I have known and respected Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Oz Stender for several decades, but his malicious December column in Ka Wai Ola, "Fight cultural annihilation," and his likening a public educational and informational meeting to the movie, Bury Me At Wounded Knee, is knowingly false, disrespectful, and serves to validate critics and skeptics of the Akaka Bill's perceived divisiveness. It begs a response.

Mr. Stender writes about coming to our monthly October 2007 Small Business Hawaii (SBH) networking breakfast -- he wrongly calls us "Small Business Association." As President and Executive Director of Small Business Hawaii, moderator for the program that day, and one who welcomed him, let me briefly set the record straight.

A sold-out crowd of more than 80 people attended the breakfast program that morning at The Pineapple Room, Ala Moana, to hear the well advertised topic: “The Pros and Cons of the Akaka Bill's Impact on Hawaii Small Business.”

While it is certainly true that several of the people who introduced themselves and mentioned their opposition to the bill, the vast majority were there to hear both sides and make up their own mind.

All participants, including Mr. Stender, stood up, introduced themselves and could say anything they chose. Mr. Stender chose to say that Hawaiians in the room were in a minority "again." But the program was open to everyone in the public. At no time, was any disrespect or lack of courtesy shown to Mr. Stender, or anyone else in that room even though there were honest differences of opinion.

Mr. Stender attacks one of our speakers, Elaine Willman of the Citizens Equal Rights Alliance (CERA), even saying she "claims" to be of Indian descent. Ms. Willman's credentials are well known. I need not defend her.

(See her response here: "Setting the Record Straight on the Small Business Hawaii Debate Over the Akaka Bill" )

Mr. Stender did not discuss what Ms. Willman said, only who she was. One wonders where was Mr. Stender when Native pretender and former University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill was in Hawaii?

I mention that Ms. Willman was one speaker -- not a keynote speaker as Mr. Stender asserts. Interestingly, Mr. Stender would not have your readers know that not only was the program balanced but the other speaker was well respected attorney and Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce spokesman, Bruss Keppeler, who was warmly received. I wonder why he neglected to mention that important fact?

Not content with attacking Ms. Willman, Mr. Stender tries to put down several Native Hawaiians who were present, and spoke up, calling them "tokens." How disrespectful, degrading and patronizing from an OHA Trustee.

For Mr. Stender to talk about the group’s desire to "annihilate" Native Hawaiians who refuse to "assimilate," is beyond belief, irresponsible, and totally false. What motivated Mr. Stender to write this is unfathomable to me. There was nothing said or implied during that meeting that would lead any rational person to come to his conclusion or choice of volatile words unless they wanted to advance their own personal or political agenda.

This diatribe clearly shows the need for more open, public discussion about the Akaka Bill and a closer look at its supporters and their agenda.

Samuel M. Slom is the President of Small Business Hawaii and a Hawaii State Senator representing Hawaii Kai to Diamond Head on Oahu. He also is a member of GRIH’s Board of Advisors.