THERE'S A RENEWED EFFORT TO CHANGE THE NAME OF MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL AND REMOVE STATUE OF ITS NAMESAKE.

SUPPORTERS OF THE CAMPAIGN CITE PRESIDENT MCKINLEY ROLE IN THE ANNEXATION.

PRIDE FOR REASONS KEEPING THE CHANGE.

SHOULD STATE KEEP THE NAME OF OAHU'S OLDEST HIGH SCHOOL.

LIVESTREAM PBS HAWAII START NOW.

¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I’M DARYL HUFF.

A RESOLUTION TO URGE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CHANGE THE NAME OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL NAME OF HONOLULU HIGH SCHOOL AND TO REMOVE MCKINLEY’S STATUE FROM THE CAMPUS IS SET TO BE INTRODUCED AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

HONOLULU HIGH SCHOOL’S NAME WAS CHANGED TO MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL IN 1907 AND THE STATUE WAS INSTALLED IN 1911.

HAWAII RESOLUTION 179, WHICH CALLS FOR THE NAME CHANGE, STATES THAT THE SCHOOL NAME IS A “SYMBOL TO PERPETUATE THE SUBJUGATION OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS.” A PETITION TO KEEP THE NAME ARGUES THAT A NAME CHANGE WOULD DISRUPT “TRADITIONS AND PRACTICES STUDENTS LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR, AND SLIGHT THE ALUMNI WHO HAVE GRADUATED AS ‘MCKINLEY TIGERS.’” THIS ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN A CAUSE FOR PASSIONATE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.

SHOULD MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL CHANGE ITS NAME?

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL US OR CALL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE CONVERSATION ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

REPRESENTATIVE AMY PERRUSO SPENT MOST OF HER CAREER AS A HAWAII PUBLIC SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER.

SHE HAS SERVED ON THE GOVERNOR’S BLUEPRINT FOR EDUCATION TASK FORCE AND IS CURRENTLY SERVING HER SECOND TERM AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DISTRICT COVERING WAHIAWA, WHITMORE VILLAGE, AND POAMOHO IN CENTRAL OAHU.

RON OKAMURA IS THE CURRENT PRINCIPAL OF MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

HE HAS SPENT 35 YEARS WORKING IN THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

HE ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA WHERE HE RECEIVED A BACHELORS IN SECONDARY EDUCATION AND A MASTER IS EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION.

KAINOA AZAMA IS A YOUTH ADVOCATE AND IS CURRENTLY THE CHAIR OF THE HONOLULU YOUTH COMMISSION, PRESIDENT OF THE JR. KOOLAUPOKO HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB, A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION: HEIRS 2 OUR OCEANS, AND STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR KA LEO O NA OPIO.

CHANCE NAAUAO‑OTA GRADUATED FROM MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL IN 2018.

HE CURRENTLY IS THE SECRETARY FOR THE LILIHA/PUUNUI/ALEWA/KAMEHAMEHA HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD.

LET ME START WITH YOU.

FORMER INTRODUCER OF THIS RESOLUTION.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO CHANGE SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEEN IN PLACE FOR SO LONG?

WHAT IS THE ARGUMENT OR GETTING READY OF THAT STATUE AND CHANGING THE NAME?

>> I WANT TO SAY THAT I CAME TO THIS ISSUE FROM PARTICULAR BACKGROUND.

SO AS A VETERAN SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AND CIVICS TEACHER I THINK THAT TRUTH‑TELLING IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US OUR STUDENT AND IMPORTANT FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

OVER THE COURSE OF MY CAREER AS AN EDUCATOR, I FOUND THAT'S OFTEN IN THE MOST DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FIND SOME TRANSFORMATION AND SOME HEALING.

OUR INTENTION INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH HAD BEEN INTRODUCED IN 2006, REINTRODUCING IT REVISITING THAT DISCUSSION WAS REALLY TO RESPOND TO THE COMMUNITY IN TREATIES FOR SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION AND SOME KIND OF RECOGNITION OF THE HARM THAT THEY FELT EMANATING FROM THIS NAME AND FROM THE STATUE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS EVENING.

I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

>>Daryl: WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THIS AND I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT TO KEEP THE STATUE THERE.

DO YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE TELL YOU IT'S HURTFUL TO THEM?

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED PEOPLE SAYING THAT THE HURTFUL.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT THERE.

OF COURSE.

IT IS.

HOW I WOULD RESPOND TO THAT IS THE FACT THAT'S BEEN A PART OF NOT ONLY MY LIFE, BEEN A HUGE HIGHLIGHT OF THAT LIFE PERSONALLY, BUT ALSO, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ESPECIALLY ALUMNI, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS, WHO HAVE WORKED WITH MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL AND ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE A NATIONALLY RENOWNED SCHOOL.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT IDENTITY.

>>Daryl: HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SEE IS THAT STATUE STANDING THERE?

>> I FEEL IT REPRESENTS JUST CONTINUED NARRATIVE OF HISTORY RATHER THAN HISTORY, WHAT DOES THAT STATUE HOLD?

HOLDS TREATY OF ANNEXATION.

NEVER HAPPENED, WE NEVER, NEVER WAS A RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY OF ANNEXATION.

