A New Crusade Against Darkness

Recently, suicide across our islands has been increasing, especially on Molokai.  Although we would like to leave the other islands autonomous, the fact remains that we are one people and each island is only another kino of the same body.

This does not mean that we should tell our neighbor islands how to govern, but we equally should not ignore their burdens, for that is our brethren, our ohana, and we are one.

Our community on Molokai is in the process of addressing this topic.  Let us give them our full support and prayer, for the next life they save could be one of our own.

Molokai is a hard working island who has accomplished 
one small thing that we couldn't all achieve.

They kept Molokai Hawaiian.

In the Struggling Warrior department, that speaks volumes to me, the writer, about how amazing our warriors can be.

That's a bigger sovereignty than most of us can brag about.

But they also endure struggles and pressures that we don't, because of the size of the island and the unique struggles they face.

In battle ground's past, Molokai has given us a strong sense of leadership and they are about to launch another effort that we believe is going to be a strong one.

Today, July 31, 2017 at 5pm there will be the initial meeting

to discuss it all and we are asking for your prayers

for their interest, attendance or ability to attend, dedication, involvement and especially the financing to carry this heavy topic.

If you are able to send in contributions to assist them, please 

** contact Hawaiiloa Mowat via fb **

to whom already has laid out the dedication to spearhead such a project to help others.

If you cannot contribute in worldly ways, can you please, well can we all please just stop after reading this and pray over it?

As one person, we are overwhelmed.

As one nation, we are strong.

Aloha Kekahi i Kekahi

Fry Bread People

Do you see this simple photo above of people shaped fry bread? 

Notice that some are darker and some are lighter?

Do you see any qualities that would make each of them unique?

They are all unique people on one plate.  

We are all unique people on one planet.

Some of them are dark, some of them are light. 

Some of us are brown and some of us are white. 

Just like our little dough boys above, 

each of us is a little different from the next. 

But we are all on the same plate.

Together.

So let's realize that just because our family

is one way, that has nothing to do with the other family.

Just because we are right handed, that doesn't mean the left is wrong.

Just because we grew up a certain way, 

does not mean everybody grew up the same way.

Just because you think something is cool, 

does not mean others agree.

Just because we don't see everything the same, 

does not mean we are divided or that we should be.

But just like these little fry breads in the picture, 

our differences does not mean that any of us are not one in the same.

It simply means we are a diverse people.

Maui Lani Prophecy

  Living on the edge of the new Maui Lani developments provides an insight that most people might have as a passing thought but I have all day every day to see it because I cannot ignore what I must look at and drive through daily.  I have to drive through it or around it multiple times throughout the day to come and go from my residence above some of the sand-hill burials, in Hale Makana O Waiale apartment complex.  

Aside from watching the Waiale Punawai mysteriously dry up this year, the dry water catchment tank behind Walgreens, and the old dried up Spreckles Ditch that runs along the burial hill, I am able to see all the trucks that have been mining sand for the last 2-3 years.  Yeah, those ones that are only now getting attention.  I also got to see how they mis-preserved the burial in Walgreens parking lot where they put the grave marker on the side of the Waiale Rd entrance, while the body remains are under the exit lane of the driveway.  I even got to see the mistakes they made while building the the new sports park for the Maui Lani community.

I'm assuming their intentions were to give those who purchase their home in the Parkway, Traditions & Legends, a place to play ball and sign their keiki up for sport programs.  It has once been said that the road to hell was paved with good intentions.  I remember watching the development and thinking to myself:  Where are they going to put the parking lot?  Where are people going to park when there are events?  Well the street is lined with these really pretty stretches of green, grassy islands that run between the lanes of oncoming traffic, and those pretty little stretches of grass are maintained by an intricate sprinkler system that was once meant to keep the grass green and pretty.

Well I applaud the planners of this development for their expertise in building plans.  This past week, Maui Lani held its first tryouts for youth sport teams and since there was no parking, people were parked all along that green grassy island in the middle of the road, all on top of that delicate sprinkler system.   Well, so much for the pretty sprinkler system and green grass.  Within a year, that stretch of grass is going to be distraught, as well as the community having broken sprinkler system issues.  I sure hope that the people who purchased property along or below this point have a good flood insurance and take care of their personal property in a manner consistent with preventive measure for things to happen.  

Secondly, I'd like to point out traffic during school times, during peak traffic hours and now during practice & game times within park activity times is going to be a monstrosity, eventually leading to a few good accidents and a new red light at the corner of Kuikahi & Kamehameha Avenues.   My spidey senses tell me this could very well be in the works by the end of the upcoming 2017-2018 school year.  

Try ask any resident who has to go through this area a few times a day and they just might agree.  Its already getting dangerous to drive through there with the ever increasing traffic hold up at that stop sign intersection.  There are bound to be some major problems prior to the end of the 2017-2018 school year.   There is simply too much development booming in one spot.  There is simply too much desecration going on of our kupuna'iwi.  Let this silly named article serve as a heads up to what is to come regarding that particular strip of development.  Kudos to the smart guys who thought to build a park with inadequate parking.  Accounts payable and pending repairs are the developer's responsibility.   

