Posted on 10/19/2007 12:01:31 PM PDT by SmithL
Waimanalo, Hawaii (AP) -- In Hawaii, where blood and ancestry matter as in no other state, a legal challenge is posing this question: Who is sufficiently Hawaiian?
In Hawaii, ancestry is more than just a matter of ethnic pride. Under a program created by Congress in 1921, Native Hawaiians with strong bloodlines can get land for a home for $1 a year. Those with more mixed ancestry still receive many other benefits, including low-interest loans and admission for their children to the richly endowed and highly regarded Kamehameha Schools.
The help is designed to make amends for the 1893 U.S. overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom, the annexation of the islands, and the hundreds of thousands of deaths caused by foreign disease.
In a federal lawsuit filed in 2005, Native Hawaiians with at least 50 percent islander blood want exclusive control over state programs currently open to everyone with at least some Native Hawaiian blood.
In a separate dispute that could also be headed for court, state residents with no Native Hawaiian ancestry are questioning why they can't join a Hawaiians-only voter registry.
The two cases are just the latest in a string of challenges over the special treatment accorded Native Hawaiians.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Aloha apartheid.
Yep, incredibly, in this new millenia, DNA is to be the trump card.
“Under a program created by Congress in 1921, Native Hawaiians with strong bloodlines can get land for a home for $1 a year.”
Unfortunately, it’s on the Kilauea lava flow.
“Tippecanoe and Maloko Too!”
almost sounds like eugenics. pure-bloods get government benefits
This is ridiculous. I think it’s possible that the Hawaiian royal family was worse off because of the annexation. But the Hawaiian people? Just look at the basket cases that pass for nations in the Central Pacific. No way, no how.
No ha’oles, brah....
Some Animals are more equal...
If my parents honeymooned in Hawaii can I at least get a low interest mortgage there?
I was watching the Hawaii/San Jose St game last week and noticed Hawaii didn’t the American flag on their helmets. They’re the first team I noticed not having them. I wonder what was behind that decision?
Or Kaho'olawe.
One of these families practically owns the island of Niihau and keeps the Polynesians as pets.
Most of these descendants are not so ancient in Hawaii--they came there from other Polynesian islands.
Considering how few they are and how unique is Hawaii--I don't think it's such a big deal.
I have the entire boxed set of Hawaii 5-0 TV programs. What do I get ?
Somehow I don’t think there were “hundreds of thousands of Hawaiians” killed or otherwise.
Who is sufficiently related to human scrifice?
Ke mahalo nui aku nei au i ko pu.
I was stationed in Pearl Harbor long enough for my daughter to be born on Oahu. As far as I’m concerned, she’s a Hawaiian.
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