CONTINUES TO EMBODY THE MEMORY OF OUR CONTINUED OPPRESSION AND CONTINUED INJUSTICES THAT ARE ONGOING AS A RESULT OF THE ORIGINAL LIE, ORIGINAL MYTH.

REALLY TIES INTO US REALLY CALLING FOR THIS TIES INTO WHAT REPRESENTATIVE HAD SAID PREVIOUSLY.

REALLY NEED TO ENTER PATH AND JOURNEY OF HEALING.

WHAT REALLY DRAWED ME HERE TODAY.

>>Daryl: MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, ANOTHER EDUCATOR ON THIS PANEL SAID IT DOESN'T REPRESENT TRUTH.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND THAT AND WHY DO YOU FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT NOT CHANGING THIS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, IT'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME TO MIND.

ALSO A SOCIAL STUDIES MAJOR AND TEACHER AS WELL.

HISTORY IS IMPORTANT.

AND WHAT WE STRIVE DO AS EDUCATORS, IS ALSO GIVING BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.

IT IS LOOKING AT HAWAIIAN HISTORY AND LOOKING AT THE U.S. HISTORY, WHAT ENTAILED, WHAT TAKEN PLACE, WE WANT TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS THE BIGGEST PERSPECTIVE OF BOTH SIDES OF WHAT THE ARGUMENT IS ABOUT.

LET THEM COME UP WITH THEIR OWN DECISIONS HOW THEY WANT TO CARRY ON WITH THAT.

I THINK FOR ME, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS ABOUT LOOKING AT A SCHOOL LIKE PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BEING PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

IT'S ABOUT BEING MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL AS A BRAND.

CHANCE KIND OF HIT UPON IT, THOUSANDS OF ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SCHOOL AND LOOK AT THE TYPES OF STUDENTS THAT COME FROM THIS SCHOOL.

ALL THE LEADERS IN HAWAII.

BOTH POLITICAL AND BUSINESS AND MILITARY.

IT'S THE COMMON BOND.

AND I THINK PART OF OUR WHOLE LOCAL CULTURE IS LOOKING AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL AS PART OF YOUR BEING WHO YOU ARE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HISTORY TALKS ABOUT BOTH SIDES.

AND CHANCE HAS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT LOOKING AT THE RESOLUTIONS AND TREATIES AND WHATEVER THIS COME ABOUT AS PART OF THIS.

BUT I THINK BIGGER ISSUE IS THAT, WHEN I LOOK AT FROM MY STANDPOINT, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO CHANGE WHAT HISTORY IS?

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY, ERASE, CERTAIN ASPECTS OF IT WITHOUT TELLING BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY?

AND I THINK THAT IS MADE ME KIND OF STAND UP AND THINK, AS NOT ONLY AS EDUCATOR BUT AS A CITIZEN, AMERICAN CITIZEN, I THINK WE NEED TO PRESENT BOTH SIDES OF STORY.

LET EVERYBODY COME OUT AND MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

BUT LET THE DECISION BE AT THE SCHOOL WHERE IT BELONGS.

REALLY, THIS IS OUR SCHOOL.

THIS IS MANY, MANY THOUSAND OF ALUMNI WHO GRADUATED.

THEIR SCHOOL.

LET THEM BE THE ONES TO MAKE THAT DECISION FOR US.

>>Daryl: LET ME ASK.

JUST GIVE US LITTLE HISTORY LESSON HERE.

WHAT WAS MCKINLEY ROLE IN PARTICULAR THAT MAKES HIM SORT OF A FLASHPOINT FOR THIS DEBATE?

>> SO HE WAS, HIS ELECTION WAS UNTIMELY.

IN THE SENSE THAT THE OVERTHROW HAD ALREADY BEEN, AMERICAN, AMERICA, AMERICAN MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN THE OVERTHROW HAD ALREADY BEEN DENOUNCED BY PRESIDENT CLEVELAND AND WE WERE I THINK, ON A PATH TOWARDS RESOLUTION AND RESTORATION OF HAWAIIAN SOVEREIGNTY.

AND THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT, WILLIAM MCKINLEY AVOWED IMPERIALIST AND IF YOU READ HIS WRITINGS CLEAR RACIST.

REALLY SHIFTED THE POSSIBILITIES.

SO THERE WERE MULTIPLE EFFORTS TO PUSH THROUGH A TREATY OF ANNEXATION THROUGH CONGRESS ALL FAILED.

GIVEN FAILURE OF THOSE EFFORTS, HE THEN PROCEEDED TO AFTER THE DECLARATION OF SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, ANOTHER ACTIVE EMPIRE BUILDING, THEN PROCEED TO PUSH THROUGH JOINT RESOLUTION.

WE SHOULD HAVE NO BINDING EFFECT ON ANOTHER COUNTRY.

IT'S AN ACT OF CONGRESS.

SO I THINK THERE ARE MULTIPLE POINTS IN THIS PROCESS IN WHICH MCKINLEY'S ACTIONS ARE YOU KNOW, NOT THOSE THAT WE SHOULD HONOR.

SO I HEAR PRINCIPAL OKAMURA TALKING ABOUT VALUE OF LOOKING AT BOTH SIDES BUT I THINK THAT NAMING AND ERECTING STATUES IS ABOUT HONORING AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE DO THAT.

