A grudge by some legislators against the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts may still be on even after state Rep. Faye Hanohano’s apology for her racially abusive threats to SFCA staff for placing works by non-Native Hawaiian artists in her office.
Hanohano apologized for telling workers to take down "any work done by haoles, Japs, paranges, pakes" and threatening to cut the agency’s funding.
She promised to rebuild and improve relations with the SFCA, and agency Executive Director Eva Laird Smith accepted the apology.
Since then Hanohano renewed her request that the SFCA remove its art from her office, and it was taken down last week. State Rep. Rida Cabanilla also had art removed from her office, apparently in solidarity with Hanohano.
House Communications Director Carolyn Tanaka said the art was removed because "Reps. Hanohano and Cabanilla wanted to have their own personal art pieces and photographs displayed in their offices."
Also since the apology, House Speaker Joe Souki introduced House Resolution 169, pressing the SFCA to dedicate a set proportion of its budget for works by Native Hawaiian artists.
Souki denied any reprisal, saying, "I have strongly and publicly reprimanded Rep. Hanohano for her offensive language and behavior, and have made it clear that I will not tolerate similar outbursts by any member of the House of Representatives."
He added, "The incident also brought to my attention that we should expand our efforts to showcase the artwork of Native Hawaiian artists. I introduced HR 169 as a means to have that discussion."
So, in effect, Souki rewarded behavior he called offensive and unacceptable by championing the grievance Hanohano so crudely voiced.
Laird Smith said the SFCA doesn’t view HR 169 as reprisal, but doesn’t think it’s needed because the agency’s strategic plan since 2009 has made a major goal of boosting Native Hawaiian art.
Funding has been committed to commissioning and displaying more Native Hawaiian art and supporting Hawaiian dance, music, drama and art education, she said.
HR 169 was referred to Hanohano’s Hawaiian Affairs Committee, state Rep. K. Mark Takai’s Culture and the Arts Committee, and the Finance Committee, but none has yet scheduled hearings.
Hanohano didn’t respond to a request sent through Tanaka for comments on HR 169; Takai said he hasn’t decided whether he’ll hear the measure before the April 12 deadline.
The issue at this point isn’t art, but the right of these state employees to be protected from abuse by an elected official — and to be protected from any hint of reprisal for complaining.
As for Hanohano, in her statement on the House floor regarding the controversy, the Hawaii island Democrat likened herself to a Hawaiian warrior.
Continuing a grudge after apologizing and promising to make amends is the opposite of a warrior.
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Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.
