Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 9, 1 September 2003 — What do you think about Federal Recognition? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

What do you think about Federal Recognition?

Kalei Kaha'ulelio , Kane'ohe "I think there should be more information put out there in the community, not just for Native Hawaiians but for everyone who lives in Hawai'i. Because no matter what ethnicity you are, no matter where you eome from, you will be impacted by federal recognition for Native Hawaiians, if you live here in Hawai'i."

'Ofa Wolfgramm , Kapalama "I'm wary of what they've done to the Native American tribes because I don't want to be put on a reservation. I don't want to have all the gambling — and I know right now it says that that is not what it is supposed to do, but I don't even want that as an option. I don't want all the Hawaiians pushed on a homestead, pushed in a corner and pushed on one island and everything else given to the United States."

Charlie Ogata , Kane'ohe "Am I as a non-Hawaiian going to be a secondary citizen of these islands? I was born and raised in Hawai'i. I don't know any other country. How is that going to affect somebody like me?"

Todd Apo, Honolulu "I think the federal recognition bill will have a gigantic impact on Hawaiian youth. People my age and older are sort of watching the process go through. I think the younger generations are the ones that are really going to see what gets implemented and be benefited by what happens out of this bill."

Zelei M. Abordo, Honolulu "They are recognizing us and everything that they did was illegal from the beginning. Everything is illegal and they're going to do it anyway, and they want our opinion? Keep your recognition — I know I am Hawaiian."

Lehua Kadooka , Honolulu "I am in favor of federal recognition because despite our very tormented past and all the colonized situations that have happened, I am for the American system, I am proud to be a part of it as a Hawaiian, as an American, and I hope that being federally recognized will provide more opportunities for our people."

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