AND I THINK THAT ALSO, MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO AS PART OF BRAND, PART OF THEIR IDENTITY, BECOME A KEY LYNCHPIN IN THIS PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION.

THEY CAN BE THE LEADERS HERE.

>>Daryl: CHANCE, PRINCIPAL SUGGESTED I GO TO YOU TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF, WHAT IS YOUR HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE ON THIS?

I MEAN, WAS MCKINLEY AS INFLUENTIAL IN THIS PROCESS?

WHAT IS YOUR SPIN ON THAT PART OF THE ARGUMENT?

>> REGARDING ANNEXATION OF HAWAII, YES, MCKINLEY WAS THE PRESIDENT ANNEX HAWAII.

OVER THROW STARTED WITH THE SAFETY COMMITTEE.

HERE IN HAWAII.

COMMITTEE OF 13 MEMBERS.

ALL BUSINESS MEN.

WHO WORKED TO OVERTHROW QUEEN LILI'UOKALANI.

AND THEN FROM THAT, IT, YES, SHE'S RIGHT.

PRESIDENT HARRISON ACTUALLY CAME OUT, INVITED SANFORD, WELCOME TO ANNEX HAWAII.

BUT THEN AFTER THAT, NEXT YEAR, I BELIEVE CLEVELAND GOT IN.

THAT'S WHERE PRESIDENT WAS REFERENCING.

CLEVELAND GOT IN.

ON A PATH, WERE ON A PATH TOWARDS RECONCILIATION, HEALING HER WORDS.

CONGRESS AT THAT TIME, THEY PUT FORTH THE VOTE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD RELINQUISH BACK TO THE QUEEN.

OVERTHROW.

QUEEN RELINQUISHED HER POWER IN HER LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT TO THE CONGRESS.

UNTIL SUCH TIME THEY GRANTED IT BACK TO HER.

THAT WAS SOMETHING CLEVELAND PUT FORTH, THAT VOTE DIED IN CONGRESS SADLY.

>>Daryl: I THINK AT THAT POINT, CONGRESS PASSED RESOLUTION THAT WAS JUST A MAJORITY VOTE THAT MCKINLEY ULTIMATELY SIGNED.

BUT YEAH, NO QUESTION, REAL POLITICAL FOOTBALL GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BACK EVEN THEN.

GO TO OUR VIEWERS NOW.

GETTING QUITE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.

TWO CALLERS ALONG THE SAME THEME HERE.

IF THE SOUTH CAN GET RID OF CONFEDERATE STATUE AND RESPECT COUNTRY TRUE HISTORY, WHY NOT MCKINLEY.

BRIAN DAVIS, FROM KAPAA, I CONSIDER REMOVAL THE STATUTE AND RENAMING SCHOOL TO BE EQUIVALENT TO REMOVAL OF CIVIL WAR STATUES RENAMING MILITARY FORCE.

DO YOU SEE THAT PARALLEL?

IS THIS HAWAII'S CIVIL WAR MOMENT?

>> DEFINITELY TO SOME DEGREE PARALLELS.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TOO MUCH HOW THEIR ISSUES.

HOW THEY DEAL WITH OWN HEALING PROCESSES FOR THEIR STORY.

FOR OURS, STEP TO WHAT REPRESENTATIVE IS TALKING ABOUT.

GETTING SOME DEGREE OF JUSTICE.

WE'RE REALLY BRINGING I KNOW THERE'S ALSO THAT STIGMA CANCEL CULTURE.

ONE OF THE ISSUES IS FOR US IN HAWAII, HAVE OUR OWN SORT OF STORY.

CULTURE THAT GOT CANCELED FIRST.

LOSS OF HONOLULU HIGH FORMER NAMES INTO PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

LOSING OUR IDENTITY.

OUR CONNECTION TO PLACE.

RATHER NOW, HAVING IDENTITY WE'RE IDENTIFYING WITH INDIVIDUALS COMMITTED EXTREME INJUSTICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

FOR ME, IS THIS ABOUT REBUILDING THAT SENSE OF BELONGING FOR EVERYBODY.

WE'RE NOT UNWRITING HISTORY.

THAT STORY ABOUT PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE.

BUT WHAT IS THE FUTURE GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

THAT'S THE STORY YET TO BE TOLD AND THAT'S THE STORY WE'RE WRITING NOW.

HISTORY CONSTANTLY UNFOLDING.

HOW DO WE BRING BACK JUST FOR OUR PEOPLE.

SO MUCH QUESTION IS WHAT'S IN A NAME.

FOR US, CONTINUED MEMORY OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WE NEED TO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KUPUNA TEACH US, WHEN IT COMES TO REPLACING MEMORIES ALWAYS REPLACE CERTAIN THINGS WITH SOMETHING OF EQUAL TO OUR GREATER VALUE.

WHAT IS OF GREATER VALUE THAN CONNECTING TO OUR SENSE OF PLACE AGAIN?

BECAUSE WE'VE LOST THAT RELATIONALITY.

>>Daryl: PRINCIPAL FROM MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

I WANT TO BOUNCE A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS OFF OF YOU BECAUSE YOU DID MENTION THE IDEA OF HAVING BOTH SIDES OR TEACHING MULTIPLE SIDES.

