Tip of the hat
to Kaiser nurses
The loving daily hard work of the RNs and LPNs, at Kaiser Clinic Kona goes unnoticed most of the time.
We are so grateful to those who over the past two weeks have gone the extra mile with aloha in helping us to get the contacts and care that were needed for my husbands recovery. When no one else was there. You were. The physicians should know how lucky they are to have you. You are exceptional.
Thank you so much for being there.
Carol and Harry Miles
Kailua-Kona
Compensation due
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that government may not take private property without just compensation being paid to the owner. Apparently, this only holds for non-Hawaiians.
The ceded lands belonged to the Hawaiian people and their government before annexation. The federal government took control 1.4 million acres of land when Hawaii was annexed in what even the federal government recognizes was an illegal overthrow. These lands were then transferred to the State of Hawaii upon statehood.
The State of Hawaii took these lands and routinely uses them for public purposes, but has never properly paid just compensation for their acquisition. The state Legislature, the U.S. Congress and the Supreme Court have all stated these lands were illegally acquired. If they were illegally acquired by the government, the Constitution is clear, the state must pay the owners of these lands just compensation.
It is equally clear that the federal government felt these lands belonged to the native people of Hawaii at the time they were taken and the 1898 Joint Resolution of Annexation, the 1900 Organic Act, an 1899 opinion of the U.S. Attorney General, the 1959 Admissions Act, the 1993 Apology Resolution, and the state Legislature have all stated the taking of this land occurred and that the Hawaiian people were harmed by the taking.
The state now routinely uses these lands for public purposes such as telescopes on Mauna Kea, military bases in Oahu, and airports on all of the islands. Yet, the state only pays the Office of Hawaiian Affairs $0.20 for every dollar of rent obtained from these lands. Often no compensation is paid at all, as is the case of the roadway leading up Maunakea across ceded lands. Of course, if that land had been yours or mine, we would be fully compensated for the use of that land. But, if you are the Hawaiian people, it is apparent that that state can take your property and pay you 20 cents on the dollar.
Raymond Kirchner
Kailua-Kona
