Harmon's Letter to Na Kumu Book Advisory Group

Bobby N. Harmon, CPCU, ARM

Louisville, Kentucky 40229-1655

June 10, 2004

via e-mail @ nakumu@ksbe.edu

Kehau Abad

Julian Ako

Kawika Eyre

Randie Fong

Gail Fujiomoto

Keala Kwan

Kawika Makanani

Larry McElheny

Janet Zisk

RE: The Na Kumu Book Advisory Group

Aloha,

Thank you for your letter dated June 1, 2004 regarding the current status of the book project and an overview as to how you have come to this point.

Although I can understand your disappointment in the current situation regarding how the book has evolved, I have some doubts and misgivings about your suggestion that the people interviewed for this project withdraw our interview material from the book project. My fear is that if I, and others, withdraw our interview material from the book project now, this invaluable information may never see the light of day.

From what I gather from your letter, the basic disappointment with the project comes from too great a focus on the legal tone and perspective of Roth’s book, versus the original intent of the Na Kumu Advisory Group to produce a work that reflects many views and voices that tell the human and cultural side of the story of the Kamehameha Schools during this controversial period. Of course, I am not as close to the project as you are, but I am wondering if this approach of withdrawing the interview material might be a bit like throwing out the proverbial baby with the bath water.

As a suggestion, might it not be more productive in the long run to allow Roth to proceed on his own with his book in order not to waste all the time and energy that everyone has put into the project thus far. Then, could you not just discontinue your active support of the Roth book at the present time, and switch that support instead to another project that is similar, but one that is written in a “talk story” style which approaches this period in Kamehameha’s history from the cultural viewpoint, and one that could easily be read and enjoyed by your students.

If you believe this might present a viable solution to your present problems, then I would recommend that you contact Arthur Rath who, according to my information, has such a book nearly ready for publication.

Arthur Rath’s e-mail address is rath@alltel.net .

Hopefully, this avenue of approach might work in the best interests of all concerned, and the community would end up with two books – serving different audiences and different needs instead of just one - or none.

Before saying “aloha”, I’d just like to invite all of you to my “inquisition” to be held at the United States Bankruptcy Court, 1132 Bishop Street, Suite 250-L, Honolulu, HI 96813, on June 14 and 15, 2004, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Hawaii time. That is, if you’d like to see to what lengths the old, and new, regimes continue to go to keep “my story” silenced. This will be by video conference. I’ll be at a Kinko’s in Kentucky, so I unfortunately won’t be able to shake hands with any of you. “Shaka” sign, perhaps.

Meanwhile, if you’d like an update to my “talk story”, please visit this website:

www.the-catbird-seat.net/HarmonArbitration.htm

I’m still behind your project all the way, and wish you great success!

Aloha,

Bobby N. Harmon

cc: Dr. Randy Roth, via e-mail @ rroth@hawaii.edu

James B. Farris, Senior Case Manager

American Arbitration Association

via fax @ 559-490-1919, and e-mail: Farris@adr.org

Mary Lou Woo, Trustee,

c/o Steven Guttman, Esq., Kessner Duca Umebayashi Bain & Matsunaga

(via fax only @ 808-529-7177)