Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 9, 1 September 1987 — Means Views Hawaiian, Indian Problems as One and the Same [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Means Views Hawaiian, Indian Problems as One and the Same

"Our problems are one and the same. We are one with the native Hawaiians. We share the same spiritual foundation." These were some of the views expressed to Ka Wai OJa O OHA Aug. 3 by Russell Means, 47, the symbol of Amenean Indian activism in the 1970s.

He was at the Ala Moana Americana Hotel where two days before on Aug. 1 he addressed the fourth annual conference of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce and the third Transnational Fair. Means, a Sioux, is running for president of the United States as a member of the Libertarian Party. Honolulu was his 68th city in the 36th state of a tour that started in February when he announced his candidacy.

The 6-1, 200-pound Means, who wears black leather laces binding the braids of his hair, was one of the prime movers of the Amenean Indian Movement. Many remember him as the leader of the 1973 violent oeeupation of Wounded Knee, S.D. This action was to eall attention to the plight of the American Indians. Nearly a century before that occupation, 200 Indians had been massacred at Wounded Knee. Means admits it is a horse race between himself and former Republican congressman Ron Paul for the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination whieh is expected to be decided Sept. 5 during the organization's Sept. 2-6 convention in Seattle, Wash. He notes he has the only strategy on what he wants to do as president.

Of Hawaiians, he said their plight is no different than that of the Indians. "It is a constant struggle — land, water, survival, deeds, quality education, adequate health care. The U.S. government has continually refused to live up to its obligations to these people," Means said. "Every individual has rights as long as he is responsible. But what we have here is the Hawaiian people aren't allowed to sue the government for their rights," he pointed out, adding, "This is why I say the Libertarian Party is for every American."

Also with Means that Aug. 3 morning at the Ala Moana were Benjamin G. Maynigo, national president of APACC who is based in Washington, D.C., and Fred Lane, a Lummi Indian who serves as International Trade Coordinator for the American Indian Trade and Development Council, U.S. Department of the Interior. Lane, who operates out of the Puget Sound Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Everett, Wash., said that one of the biggest accomplishments of the APACC conference was the signing of a cooperative agreement to work together in developing programs, establishing potential markets for their products and enter into a potential joint venture.

Maynigo explained that APACC was organized to serve and represent the professional and business interests of Asian Pacific Americans around the nation, seeking eeonomie, social and poliheal parity. The organization, whieh is funded by the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has been in existence five years. Maynigo is serving his second term as national president. Officers and members of the Hawaii chapter of APACC are Dr. Mario Hidalgo, president; Roberta Melton, vice president for administration; Paul Salibad, vice president for membership; Johnson Choi,

treasurer; Ellas Carabbacan, secretary; and Albert Chan, Gerald Sumida and Ronie Cabanada, members of the board. James P. Ellis is the advisor. APACC has schedu!ed its 1988 convention for Anaheim, Calif. One hundred and fifty registered for the 1987 conference with more than 200 in attendance eaeh of the three days, Maynigo reported.

Russell Means

Fred Lane

Benjamin Maynigo