I have finally put my finger on exactly what bothers me about the anti-TMT movement.
My entire career has been about planning for the future and adapting to our changing energy needs. It’s been about finding a way to force change in order to get us from here to there, and doing it in such a way that we take care of all of us, not just a few of us. That’s the fundamental principle we go by.
We know that it’s not the biggest or smartest or strongest who are going to survive, it’s the ones who adapt to change.
But they, the ones who are protesting the TMT, have made it clear that they absolutely refuse to compromise. They refuse to adapt to change.
This is the fundamental problem.
They have no plan for adapting to our changing energy situation, and I don’t know what their end goal is. My disagreeing with them has nothing to do with race or racism, but everything to do with their refusing to adapt. I’m waiting for them to make a plan, but what bothers me the most is their unwillingness to adapt to change.
We need solutions that will take care of all of us, not just a few of us.
***
There’s quite a discussion going on over at my Facebook page. A spokesman for Ku Kia‘i, the movement blocking the TMT people from going up to the summit of Mauna Kea, has filed a complaint of war crimes – of unlawful confinement, deprivation of a fair trial, and destruction of public property – in Canada. These war crimes refer to 31 protestors being arrested last month on Mauna Kea, despite what the group considers the illegal occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom by the United States, as well as the building and erecting of thirteen observatories currently on the mountain. More about this on the Hawaiian Kingdom blog.
Clearly this controversy is about the Hawaiian Kingdom, which is not due to any fault of the TMT. I am not against the Kingdom of Hawaii, but it appears to me that that process will take a long time to come to any ruling. Nothing has been decided yet. I will abide by a ruling, whatever it may be.
In the meantime, the TMT has followed all the appropriate U.S. laws, all of which allow them to start construction. We are a nation of laws, and we are following the laws of the USA. If we didn’t, we would have anarchy. Our leaders need to lead. The safety of the people is of number one importance.
It’s fine to save the world, but shouldn’t we take care of our people first? Why should our rubbah slippah folks forego 300 construction jobs, 120 full time jobs at first light, $1 million youth education, workforce development programs and $1 million in rent of which $800,000 would go to malama Maunakea and $200,000 would go to OHA? And, $26 million additional to the Big Islands economy – all because we want to make a point?
And all this is free money. No one else will ever give us this much free money for our rubbah slippah folk.
Interesting comments follow my Facebook posts about it:
One person noted that this is why the anti-TMT advocates have “lost all credibility – because they let the pro-sovereignty people hijack the movement and turn it into a completely irrelevant issue.” (He also posted a link to the Department of State’s procedures about how one legally renounces U.S. citizenship.)
Other commenters said:
• Any Hawaiian government, king or otherwise, would need revenue, and would probably jump at any opportunity involving a billion-plus dollar project. I really don’t think many TMT opponents have thought things through to the logical end.
• TMT and self determination are two separate issues. I believe the reason the self determination movement did not catch fire with most part Hawaiians is because tens of thousands of them are employed, own homes, have families, are retired, collect social security, pensions and are covered by Medicare. In other words they already have self determination.
• Most have not considered the loss of things like Section 8 housing, SSI, AFDC, Food Stamps, students loans and tax credits, the loss of tourism that would be inevitable if Hawaii were not under the aegis of the U.S. government, the huge loss of DoD dollars once the separatists kick the military out, the instasbility that would lead many of us to draw our assets out and park them in a safe place, government grants, etc., etc., The federal government expends $17 billion more in Hawaii every year than it collects in taxes. Is that what you call war crimes? The withdrawal of that money and the loss of other revenues resultant from separation would create a death spiral of deflation that would destroy the economy.
• Those that haven’t studied history (and I get the feeling there are far too many of them here) don’t realize that one of the reasons why Hawaiians lost their lands is because it was so hard to raise capital here, and easy to get it elsewhere. When someone needed cash, they ended up selling their property cheap to someone (usually a foreigner or someone who had access to foreign funds) at tremendous discounts, because there was so little capital in Hawaiian markets. If sovereignty happens, it is very likely to repeat that pattern again. Princess Ruth sold Paauhau ahupuaa to Samuel Parker for $1300 because she needed the money and no one else had any funds to buy it.
And it goes on from there.
Mr. Ha nobody is kicking anybody out. We want the “TRUTH” to surface and have reconciliation. I believe in honesty and just be clean. Was US clean and honest? NO. Because of their accomplishment in stealing Hawai’i make them good guys for they put money in our pockets which we paid for through our taxes. Then the Fake State of Hawai’i leases crown lands $1 a year. You a business man is that a good deal? NO. Would you lease all your farm land of $1? No. Do you believe in the “TRUTH”?
