Every Sunday, “Back in the Day” looks at an article that ran on this date in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items are verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar
Senator William J. Nobriga, Big Island Democrat who once attacked the Hawaiian Homes commission and now says he supports it, has his own ideas on its progress.
"It’s not working because it fails to carry out the intent of the Hawaiian Homestead act," the senator says.
"Basically," he adds, "the law was set up to rehabilitate the Hawaiian race.
"But the poor Hawaiians who need to be rehabilitated can’t get the land they need.
COSTS TOO HIGH
"They can’t get it because they can’t afford the costs of developing the land.
"And they can’t borrow enough money from the homes commission to finance their homesteads.
"Only the rich Hawaiians benefit from the homestead act.
"And the rich Hawaiians," he concludes, "don’t need rehabilitation."
KING’S ANSWER
The senator is answered by Samuel Wilder King, a former delegate to congress and a member of the powerful Hawaiian Civic club.
"The law," says Mr. King, "makes no mention of rich or poor Hawaiians.
"Hawaiians who already own land, however, can’t homestead.
"We feel that in each community of homesteaders there should be a balanced cross section of the wealthy and poor.
"Those who have the benefit of formal education in any community must be prepared to accept leadership."
Mr. King feels that the homes commission should be given more financial aid.
And he feels also that the community as a whole has let the Hawaiians down.
"They’ve failed to keep their part of the bargain when Prince Kuhio introduced the Hawaiian Homestead act in congress."
