One last Aloha Friday contribution:
Kealoha Kahunaaina Iona asks:
I don't know if I'll get in but either way I want my concerns to be heard loud and clear.These are the concerns of the 410,000 who didn't sign plus the indeterminable number descendants not considered qualified by this predetermined process dictated and advertised as one of self-determination--- descendants of approximately 3/4 of the Hawaii National population of 1893!I have submitted my application to the delegate board under duress and coercion and really believe this is so
Is there any manao that you may have, Dr. Chang, that would enlighten myself and others about duress and coercion in this circumstance. Is coercion and duress apparent here considering the list? I completely understand if you are not able to answer these questions for any ethical or moral reason. And if so e kala mai! I mean no disrespect I just thought it would be a great idea to hear your feelings on this.
Mahalo,
Kamahana
Aloha Kamahana:
A thought that I expressed elsewhere: International observers to oversee the process of constructing the roll of eligible Hawaiian voters, observe the judicial attempt to set aside the election in court, and be present at the election, but not at the ‘Aha itself. This is an election prompted by the United States and the State of Hawaii outside of the United States. It deserves outside observation. Outside observers are even invited to watch over US. elections. They would have no power—but they would have a world voice:
"International monitors at US polling spots draw criticism from voter fraud groups"
“The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the NAACP and the ACLU, among other groups, warned this month in a letter to Daan Everts, a senior official with OSCE, of “a coordinated political effort to disenfranchise millions of Americans — particularly traditionally disenfranchised groups like minorities.
The request for foreign monitoring of election sites drew a strong rebuke from Catherine Engelbrecht, founder and president of True the Vote, a conservative-leaning group seeking to crack down on election fraud.
“These activist groups sought assistance not from American sources, but from the United Nations,” she said in a statement to The Hill. “The United Nations has no jurisdiction over American elections.”
Neil Simon, director of communications for the OSCE’s parliamentary assembly, agreed the U.N. does not have jurisdiction over U.S. elections but noted all OSCE member counties, which include the United States, have committed since 1990 to hold free and democratic elections and to allow one another to observe their elections.
The observers, from countries such as Germany, France, Serbia, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, will observe voting at polling places and other political activity.
“They [will] observe the overall election process, not just the ballot casting,” said Giovanna Maiola, spokeswoman for OSCE. “They are focusing on a number of areas on the state level, including the legal system, election administration, the campaign, the campaign financing [and] new voting technologies used in the different states.”
In a follow-up e-mail, Maiola noted that it is a limited election-observation mission. She said “the OSCE has regularly been invited to observe elections in the United States, in line with OSCE commitments.”
Access of international observers during voting is explicitly allowed in some states such as Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota and New Mexico.
“State law does not generally provide for international observers,” Maiola said. “
However, through our contacts at state and county level in certain states, we managed to secure invitations at local level and we have taken up the offer to observe. Where this is not possible, we will respect the state regulation on this matter and will not observe in precincts on Election Day.”
International observers will follow up on the concerns raised by civil rights groups.
“We attended their meeting, we took note of the issued they raised and we asked our observers in the field to follow up on them,” said Maiola.”
Mahalo and aloha,
Williamson Chang
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