The problem is illegal occupancy, somebody “lied and cheated”. Would you allow all the money you can get your hands on by being dishonest? I don’t think so or I could be wrong? But you support the crime and that is why people like me have a legal argument with the USA and other who supports white collar crimes.
You see all of this challenges came about because somebody cheated. If their was a balance from the beginning when the US decided they needed Hawai’i for US Military power in the Pacific and did not get greedy and worked it out then we could have had reconciliation long time ago. What we got was desecration. confiscation of family lands especially in the vicinity of military bases from Hawaiian families. Did your family lose any land to the US? Proberly not.
Why do we have churches, schools, and courts to enforce “TRUTH”? You understand money, you know where to invest, you know how to save and you have buying power therefore you are considered wealthy in the material world. What about the world of justice must be served when a crime is committed? Or is it your world its okay to commit a crime as long as we all get something in return.
You see Mr. Ha is all about morals being trustworthy. Dead or alive I want my family and friends to say he is clean man in all of his endeavors and he supported the “TRUTH” above all!
you make some almost valued points but your underlying prejudices and yes they are shining thru invalidate anything you say…even 1 plus 1 equals two….and yes I wear rubba slippas and yes I have studied our history and Americas too….I know we are not Americans….can you prove we are? Show me anything that shows we are….every issue in Hawaii is based on that lie….oh and yes I have offered a solution an alternative plan that takes all people into consideration…there are many behind the scene efforts and conversation happening…sorry you are in the know…but I am sure when the time is right you will and you read like the kind of person that will go with the flow no matter which the flow is going….Since your comments are moderated I dont think you will slip this one in but that’s okay…aloha
Aloha Ha, perhaps there are some folks who fit in with your conclusion about adaptation. I think some Hawaiian people have adapted to being abused. I think of this as a simple problem, these lands are a private trust set aside for the Hawaiian people. The United States made themselves the trustee and has raped the trust. Hawaiians have not lost their title interests because of illegal activity on the US part. I see this as Hawaiian people exercising their property rights and if the UH and others wanting to build telescopes can straighten out arrangements with the owners,ok then. I believe Hawaiians should take a conservative path and insist on the law being followed by all parties.
The biggest problem with the anti-TMT movement is the same as the anti-geothermal, anti-GMO, and anti-science social media protests.
They make no rational sense, if one emotion filled cause is questioned, then they leap to some totally unrelated imaginary problem. This is how social media works, be in a state of total confusion all the time.
Look at the people gathering for these various pro-chaos movements. They are displaced and they are beyond the age of education programs, and they really have no interest in hearing about jobs. They want to know what kind of free food and money is in it for them. There is also a lot of money pumping into these anti movements. The term that is starting to show up is C.A.V.E. people (Citizens Against Virtually Everything).
I told you a couple years ago, Richard, that you had better have infinite patience. There are people that want to see chaos reign, they have been there since humans developed self awareness. Why? Their brains have somehow developed the connection that disorder is a key factor for survival.
People need to remember the words “New World Order”. These words came from George Bush senior’s mouth. He is a Republican. The Republicans are the anti-science party. George Bush senior was also one of the founders of the CIA and NSA. When he said “New World Order”, it was without completing the rest of the phrase. “New World Order… after Total World Disorder”. These protesters are just pawns and if they listened to Dick Cheney speak, they would realize they are just pieces on his chess board.
All that is happening is the Hawaiian native people are being herded and rounded up like cattle, being manipulated by these outside interests. A dumbed down population is easier to control than an educated one. Dumbed down people can be controlled through emotional manipulation, which happens to be one of the many results of CIA brain-washing research from the ’60’s. It is just going to get worse.
Mr. Ha, Our land, mountains, oceans and natural resources are precious and priceless. Preservation and conservation is more important to us than any dollar amount that can be given to us for the purchase of our resources. Our land is sacred and left to us by our ancestors for sustainability purposes and to become self-sufficient. We connect to all animals, natural resources and plants- emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. We will never give it up for anything in the world, now and in the future. As far as change goes, changes by force against us shall not happen; our culture is our lifestyle which shall remain status quo (same) at all times (the way we want as Native Hawaiians). We will continue to fight and adapt to change our way, not by yours. Not by your force, but by our choice. ~Maelani Lee, Oahu, Waianae, Hawaii.
