Earlier this month (around April 12, 2007 -- I didn't get the message until later), Auntie Winona Beamer sent a letter to the President of the U.S. and to the U.S. Congress, asking for the cessation of what she calls "any further invasion of our sacred homeland." She specifically referred to the Advanced Technlogy Solar Telescope (ATST) to be erected on either Mauna Kea or Haleakalâ, and the desecration of sacred lands on O`ahu. She wrote , "There is no concern for the rare and endangered species of plant and animal life of Hawai`i. There is utter disregard for ancient artifacts and sites."
In addition to this letter, Auntie Nona is collecting names of kânaka maoli and kama'âina who are in support of her position. Here's the info in full (includes a cover letter, Auntie Nona's letter, and the "Roll Call of Support."
Please pass this on -- mahalo!
P.S.: If you don't know who Auntie Nona is, she is, among other things, the mother of renowned slack key guitar player, Keola Beamer. You can read a biographical article about her here: the.honoluluadvertiser.com/150/...eamer
C O V E R L E T T E R
253 Kuualoha Street
Kahului, HI 96732
April 11, 2007
Aloha
I am writing to give you a “heads up” advance notice of a Declaration that Nona Beamer is shortly going to email to President Bush and members of Congress (probably on Monday, April 16).
Auntie Nona is making Lahaina, Maui, her residence. She has many loving friends and family here on Maui (as well as many of you out there). For the past 2 months, she has been discussing Hawaiian culture with senior citizens on this island. It has invigorated her to the point that last Friday, April 6, in an “ohana circle,” she produced the powerful Declaration which I am attaching.
She feels an urgency to speak out and is willing to do so alone. After you have read the attachment, if you feel that you or the organization you represent would be inter-ested in adding your voices, she would be absolutely delighted to hear from you and would greatly appreciate a timely response. Nona’s email address is
beamerw001@hawaii.rr.com
The information to send should include 4 items: (a) your name; (b) city, island, state; (c) your status according to the following: 1 Native residing in HI, 2 Native residing out of HI, 3 Non-native resident of HI, 4 Non-native resident out of HI, and (d) date of your document. If there is more than one person, such as a family or small group, Response B of the attached Roll Call of Support shows how you could generate a list.
If you represent an organization that is large and the listing of names is not feasible, you may choose to make a statement as suggested in Response A of the Roll Call of Support.
Auntie Nona has authorized me to send you this Cover Letter and Declaration. May I assist you if there are questions or if the message must be re-sent on different software. When Auntie receives your email message, she will keep a hard copy and forward your message to me for electronic filing. Your name will be historically documented; your email address will be kept confidential.
Mahalo a nui loa
Darlene Mahelona Baines
darlenebaines@aol.com
Attachments: Cover Letter
Declaration
Roll Call of Support
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUNTIE NONA'S LETTER:
TO: President Bush
Members of Congress, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FROM: Ms. Nona Beamer, Kupuna and Kanaka Maoli (Native of Hawai‘i)
DATE: April 12, 2007
DECLARATION: HAWAI‘I NEI, OUR HOMELAND
The fragile and sacred land of Hawai‘i is our precious heritage and our home. Even as we are struggling to maintain and restore U.S. damage to our land, the Government is continuing to desecrate more of Hawai‘i nei. This letter is my impassioned plea to STOP any further invasion of our sacred homeland.
Specifically, I am referring to the Advanced Technlogy Solar Telescope (ATST) to be erected on either Mauna Kea or Haleakalā. The plan is to excavate our sacred volcano 5 stories into the ground and scar our skyscape by an additional 14 stories. On O‘ahu, it is beyond reason that the sacred forests and landscape from Wahiawa to Kahuku are being ripped up to accommodate the monstrous Stryker tanks. There is no concern for the rare and endangered species of plant and animal life of Hawai‘i. There is utter disregard for ancient artifacts and sites.
I will point out that there has been irreparable damage to Kaho‘olawe which suffered U.S. bombardment since the 1940s. Kāne‘ohe Bay was once an important food source, the “breadbasket” of the people. It was dredged by the U.S. military and turned into a Marine Base. Our cherished Lē‘ahi, Diamond Head crater, has been ripped up and scarred and trampled on. Mokū‘ula, the ancient sacred fishpond in Lahaina, Maui, was fed by a freshwater stream. It was callously filled and destroyed. Other examples exist that are too numerous to mention here.