CERTAINLY, THIS IS AN INSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATION.

VANESSA, 1972 MCKINLEY GRADUATE, I'M HALF HAWAIIAN.

I UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES.

I DON'T SEE THE NEED TO CHANGE THE NAME AS LONG AS EDUCATION IS BEING TAUGHT CORRECTLY AND ANOTHER CALLER, VANESSA, ANOTHER VANESSA.

MAYBE IT'S THE SAME.

I SUPPORT REMOVING MCKINLEY NAME AND STATUE.

HOWEVER, CONSIDERING NAME CHANGE, CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE.

MORE PROFOUND MEANING.

WHY DON'T YOU CALL IT QUEEN LILI'UOKALANI HIGH SCHOOL.

INSTEAD OF HONOLULU HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT GOING TO THE POINT YOU HAVE MENTIONED, HOW DO YOU AT MCKINLEY TEACH BOTH SIDES?

ARE PEOPLE GETTING BOTH SIDES OR ARE THERE TWO SIDES?

SOME PEOPLE SAY THERE AREN'T TWO SIDES TO THIS.

>> NOT NECESSARILY TWO SIDES.

ABOUT HISTORY ITSELF.

TALKING ABOUT THIS IS THE EVENTS TAKEN PLACE.

IN HIGH SCHOOL, THERE'S A MODERN HISTORY OF HAWAII COURSE AND AS YOU GO DOWN TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, LIKE PACIFIC ISLAND HISTORY.

SO HAWAIIAN MONARCHY.

KIND OF GOES BACK TO THAT AS TALKING ABOUT ESPECIALLY IN MODERN HISTORY OF HAWAII.

TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE MOVEMENT FROM THE BIG FIVE.

AND PEOPLE COMING HERE TO LOOK AT AGRICULTURE AS A GOOD BASE OF ECONOMY HERE IN THE ISLANDS AS WELL AS MILITARY STANDPOINT.

SO YOU GIVE THEM ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS OF DETAILS AND IT'S THERE.

IT'S THERE TO INTERPRET.

AND THE ONE THING GOOD ABOUT HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES, IT EVOKES A LOT OF THIS DISCUSSIONS.

SO THAT'S PEOPLE DO HAVE OPINIONS AND DO HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS.

THAT ARE IMPACTING WHERE THEY LIVE.

MY THING THAT I ALWAYS BRING UP AND ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE STATUE, REMOVING OF THE STATUE, CHANGING THE NAMES AND MESSAGE WENT OUT THERE, NOT ONLY MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

OTHER SCHOOLS THAT ARE THEY WANT TO BE TARGETING.

THE BIG QUESTION IS WHERE DOES IT END?

WHO MAKES THE DETERMINATION WHOSE STATUE, WHOSE NAMES GET TO BE KEPT AND WHOSE ONES GET TO BE TAKEN DOWN, CHANGED?

THAT, TO ME, COMES DOWN TO LOCAL BODY DECISION AS FAR AS WHO IS IMPACTED DIRECTLY FROM WHAT THE TAKING PLACE.

MY STANCE ALWAYS BEEN, YOU CHANGE ONE, YOU CHANGE ALL.

>>Daryl: INTERESTING POINT.

AMY, I MEAN, IF IMPERIALISM IS THE ISSUE, AND COLONIZATION IS THE ISSUE, ISN'T ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL NEXT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT I MEAN, LOGICALLY.

THERE IS A CONNECTION.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT MCKINLEY IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF THAT LARGER CONVERSATION BECAUSE PRESIDENT MCKINLEY SUCH EGREGIOUSLY BAD ACTOR AND HE HIM IMPACTS NOT JUST IN HAWAII BUT THE PHILIPPINES AND ACROSS THE PACIFIC.

IN SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, DIED IN 1901, STILL A DISASTER, DISASTROUS EFFECT IN THE AREAS IN WHICH THE AMERICAN MILITARY WERE PRESENT.

AND CONQUERING OTHER COUNTRIES.

SO I THINK THAT, I DON'T WANT TO STRAY TOO FAR AWAY.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARY TO SAY CATEGORICALLY THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE ALL NAMES.

I AGREE WITH PRINCIPAL OKAMURA.

I THINK THAT THIS IS A REALLY SENSITIVE CONVERSATION THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES, BUT I THINK THE REASON WE BROUGHT IT TO THE LEGISLATURE WAS THERE WERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO FELT LIKE THEIR SENTIMENTS WERE NOT BEING HEARD.

AND THAT THEY HAD NO OTHER PLACES TO GO.

LIKE IF THERE HAD BEEN AN ACTIVE SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL WITH VIBRANT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND INVITING PUBLIC, PART OF THIS HEALING PROCESS IS WE HAVE THIS BROADER CONVERSATION.

AS THE PRINCIPAL HAS SAID AND CHANCE MENTIONED, THIS SCHOOL HAS ALUM, ALL OVER.

AND I THINK THAT THOSE ALUMNI, SOME OF THEM ARE VERY INFLUENTIAL, VERY, I WOULD SAY POWERFUL PEOPLE, AND THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS WELL TO KIND OF WEIGH IN AND HELP US TRANSITION TO A BETTER FUTURE.

