1 side ruling roost at DOI hearings

Most Native Hawaiians turning out at the U.S. Department of the Interior’s public hearings are responding with a resounding "No!" to the question of whether Native Hawaiians should seek a limited form of self-rule known as federal recognition.

We are sure others approve of an administrative route toward achiev- ing this status, akin to that held by American Indian tribes. However, if they plan to testify, they should do it in person — like the opponents — rather than through only written comments submitted online or via mail.

The hearings are cementing the perception that most Native Hawaiians oppose federal recognition. The administrative process, if it moves forward, will not be considered legitimate unless proponents make a compelling case for it in the public square.

State follows the party line

Everyone complains about the declining interest in our elections. Yet when individuals step up to the plate and offer to run as candidates, they get slapped down — or at least they do if they’re running as nonpartisans.

For example, in the race for Hawaii governor, four nonpartisan candidates were disqualified this week because a 1996 state Supreme Court ruling said a lieutenant governor must be elected from the same party as the governor. If there are no nonpartisan candidates for lieutenant governor, there can be no nonpartisan gubernatorial candidates.That ruling involved a candidate from the Libertarian Party, which since then has always made sure to have a candidate for the second-tier post as well.

As for the four former nonpartisan candidates, they’ll be just voters in the future, if they’re still interested in participating at all.