huff is too clever, despite evidence to the contrary, to end up in jail herself. I do believe she will inspire some others to end up there; beginning with the young man camping with her who is already fired up and ready to unload.

Are people so intimidated by Ka‘iulani Huff that she never gets any constructive advise? Is she the antiDaleCarnegie? Look around these days, the so called "fringe" is developing it's own fringe. In Hanepepe, one loose container in a flood quickly became four. I think one of them was carrying the Roswell Aliens and another had nuclear waste from Three Mile Island. Of course there really were four; three were sunk by the military conspiracy submarine docked at Port Allen. Some of this is reaching the level of dreams and hallucinations. I worry that my truck may appear as something else coming the opposite way on the highway.
Regards, Pete Antonson

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've noticed a solidification in recent years of a lunatic fringe of people who believe that they can chuck history into the garbage and do whatever they like, including building mansions on top of gravesites.

These nutcases have always been around - they've just been more vocal lately and apparently immune to criticism. One of the things they hide behind is a posture of dispassionate interest in "the law" and hair-splitting over the meaning of terms like “indigenous.”

It can be baffling to observe these guys – and it usually is “guys” – dismiss statistics and all other material indicators of the conditions of oppressed people (for example, did you know that 70% of the youth in foster care in Hawai’i are Kanaka Maoli?) as coincidental – in other words, “inherent” to these “inferior” people, and not the results of concerted oppression.

No wonder they’re so surprised and shocked when one of the “natives” shows some anger! No wonder they think that it’s the anger that is crazy!

I’m sure that those afflicted with “White Male Delusional Disorder” will soon begin whining about the superiority of their own system which nominally ensures beach access to all – and try to impress us all with this idea that it’s people like Ka’iulani who want to restrict access, who are unfair and undemocratic. But I would offer the balm of reason here: even with these wonderful beach access laws, Kanaka Maoli have felt expelled from these very beaches in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Add that to the countless other ways that Kanaka Maoli – and indigenous people around the world – have been disenfranchised in their homelands and it seems crazy NOT to get angry.

But along with the anger, what I have witnessed is an admirable resolve to protect the ancestors and right historic and present wrongs.

It might not fit neatly into the box of Western ways but it is a matter of justice to be determined by the people most impacted by the wrongs.

-Katy

Anonymous said...

What does she consider a "hostile experience" at the beach? Not having it all to herself? Having to share it with people of different races from hers?

gadfly said...

Nothing is determined by people most impacted by "wrongs". It is determined by the people in charge...and that ain't the natives.

Their time has passed intno history and crying to the UN isn't going to help. The USA isn't bound by any UN decision.

If I was one of them, I'd move on, as so many of the smart ones have done. Being downtrodden in this case is a choice.

They live in a free country after all (the USA) where the pursuit of happiness (not the atainment thereof) is guaranteed...but you may have to change your definition of "happiness".

And don't give me any crap about "...and what if you...". Let the dead bury their dead and move on.

Anonymous said...

If a fringe counterculture is taking the attitude that "the law" is irrelevant, maybe that explains why the cops ordered up some protective gear.

gadfly said...

Look at the history of any people who fight against assimilation into the predominant culture. They melt away like an ice cube on the sidewalk.

Give it a couple more generations...more natives moving out...more mainlanders moving in...

Pretty soon 30-50 yrs or so, these issues wil,l be only memories.

Anonymous said...

"No wonder they’re so surprised and shocked when one of the “natives” shows some anger! No wonder they think that it’s the anger that is crazy!"

One of the "natives" indeed. Huff is half haole (father Jim Edens a respected teacher) and enjoyed a comfortable upper middle class life growing up on several acres in Omao. She's simply morphed into a disaffected loser, prefering to p_ss, moan and tresspass rather than get on with a real life.
T. Hookano

gadfly said...

She's Huff, and she'll puff, and blow his house down (with her rhetoric).

Fortunately for him, I believe his house is going to be made of legally impenetratable "brick".

Move dem bones...re-intur them respectfully on a corner of the property accessable with minimal invasion of private property.

Then move on, people! Get or make a life in the 21st century westernized society of which we are a part.

BTW - the second largest shopping center in the state is going up fast in Kona!!! Also, an Olive Garden is coming to town!!!!

Fantastic!!!

Too bad about Hooters, though. I always loved burgers with a heapin' helpin' of T&A.

Now, if we could only get some pole dancers...

Anonymous said...

it is not the "anger" that is crazy. it's the bad logic used for the arguments.

additionally, what gives ms huff authority to speak on behalf of the entire native hawaiian community?

i would have a modicum of respect for her and her "fringe" if she made any real sense in her arguments for her actions.