For over 100 years, the United States of America has shamelessly, for profit and personal gain, taken advantage of both the people of Hawai‘i and the land of our ancestors. Under President Cleveland, Queen Lili‘uokalani was illegally removed and sentenced to exile. In 1898, against the petitions of the people, Hawai‘i was annexed to the United States, and land was confiscated. During World War II, more land was confiscated for the use of the U.S. military. In 1959, when Hawai‘i became a state, the native voice was again ignored.
From the time I was born in 1923, I have been overwhelmed with the suppression of my culture, language and heritage. I learned, in the public school system and in the community, to be ashamed that I was “kanaka maoli,” (native of Hawai‘i). I could not learn the native language, as it was suppressed. The passing down of history through the hula had to be taught in secrecy. I endured these prejudices, and it has been my lifelong crusade to teach, “Be Proud of Who You Are!!” I have little time left to voice the injustices that have been done to the native people of Hawai‘i.
In 1984, I was appointed to the Native Hawaiian Study Commission by President Reagan. The Commission assessed the needs and concerns of the “kānaka maoli.”
President and Members of Congress
Page 2
April 12, 2007
Over twenty years have passed. The health of the native people is the worst in this state. The schools rank among the lowest in the nation. The needs of the native people are not being met, yet money is appropriated by the U.S. Government for the destruction of our land.
I am not alone in my plea. I have signatures of support not only from those of native ancestry (kānaka maoli); but also non-native residents who are Hawaiian-at-heart, and visitors who want our fair islands to remain a place of peace and healing.
Give heed to our voices. We have extended aloha to you, and you seek to extinguish our very being.
Respect us; be aware that we are a sovereign international nation. We are the descendants of a mighty civilization and deserve to be heard and acknowledged!
With utmost sincerity
Nona Beamer
1889 Loke Street, #411
Wailuku, HI 96793
Email: beamerw001@hawaii.rr.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROLL CALL OF SUPPORT
I agree with NONA BEAMER’S letter to Members of U. S. Congress dated April 12, 2007
Native residing in HI [1]
Native residing out of HI [2]
Non-native resident of HI [3]
Non-native resident out of HI [4]
PRINT NAME STATUS CITY/ISLAND/STATE DATE
1 Luanna Farden McKenney__ __ 1_ _Lahaina, Maui, HI_______ 4/17/2007
2_Peter W. McKenney________ __ 3_ _Lahaina, Maui, HI_______ _4/17/2007
3 Arlene Battad Kon__________ __ 1_ _Kapaa, Kauai, HI________ _4/17/2007
4__________________________ _____ _________________________ _________
In addition to this letter, Auntie Nona is collecting names of kânaka maoli and kama'âina who are in support of her position. Here's the info in full (includes a cover letter, Auntie Nona's letter, and the "Roll Call of Support."
Please pass this on -- mahalo!
P.S.: If you don't know who Auntie Nona is, she is, among other things, the mother of renowned slack key guitar player, Keola Beamer. You can read a biographical article about her here: the.honoluluadvertiser.com/150/...eamer
C O V E R L E T T E R
253 Kuualoha Street
Kahului, HI 96732
April 11, 2007
Aloha
I am writing to give you a “heads up” advance notice of a Declaration that Nona Beamer is shortly going to email to President Bush and members of Congress (probably on Monday, April 16).
Auntie Nona is making Lahaina, Maui, her residence. She has many loving friends and family here on Maui (as well as many of you out there). For the past 2 months, she has been discussing Hawaiian culture with senior citizens on this island. It has invigorated her to the point that last Friday, April 6, in an “ohana circle,” she produced the powerful Declaration which I am attaching.
She feels an urgency to speak out and is willing to do so alone. After you have read the attachment, if you feel that you or the organization you represent would be inter-ested in adding your voices, she would be absolutely delighted to hear from you and would greatly appreciate a timely response. Nona’s email address is
beamerw001@hawaii.rr.com
The information to send should include 4 items: (a) your name; (b) city, island, state; (c) your status according to the following: 1 Native residing in HI, 2 Native residing out of HI, 3 Non-native resident of HI, 4 Non-native resident out of HI, and (d) date of your document. If there is more than one person, such as a family or small group, Response B of the attached Roll Call of Support shows how you could generate a list.
If you represent an organization that is large and the listing of names is not feasible, you may choose to make a statement as suggested in Response A of the Roll Call of Support.
Auntie Nona has authorized me to send you this Cover Letter and Declaration. May I assist you if there are questions or if the message must be re-sent on different software. When Auntie receives your email message, she will keep a hard copy and forward your message to me for electronic filing. Your name will be historically documented; your email address will be kept confidential.