I THINK THAT TO THE INVITATION AN EXAMPLE.

NOT TELLING THE SCHOOL WHAT TO DO.

ASKING THEM TO RE‑EXAMINE THIS CONVERSATION.

AND TO THINK REALLY IN A COMPASSIONATE WAY AND SCHOOL NAME AND STATUE COMMEMORATES SOMEONE WHO WAS REALLY INVOLVED IN GENOCIDE.WHAT THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON KIDS AND ON THE COMMUNITY.

>>Daryl: LET ME, I HAVE GOTTEN SO MANY QUESTIONS HERE.

ACTUALLY, ABOUT HALF OF THEM ARE NOT REALLY QUESTIONS.

BASICALLY, STATEMENTS AND I WANT TO HONOR THEM.

SO JIMMY SAYS, I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL NAME CHANGE.

PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY IMPORTANT AND POSITIVE PART OF HAWAII'S HISTORY.

TO BECOME THE 50TH STATE OF THE REPUBLIC.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO CHANGE THE MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL NAME.

ON THE OTHER HAND, FORMER MCKINLEY SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.

NAME SHOULD BE CHANGED.

TRAITOR KINGDOM OF HAWAII.

OTHERS ONES ALONG THOSE LINE.

CHANCE, HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THIS IDEA THAT MCKINLEY HIMSELF WAS SUCH A BAD ACTOR, IN THE SCOPE OF HISTORY, THAT YOU SHOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY WRAPPED UP WITH HIS NAME?

>> PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY, IN THE SCOPE OF HISTORY, THROUGHOUT THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, LIKE REPRESENTATIVE MENTIONED, AND HIS PART TO PLAY, IN THE PHILIPPINES, OR U.S. HISTORY IN THE PHILIPPINES, IN ACTUALLY, HE DIDN'T WANT TO ANNEX PHILIPPINES AT FIRST.

PRESSURES IN A TIME OF U.S. HISTORY.

IMPERIALIST VERSUS ANTI‑IMPERIALIST MOVEMENT.

PRESSURE ON HIM TO ANNEX PHILIPPINES.

HE SADLY GAVE WAY TO THAT.

AND THAT BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER SUBJECT AS TO WHY THE SCHOOL I THINK SCHOOL SHOULD BE KEPT AND STATUE SHOULD BE KEPT.

BECAUSE WE TO ME, I THINK IT'S A CHANCE FOR US AS MCKINLEY GRADUATES ALUMNI STUDENTS TO LIVE AND THRIVE AND TO BECOME EDUCATED IN SPITE OF MCKINLEY WEAKNESS.

WHICH LED TO HIM MOVING IN THE U.S.

INTO PHILIPPINES.

>>Daryl: PRINCIPAL, MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROCESS.

I'M A GRADUATE OF MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

FAVOR CHANGE NAME BACK TO THE ORIGINAL HONOLULU HIGH SCHOOL.

AT THE SAME TIME, CURIOUS ABOUT THE CRITERIA OR USES BOARD OF EDUCATION AUTHORIZES SCHOOL NAME CHANGE.

THANK YOU FOR DISCUSSING THIS ON THE AIR.

THAT WAS WILLIAM.

MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL PRESERVATION OF AMERICAN HERITAGE LIST.

CHANGE NAME MAY REMOVE THEM OFF THE LIST AND PUT FUNDING AT RISK.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS,.

>> I WAS GOING TO RAISE MY HAND.

THERE IS A PROCESS.

LET ME GO BACK AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

2004, LEGISLATURE PASSED ACT 51.

>> REVISED TO ACT 221.

BASICALLY, GAVE DECISIONMAKING AUTHORITY TO THE SCHOOL VIA SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

CALLED SCC.

PROCESS GOES AT ANY DECISION AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL, THAT IMPACTS SCHOOL, IS MADE AND APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

IT'S AN OPEN FORUM.

WE HAVE AGENDAS POSTED UP.

AND IN DECEMBER, WE HAD OUR SECOND MEETING ON BASICALLY ON THIS TOPIC OF NAME CHANGE.

WHATEVER DECISION CAME ABOUT, WHICH WAS THAT IT WAS UNANIMOUS.

DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE THE NAME OR REMOVE THE STATUE, LETTER WAS SENT TO THE BOARD AND INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, STATE SUPERINTENDENT HAYASHI.

AND BASICALLY, TELLING THEM, SCC HAS DENIED ANY WANTING TO CHANGE THE NAME OR TO REMOVE THE STATUE.

AND THAT IS A PROCESS THAT IS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.

SO WHAT SCARY TO ME, WHEN YOU'RE LOOK AT ACT 51, HUGE IMPLICATION FOR DOING CHANGING IT BY RESOLUTION AND BY SOME KIND OF OTHER LEGISLATIVE ACT THAT YOU WANT TO PICK AND CHOOSE CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE ACT.

ACT 51 AND THE SCC APPROVES BOTH ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL PLAN WAS THE SCHOOLS.

LOOKS AT THE PROGRAM INSTRUCTION MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, WHATEVER IS BEING UTILIZED IN THE SCHOOL AS PART OF THEIR ACADEMIC PLAN TO MEET ACADEMIC GOALS.