Land Protection Prep Notes

Long before the sheriff process begins, the owner knows what is going on with their lands.  This knowledge indicates what stage of distress we are in and what we need to do to start preparing right away.  Let's not get stressed and shame, then try to get help the last minute.  That stresses the whole lahui out and makes people not want to help anymore.  Plus, you won't be prepared to win or get help, because no matter what you do, it costs and waiting until the last minute usually means you also won't be prepared for the cost.  Others in the community might be smart, but they aren't usually smart, rich and willing to drop their family at the drop of a dime - just because you waited until the last minute.  Remember, they didn't do this to you but are willing to help you, if you are willing to be a part of your own solution.  You must be a part of your own solution, not a part of your own problem.

 Rather than get all shame and procrastinate getting help, start right away! What can you do? 

1. You can start by gathering all of your palapala and putting it order by date.  Put the oldest stuff on the bottom and the newest stuff on top.  This will make it easier to understand what is going on with your case.  This is one of the most important steps in any case. Don't expect people to help you if they don't know what is going on.  It usually won't happen that way. 

2.  Once you gather your palapala, start to save for filing.  It doesn't matter if you are only saving change to get that savings started.  Photocopies, notary and filing cost per page.  You will also need to obtain copies of your genealogy.

3.  Do your genealogy.  This is one of the three most important parts of fighting for your land.  Having this on hand is one of the single most important things you can do for your descendants. We cannot stress this enough. 

4.  Request all maps related to your lands from the Bureau of Conveyance, as well as any other documentation you will need to file.  If you cannot afford filing, hold a plate lunch fundraiser and make the money.  That is your kuleana, not anybody else's.  It's your land. 

5.  Begin to look for a person to help you.  Don't think a person knows what they're doing just because they had an Aunty on another island who went through this already.  Look for the names of people who have succeeded themselves already.  Look for the names of those who do this kind of work.  Go to your local Aha Moku meeting.  You will find resources there.

6.  Depending on your situation, the rest of your prep can vary, but we're only talking about Kuleana Lands, so if you are simply fighting a foreclosure, you will have to talk to your counsel.  

7.  If you are already on your own lineal lands, gather your TMK numbers & your genealogy and go down to the Real Property Tax Office.  Ask for one Kuleana Tax Paper.  Be warned:  Plenty of times I have gone down there to ask for one and the clerk had no clue what I was talking about.  Do not be discouraged.   Just tell them to ask a peer for help, because Kuleana Papers have ALWAYS existed and always will.  That tax program is in perpetuity, meaning forever.  

8.  Don't leave the office yet!!  Go to wherever you can write and fill out the one page Kuleana Form.  It only takes minutes.  Take it back to the clerk and make sure the knowledgeable clerk is there.  Might want to have someone there to record this part until the end of your transaction.  It will help you in the future, should you need that point of reference, and should you choose to share it with others, it will be an invaluable source of direction for many.  

9.  Sometimes, you will still have to negotiate the back taxes, depending on your case.  Yes, we all know the system  is corrupt, but this was only allowed to happen because your land was not properly registered as Kuleana to begin with.  Don't blame others, just be thankful that from this part forward, you won't have to pay taxes.  Make the arrangement and apply for help or make fundraiser again, to pay off the old debt.  Maybe, if you have that kind of support, you can crowd fund within your family.   

10.  Even if your lands are not in danger of being lost yet, and your kupuna is paying taxes, please just go file now.  It will save your family hundreds of thousands of dollars and more, in the long run.  

11.  It is illegal for you to borrow money or get an equity loan against your land.  If you need money, lease out your land for organic farm use with restrictions, but don't jeopardize your land.  If you need welfare, then feel free to transfer your land to another family member or something.  Let it hereby be known that once lands are adjudicated upon in one country, it is illegal for America to come through and make a ruling on that very same land today.  They cannot make a judgment upon that land.  However, if you are gambling with your land in the name of getting money, which gets spent and is gone in one whop,  please don't expect people to help you get that land back.  Your land is invaluable and can be used in many ways to make money.  Losing your land for money is ludicrous.  Money burns and is gone after that. 

12.  If you owe on the mortgage of your house, kindly return the house to the bank, but they cannot take your land.  This is where you would need the most legal help and to decide if you are fighting the case as one Kanaka Maoli or as one Hawaiian-American.  Both avenues have their advantages and both have their setbacks.  Please seek advice and be sure to have ALL of your palapala ready. 

So these are the reasons that you should start sooner, rather than later.  Certain parts of this can be time consuming, and to expect someone to drop their family and life to protect your assets is a lot to ask.  Actually, if you think someone should do this for you for free, that is asking way too much.  Please don't put another family in a hardship situation over your personal problems.  That's just wrong.  Prepare yourself immediately and ask for help ahead of time. 

Introducing Hannah Buttah

We all know the history now, and we are aware of the fraud behind the state. While some choose to continue under state, others continue to perpetuate truth in facts. During all this political questioning, we also struggle to find a way to express our origins in actuality. Well, those terms have been divided by nationality, which is different than race. Nationality is determined by your choice of allegiance. Here is a clip to help you understand this concept:

Hannah Buttah: Question of the Day