Alpha Mr. Ha,
All those $$$$ amounts you talked about that would bring us forward is waha, if this is true than why hasn’t there been any $$$$ for the other 13 telescopes that were built why only now is the song different and giving monies to OHA oh well may as well forget it, too much of our people’s today all about the $$$$, there is more to life than money, values and truth and righteousness people’s that don’t speak with forth tongue or sell out for the $$$$. Today there are so many organizations set up to help us, yet when we apply for these programs oh well what money? Time to reflect on all the bulaia talk we’ve been given and let us decide for ourselves what works. DEOCCUPATION will be inevitable it will happen we can’t let this bull hit the fan, you’re right we are going to move forward, in regaining all that has been stolen and lost to greed, no more will we turn the other cheek and be an abused people’s. ENOUGH WRONG! TIME FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS=DEOCCUPATION!
Richard Ha it sadden me to read your post because it’s like you have forgotten your roots, no matter where you come from the land is apart of you, we the people came from her the Aina, the Aina has always provided no matter what but this is all we have left and we are fighting to protect what ever we can. When is enough going to be enough? Why should we be okay with losing what is so precious. We the people have adopted to change all our lives, the ones that have been silence will now be heard. No more desecration. Through all this I hope your heart and your intentions change. Remember land is life it gives life, without land there is no life, if we stand together as one we can protect what is left to perpetuate a future to pass down to our keki our children, children for how would you feel to leave your keki your mo’opuna with what little remains after it has been lost to desecration and destruction from greed. Please think about and not take for granted the true value of the Aina
I remember being taught that our Hawaiian people were once ignorant ..Now, the tables turn. From Hawaiian view and ways, the US is ignorant. Mr.Ha says he can’t understand..GOOD..that goes to show that they don’t understand Hawaii..ignorant. Just like hawaiians couldn’t understand Haole’s. Our turn to teach!
Aloha Mr. Ha, Let me start out by acknowledging the utmost respect and admiration I have for you. Though I don’t know you personally, I am aware of your accomplishments and achievements, and your care about the everyday Joes in our community, and I commend you and all that you do. However, reading your post above I realize that you are basing your views from the perspective of a person who is a victim of the “Americanization” tactics instilled in us all for the past 122 years, a ploy by the U.S. designed to “brainwash” (if you will) the people into believing we were Americans, with the intent of wiping out a race, its culture, and its way of life, thus accomplishing their goal of owning the territory of the Hawaiian Kingdom. It is not your or any of our faults. This tactic was designed to cover up the stealing of an independent, sovereign, and peaceful Nation, over a period of time, each generation getting further from the truth, and the truth being we are Hawaiian, not American. And they almost got away with it. There are many, many people such as yourself who are in denial about the truth and actually believe they are American, and it’s not your fault. America did this to us so we would eventually forget because there was never a treaty of annexation and the Hawaiian people never wanted to be annexed under America. Ninety-eight out of one hundred Hawaiians wanted their Queen restored Her authority and their lands and independence returned. By the time I started going to school in the mid 1960’s, there was no doubt in my parents minds that they were American and therefore I was led to believe so was I an American. In school we would pledge allegence to a flag at the time no one really new was not ours, and then sing a patriotic song of America. So their plan almost worked. What I am trying to get at is the effects of that Americanization ploy is still stained in the minds and souls of us that we become blind to the truth and even are in denial once we do learn the truth because its something we believed our entire lives, that we were Americans, and to all of a sudden find out that is not true is hard to swallow. It’s like all your life you were taught and you believed and it was common knowledge the sky was blue. Now someone is telling you no, actually the sky is pink, that would be hard to just accept. So I understand (or at least I think I do) when I read your post that probably it was written from an American perspective. So with no offense intended and with all due respect Mr. Ha , I would like to challenge you to do something you already are familiar with, that being adapting to change. I would challenge you to even at the least just consider to adapt to change. The change being that you are not and never really was an American. You were lied to and made to believe that you were but you are not. And if you can entertain that idea or concept, I truly believe your perspective on many of these ongoing issues would be enlightening to yourself as well as many others. I believe the rubbah slippah gang would reap great benefits with adapting to change also. One last thing and then I will shut up. When I read about all these $$ supposedly we are benefitting from by America’s presence, nothing could be further from the truth. Sure $$ gets circulated into the economy but only a handful benefit from it and it’s not the rubbah slippah folks (I would fall in this category). There was a time before the overthrow the Hawaiian Nation was THE wealthiest Nation in the entire world. When the insurgents ousted our Queen, they now gained access to all our assets and funds from trusts that bwere already in place for the benefit of the Nations Hawaiians. We don’t need America’s “fake” money. They have no $$. It’s all a façade on paper with nothing to back it up and it is us, the rubbah slippah guys who are led to believe that piece of paper$ is worth this much and now we owe and next thing you realize you have now become their slave. and for the rest of your life you owe and are their slave until we die yet we were taught as children (this is the ending part)”with liberty, and justice for all”…..the only way we can have liberty and justice for all… the U.S. must right the wrongs, make things PONO . Peace and blessings be with you. Malama pono.