FINANCIALLY, SCHOOL SETS OUT A BUDGET BASICALLY LOOKING AT PERSONNEL, LOOK AT EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES AND OTHER THINGS THAT NEED OPERATIONALLY.

HOW DO WE SET THAT BUDGET ASIDE?

THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL APPROVES THAT AS WELL TOO.

PASS IT BEFORE WE PASS IT UP TO OUR DISTRICT OFFICE FOR THEM TO LOOK AT AND UPLOAD.

SO THAT IS PROCESS WE GO THROUGH.

IMPLICATIONS TAKING AWAY THAT AUTHORITY FROM THE SCC, REALLY HAS BIGGER IMPACTS.

BECAUSE NOW, IF WE GO BACK, I'M OLD ENOUGH, BEEN AROUND WAY BEFORE WSF IN PLACE.

WEIGHTED STUDENT FORMULA.

TYPE OF POSITION AND MONEYS WERE ALLOCATED TO SCHOOL BASED STRICTLY PER PUPIL POPULATION.

27‑1 RATIO.

SECONDARY SCHOOL.

ELEMENTARY K‑2.

20‑1.

YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LOSE THAT OPPORTUNITIES TO UTILIZE THE BUDGET MONEYS THAT WE HAVE TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL TEACHING POSITIONS.

>>Daryl: I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

ESSENTIALLY, THIS WOULD BE A COSTLY PROCESS AND WE NEED EVERY PENNY WE CAN GET?

>> RIGHT.

JUST IT'S THAT WHOLE SPIRIT OF ACT 51.

GIVING DECISION‑MAKING TO THE SCHOOL LEVEL.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THESE THINGS TAKING PLACE AROUND WITH NAME CHANGES AND THINGS OF ASPECTS.

THINKING ABOUT FOOTBALL AND WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM RIGHT NOW, IT WAS REALLY INTERNAL DECISION THAT MADE THAT HAPPEN.

>>Daryl: I GOT TO MOVE ON TO OTHER PANELISTS.

>> GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS HERE.

I WANT TO GIVE KAINOA A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE THINGS WE JUST HEARD.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE IF YOU HAD SCHOOL MAKE THE DECISION, THEY WOULD NEVER CHANGE AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS MORE A COMMUNITY ISSUE THAN JUST AN ISSUE AT THE SCHOOL AND FOR THAT SCHOOL COMMUNITY?

>> I DO THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROCESS, I THINK THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

UNDERSTANDING OUR HISTORY.

SO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND CONTEXT.

RIGHT NOW, CONTEXT IS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF TRUE INDOCTRINATION AMONGST OUR COMMUNITIES.

INFORMATION HISTORICALLY ACCURATE, INJUSTICES, RELATIVELY NEW FINDS IN TERMS OF WHAT BEING TAUGHT.

EARLIER POINTS WHAT'S BEEN TAUGHT EDUCATION LEVEL, GRADUATE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TOO.

MODERN HAWAIIAN HISTORY HAPPENS AFTER ANNEXATION.

LEADING UP TO POINTS TO ANNEXATION, GET A BOOK TOLD TO JUST KIND OF FLIP THROUGH.

NOTHING NECESSARILY DIRECTLY TAUGHT TO US IN DETAIL UNLESS YOU HAVE A CERTAIN TEACHER AND VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE ONE TEACHES TRUE HISTORY OF HAWAII.

COMES TO THAT CONTEXT OF INDOCTRINATION.

DEVELOP IDENTITIES BASED ON SETTLOR STORY AND SETTLOR NARRATIVE.

GOING TO BE A NEED TO BE A LOT OF CHANGES WITHIN THE SYSTEM CHANGES CONDITIONS THAT ALLOW US TO MAKE PROPER DECISIONS IN THAT MANNER.

RIGHT NOW, SEEING IN THIS DISCUSSION A LOT OF CONFLICT AMONGST IDENTITY.

IT IS FOR A LARGE PART, PART OF LARGER COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS FOR ME AND MY OPINION, GET INVOLVED BECAUSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE AND WHO DO RECOGNIZE THIS AND DO FEEL PARTICULAR WAYS, EVEN CERTAIN STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL HAVING THOSE STORIES THAT ARE SHARED TO MYSELF, EVEN REPRESENTATIVE, IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WANTING DIFFERENT, TO HAVE MORE PRIDE IN THEIR SCHOOL.

BECAUSE THEY LOVE THEIR SCHOOL.

I'M GOING TO READ REAL QUICK QUOTE.

MY APOLOGIES TESTIMONY FROM A STUDENT REGARDING THE RESOLUTION LAST YEAR.

AS SOMEONE WHO IDENTIFIES AS PART HAWAIIAN, THE SCHOOL'S NAME NEEDS TO CHANGE.

PRIDE AN TRADITION DOES NOT JUST STEM FROM A NAME.

MCKINLEY IS A GREAT SCHOOL.

THANKS TO PRINCIPAL OKAMURA.

THAT IS ONE OF HIS STUDENTS SHARING THEY WANT TO LEARN IN A PLACE WITH COMFORT.

>>Daryl: AMY, YOU WANTED TO GET IN ON THIS.