Mahalo a nui loa
Darlene Mahelona Baines
darlenebaines@aol.com
Attachments: Cover Letter
Declaration
Roll Call of Support
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUNTIE NONA'S LETTER:
TO: President Bush
Members of Congress, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FROM: Ms. Nona Beamer, Kupuna and Kanaka Maoli (Native of Hawai‘i)
DATE: April 12, 2007
DECLARATION: HAWAI‘I NEI, OUR HOMELAND
The fragile and sacred land of Hawai‘i is our precious heritage and our home. Even as we are struggling to maintain and restore U.S. damage to our land, the Government is continuing to desecrate more of Hawai‘i nei. This letter is my impassioned plea to STOP any further invasion of our sacred homeland.
Specifically, I am referring to the Advanced Technlogy Solar Telescope (ATST) to be erected on either Mauna Kea or Haleakalā. The plan is to excavate our sacred volcano 5 stories into the ground and scar our skyscape by an additional 14 stories. On O‘ahu, it is beyond reason that the sacred forests and landscape from Wahiawa to Kahuku are being ripped up to accommodate the monstrous Stryker tanks. There is no concern for the rare and endangered species of plant and animal life of Hawai‘i. There is utter disregard for ancient artifacts and sites.
I will point out that there has been irreparable damage to Kaho‘olawe which suffered U.S. bombardment since the 1940s. Kāne‘ohe Bay was once an important food source, the “breadbasket” of the people. It was dredged by the U.S. military and turned into a Marine Base. Our cherished Lē‘ahi, Diamond Head crater, has been ripped up and scarred and trampled on. Mokū‘ula, the ancient sacred fishpond in Lahaina, Maui, was fed by a freshwater stream. It was callously filled and destroyed. Other examples exist that are too numerous to mention here.
For over 100 years, the United States of America has shamelessly, for profit and personal gain, taken advantage of both the people of Hawai‘i and the land of our ancestors. Under President Cleveland, Queen Lili‘uokalani was illegally removed and sentenced to exile. In 1898, against the petitions of the people, Hawai‘i was annexed to the United States, and land was confiscated. During World War II, more land was confiscated for the use of the U.S. military. In 1959, when Hawai‘i became a state, the native voice was again ignored.
From the time I was born in 1923, I have been overwhelmed with the suppression of my culture, language and heritage. I learned, in the public school system and in the community, to be ashamed that I was “kanaka maoli,” (native of Hawai‘i). I could not learn the native language, as it was suppressed. The passing down of history through the hula had to be taught in secrecy. I endured these prejudices, and it has been my lifelong crusade to teach, “Be Proud of Who You Are!!” I have little time left to voice the injustices that have been done to the native people of Hawai‘i.
In 1984, I was appointed to the Native Hawaiian Study Commission by President Reagan. The Commission assessed the needs and concerns of the “kānaka maoli.”
President and Members of Congress
Page 2
April 12, 2007
Over twenty years have passed. The health of the native people is the worst in this state. The schools rank among the lowest in the nation. The needs of the native people are not being met, yet money is appropriated by the U.S. Government for the destruction of our land.
I am not alone in my plea. I have signatures of support not only from those of native ancestry (kānaka maoli); but also non-native residents who are Hawaiian-at-heart, and visitors who want our fair islands to remain a place of peace and healing.
Give heed to our voices. We have extended aloha to you, and you seek to extinguish our very being.
Respect us; be aware that we are a sovereign international nation. We are the descendants of a mighty civilization and deserve to be heard and acknowledged!
With utmost sincerity
Nona Beamer
1889 Loke Street, #411
Wailuku, HI 96793
Email: beamerw001@hawaii.rr.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROLL CALL OF SUPPORT
I agree with NONA BEAMER’S letter to Members of U. S. Congress dated April 12, 2007
Native residing in HI [1]
Native residing out of HI [2]
Non-native resident of HI [3]
Non-native resident out of HI [4]
PRINT NAME STATUS CITY/ISLAND/STATE DATE
1 Luanna Farden McKenney__ __ 1_ _Lahaina, Maui, HI_______ 4/17/2007
2_Peter W. McKenney________ __ 3_ _Lahaina, Maui, HI_______ _4/17/2007
3 Arlene Battad Kon__________ __ 1_ _Kapaa, Kauai, HI________ _4/17/2007
4__________________________ _____ _________________________ _________
posted by:
|
SF Bay Area
|