Aloha Paul
Mahalo for the thoughtful and respectful letter that you wrote. I am not against the Hawaiian Kingdom in principle. I just feel that it will be a long and difficult road. I don’t have the luxury of time. That is why, I have chosen to fight for the rubbah slippah folks in the way that I know how. It is clear to me that you have given this subject much thought and that you believe in it very seriously. Just that alone makes me want to know more.
Respectfully
Richard Ha
The uprising that is happening in relation to Mauna Kea has nothing to do with being anti-TMT. It has everything to do with Aloha Aina – having reference, respect, and love for our land. It started with the “rubbah slippah folks” who still remember their divine connection to our lands and our sacred piko – Mauna a Wakea. Its about protecting what is still sacred no matter how much $$$ and false promises the TMT wants to buy us out with. That is what developers have being doing all these years in these islands without following State rules and laws. Over 40 years of astronomy development on Mauna Kea have resulted in the cumulative impacts being “substantial, significant, and adverse” upon the cultural and natural resources. That is a fact stated in the TMTʻs own EIS. Over 90% of those employed in Hawaiiʻs astronomy industry are NOT even from Hawaii despite promises by existing telescopes of a workforce pipeline for locals. There is only one Native Hawaiian astronomer amongst the hundreds others. After 40 years, why arenʻt there more? Based upon what has previously transpired on Mauna Kea demonstrates that no one can believe what is being said by the TMT personnel and then regurgitated by Mr. Ha and others. As we all know, the TMT partners, Caltech, University of California, Canada, and Japan already made similar broken promises with the construction of their existing telescopes. The TMT matter is still pending in court on appeal, yet they are trying to move ahead with construction. That should tell the whole story – but of course is much more to this.
I have lived on Oahu for over a decade and I have come to realize that the educated Hawaiians and the silent majority, it is the deluded morons who are the obnoxious voice of the people. No matter what the topic we are discussing, they will throw out the raping of their aina by foreigners. Point out to them, facts and statistics and they will accuse you of racism. Point out their own hand in the overthrowing of their Queen because they wanted the freedoms and opportunities that US citizenship promised them and they will punch you because they can’t dispute your statement. When you read the history of how the US invaded Hawaii, you will understand the delusion these people are living under. I have tried to explain using economics and the actual process to become a state, but they usually reply with some heartfelt sentiment. If you asked them to make a list of their concerns about the TMT, they will take the opportunity to complain about their sovereignty rights or more money needed for Hawaiian programs or scholarships. I’m so sick of hearing about the home of the Gods and Hawaiian rights every time a building gets built. You should see how angry they get when you ask them to pray to Pele to defend her home and wipe out all of the invaders on Mauna Kea. I then suggest that if Pele doesn’t respond in a week, she must not have any issues with the telescopes. Honestly, most of the protesters must have forgotten that only the royalty actually owned the land and much of the land was sold off to foreigners. Honestly, the old system was much better when we could just throw women off of the Pali. I’m not sure if that was true or racist, but I’m sure some local expert will be more than happy to not correct me and go straight to the name calling. If Hawaii were truly invaded, they could press their claims under the Hague convention, but I doubt the majority of them would risk losing that case. There is just too much documentation showing how Hawaii petitioned to become a state. We can discuss the TMT until we’re blue in the face, but no amount of protest will prevent it from being built, there’s simply too much resources involved. We should just allow the bleeding heart liberals a few moments to rant about their aina and Gods and freedom because it will be as effective as their protest. The only reason there is so much support against TMT is because everyone wants their 5 minutes of fame, but statistics will tell you that 53,000 signature isn’t even 1% of the population. They have had their day in court and lost, the Governor no longer supports them and UH no longer supports them so they resort to sitting on the road to delay construction for a few weeks. Eventually UH will have to declare that area off limits for protesters and this will give the police the authorization to arrest all trespassers and we will no longer have to hear about the land weeping and the protesters can get back to campaigning for the legalisation of marijuana.