YOU TALK ABOUT NOT WANTING TO GO DOWN THE ROAD OF THIS ONE AND THIS ONE.

I'M GETTING A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE ERASED FROM FRONTS OF SCHOOLS.

CLAUDIA FROM HILO SAID, NEXT SCHOOLS TO CONSIDER NAME CHANGES ARE SANFORD DOLE AND WALLACE FARRINGTON.

IT'S HARD TO START THIS PROCESS AND NOT END UP DOING EXACTLY THIS.

THAT.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK THAT IS LEGITIMATE APPOINTMENT I THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS.

>> BUT THOSE ARE NOT THIS CONVERSATION.

SO I REALLY THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FOCUS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

AND IF WE TRY TO ADDRESS TOO MUCH IN THIS CONVERSATION, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE LIKE ANY REAL KIND OF GRASP OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I WANTED TO JUST QUICKLY RESPOND TO WHAT PRINCIPAL SAID ABOUT ACT 51.

I APPRECIATE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION FOR HIM.

IT DOES GRANT HIM GREAT DEAL OF AUTONOMY.

STILL SAY BOARD POLICY THAT GOVERNS ALL SCHOOLS.

SO SCHOOLS DO NOT ACT IN A WAY THAT IS COMPLETELY AUTONOMOUS.

AND THEY'RE NAMING PRACTICES FOR EXAMPLE, STATE THAT THE NAME OF A SCHOOL FACILITY SHALL BE A UNIQUE IDENTIFIER TO IDENTIFY THE FACILITY IN OTHER WAYS THAT BEAR POSITIVE ASSOCIATION FOR THE SCHOOL, SCHOOL COMMUNITY, OR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

SO I HEAR PRINCIPAL AND I THINK THAT HE IS RIGHT.

THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.

BUT I THINK EVEN SCHOOL LEADERS, EVEN SCHOOL PRINCIPALS BEAR A RESPONSIBILITY NOT JUST TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO THE SYSTEM.

THEY'RE PART OF LARGER PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND HOW THEY ACT IN TERMS OF FOLLOWING POLICY REFLECTS ON THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

>>Daryl: GO AHEAD AND I WANT YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

GO AHEAD.

>> I AGREE THAT WITH REPRESENTATIVE.

THAT IS IMPORTANT TO STAY FOCUSED TOPIC OF MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

RENAMING SANFORD DOLE SCHOOL WOULD MADE A LOT OF SENSE.

DOLE DID PLAY A HUGE ROLE OVERTHROWING KINGDOM OF HAWAII.

NOT TO MENTION HE WAS ALSO THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF HAWAII, FOLLOWING THE OVER THROW.

THANK YOU.

>>Daryl: PRINCIPAL?

>> I'M GOING TO MENTION WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR AT THE RESOLUTION HEARING.

WHEN WE WERE TESTIFYING AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS MADE MENTION DURING THAT TIME THAT BY, I THINK IT WAS REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE HAWAII TEACHERS UNION, THAT THEY REALLY WANTED, THEIR MOVEMENT IS TO GET RID OF ALL NAME WAS SCHOOLS THAT ARE NAMED AFTER PEOPLE.

NOW, WHAT I TAUGHT SOCIAL STUDIES ONE THING I TOLD STUDENTS STILL TELL MY STUDENTS THIS TODAY, YOU PEOPLE THINGS GET NAMED AFTER PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS.

PEOPLE GET THINGS GET NAMED AFTER PEOPLE WHO HAVE DID THINGS THAT ARE BEING RECOGNIZED IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT HAS SOMETHING NAMED ABOUT THEM HAS BOTH GOOD AND BAD.

HOPEFULLY, THAT THE GOOD OUTWEIGHS THE BAD.

HONOR THESE PEOPLE WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF COMMUNITY.

PRESIDENT MCKINLEY PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

WE GOT TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

ALWAYS SAID, IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PRESIDENT MCKINLEY.

WE DON'T TEACH OUR KIDSES TO BE PRESIDENT MCKINLEY.

WE TEACH OUR KIDS TO BE GOOD CITIZENS WHO COME FROM A PLACE THAT HAS PRIDE AND TRADITION AND BASICALLY IS VERY POSITIVE AND PRESTIGIOUS BRAND NAME.

NOW, MY ISSUE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE ONE, YOU GOT TO CHANGE THEM ALL.

AND NOT BY PIECEMEAL.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, DO IT ALL ONE TIME.

>>Daryl: LET ME ASK KAINOA.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

REALLY, THERE SHOULD BE A WHOLESALE REVIEW OF ALL OF THESE SCHOOL NAMES AND ALONG THE LINES IF SOMEONE WAS A RACIST OR INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, OR FILL IN THE BLANK, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER THEM?

>> I WOULD SAY I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO TRY TO REPRESENT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.

THERE SHOULD BE OPEN PROCESS WHERE WE CAN EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS.

LIKE HOW REPRESENTATIVE WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, COMING BACK TO THIS ISSUE ON MCKINLEY.

PEOPLE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICES WERE BEING HEARD, REQUESTING THE NAME CHANGE.

SO THERE'S CLEARLY A LACK OF PROCESS.

