The state Department of Land and Natural Resources on Tuesday complained about the behavior of state Rep. Faye Hanohano, portraying the representative as "abusive in authority, racially discriminatory and inappropriate" to the department’s staff.
In a letter to state House Speaker Joseph Souki, William Aila Jr., the department’s director, detailed several incidents in which Hanohano allegedly made disparaging comments toward department staff at committee hearings.
Hanohano, who is Native Hawaiian and the chairwoman of the House Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, allegedly made remarks about how land was stolen from many Hawaiians, implied that a department staffer was responsible for genocide and complained about malihini (newcomers) making policy decisions.
"We believe in accountability and stand ready to answer hard questions by lawmakers," Aila wrote. "But DLNR leadership and staff have no level of confidence in testifying before a hearing in which Rep. Hanohano is present that they will be treated fairly or with respect by her."
Aila, who was in Washington, D.C., said by telephone that he has tried to meet personally with Hanohano to discuss his concerns, but she has declined the opportunity. "We just thought that the speaker needed to be aware of it and the speaker needed to talk to Chairperson Hanohano to try to get her to be more cordial," he said.
Aila asked House leaders to take the department’s concerns into account during the House’s inquiry into Hanohano’s behavior.
House leaders have said they intend to assign a special committee to look into Hanohano’s conduct after receiving several complaints. The special committee has not been named, sources said Tuesday, as House leaders consider whether they can reach an understanding with Hanohano.
Souki (D, Waihee-Waiehu-Wailuku) on Friday apologized on behalf of the House after a Hawaii Pacific University student claimed he was treated rudely by Hanohano at a committee hearing this month where he testified in favor of a bill to protect sharks and rays. The student said Hanohano asked him whether she would be forced to eat people if there was a taro famine and new state penalties for eating shark. He said she also made dismissive comments about Westerners and about his age.
Hanohano (D, Hawaiian Acres-Pahoa-Kalapana) apologized last year after she made ethnic and racial remarks in front of exhibit specialists who were installing art in her office for the Art in Public Places program. The representative was disappointed that none of the art was from Native Hawaiian artists.
Hanohano declined to respond Tuesday to a message left with the House communications office seeking comment.
The DLNR letter, provided to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser by a source who requested confidentiality, described several incidents involving Hanohano as "just a sampling" of the representative’s treatment of department staff.
At a hearing this month before the House Water and Land Committee on bills relating to the Bureau of Conveyances and Land Court, according to the letter, Hanohano allegedly asked a department staffer whether the staffer agreed that land was stolen from many Hawaiians, specifically on the neighbor islands.
At a hearing this month before Hanohano’s House Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs Committee on a bill relating to the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the letter states, Hanohano allegedly told a department staffer that the staffer was responsible for genocide.
At a hearing this month before the House Water and Land Committee and the House Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs Committee on a bill relating to an endangered species recovery committee, the letter claims Hanohano made a comment about malihini making policy decisions in front of two white department staffers.
Aila, who is Native Hawaiian, said Hanohano has lectured department staff in Hawaiian knowing that the staffers did not speak or understand the Hawaiian language. He said members of the department staff have felt disrespected because they believe Hano­hano was acting with "angry spirit and discriminatory intent."
Aila, describing one of the incidents, said that while Hawaiian is one of the state’s official languages, "this was a public hearing, and neither the testifiers, the audience nor the other committee members understood what Rep. Hanohano was saying."