AND IF THERE IS A PROCESS TO BE PROVIDED WHERE A LOT OF MORE INPUT CAN BE PROVIDED, MAYBE WE CAN WRITE SOME WRONGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE FEELING IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

I'M NOT SURE HOW CERTAIN PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT CERTAIN NAMES OF SCHOOLS EVEN LIKE BALDWIN.

SO MANY THAT ARE ONGOING.

AND THAT IS, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES.

I WOULD SUPPORT A PROCESS OPENING IT UP FOR COMMENT.

>>Daryl: I'M GOING TO READ OFF SOME OF THESE VIEWER COMMENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE THOUGHTFUL AND ON BOTH SIDES.

BARBARA IN HONOLULU, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE NAME CHANGE.

JULIANNE, FORMER MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

IS IT NOT INCUMBENT UPON EVERYONE TO GIVE DUE RESPECT TO THOSE MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI FOR THE PAST 157 YEARS OF THEIR SHARED IDENTITY AND BONDING AS MCKINLEY TIGERS.

MCKINLEY TEACHERS GENERATION OF FAMILY, MCKINLEY PAST, PRESENT FUTURE SHARED VALUES.

ANOTHER CALLER YOU MENTIONED SO‑CALLED THOUSAND STUDENTS OF ALUMNI.

ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND KANAKA EXPERIENCED DEEP‑SEEDED TRAUMA OVER THE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF HAWAII ON A DAILY BASIS.

DO YOU AGREE, PRINCIPAL, THAT MCKINLEY IN PARTICULAR IS SYMBOLIC OF THE TRAUMA AND HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT WITH WANTING TO KEEP IT UP THERE AND HAVE YOU BEEN THINKING ABOUT SOME WAY OF MITIGATING THAT MESSAGING.

>> WE'VE HAD VARIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.

WE GOT TO BE SENSITIVE TO EVERYBODY.

ONE OF THE THINGS HAVE BEEN WITH THE STATUTE ITSELF, I'VE SEEN IT WITH THE QUEEN LILI'UOKALANI STATUE DOWN THE ROAD, THERE WAS A PLAQUE ERECTED TO KIND OF CORRECT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS WRITTEN ON THAT STATUE.

SOMETHING WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO.

LOOKING AT ERASING, IF THAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUES, ERASING AND TAKING OFF AND CHANGING THE TREATY OF ANNEXATION TO THE RESOLUTION.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE FEEL.

BUT BY REMOVING THE STATUE AND TAKING AWAY THAT PIECE OF OUR, THIS SCHOOL'S HISTORY, TO ME, THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT TRULY AGAINST.

AND LIKE I SAID, EVERYBODY IN HISTORY HAS GOOD AND BAD.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ON MAUI, THERE WAS A CONVERSATION WHEN WE HAVE A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPEN UP, AND IT WAS NAMED AFTER HAWAIIAN PRINCESS.

AND THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL COMMUNITY GOT REALLY UPSET BECAUSE SOME SAID, THIS ONE, SHE DID A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.

WAS PRINCESS.

AND YET, OTHER PARTS SAYS, WELL, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SCANDALOUS THAT WE NAMING A SCHOOL AFTER SOMEONE WHO WASN'T OF THE HOST REPRESENTATION.

BUT BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZED HER AS ROYALTY, AS SOMEONE OF IMPORTANCE.

>> THE NAME WAS KEPT.

SO I'M LOOKING AT THAT STANDPOINT AS WELL TOO.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT, YEAH, WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THE FEELINGS ARE.

WHOLEHEARTEDLY CUTTING THROWING BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER KIND OF THING, THAT, I'M TRULY AGAINST.

BECAUSE IT SERVES ITS PURPOSE AS SOME HISTORICAL VALUE.

HE WAS OUR PRESIDENT.

>>Daryl: I'M JUST GOING TO READ A LOT OF THESE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY AND I REALLY AM IMPRESSED WITH THE VIEWERS AND THEIR ACTIVISM ON THIS.

BOTH WAYS.

BILL VIA FACEBOOK HOW CAN YOU BE PROUD OF A NAME SET IN RACISM.

BE HAWAIIAN.

LIKE LEE IN THE SOUTH EMBRACE CHANGE.

NOTHING WRONG WITH ANNEXATION.

FIRST HAWAII OFFERED TREATY.

MCKINLEY PERSUADED CONGRESS TO AGREE WITH IT.

WE THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII ARE GLAD TO BE AMERICANS.

THANK YOU PRESIDENT MCKINLEY.

LET ME ASK CHAZ, DO YOU EMBRACE THAT THOUGHT THAT PART OF THIS IS WHETHER YOU'RE PROUD TO BE AMERICAN OR NOT?

>> NO.

I DON'T.

PART OF THAT, I'M HAWAIIAN MYSELF.

LAST NAME.

BUT IT'S ALSO FOR ME, MAINLY WITH THIS, JUST BEING MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI.

JUST HAVING THAT SENSE OF PRIDE COMING FROM THE SCHOOL.

NOT JUST BECAUSE THE SCHOOL'S NAMED AFTER PRESIDENT.

BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THE SCHOOL REPRESENTS AND WHAT IS DONE FOR ME.

IT'S MADE MANY LIFELONG FRIENDS FOR ME AS WELL AS MANY OTHER STUDENTS, ALUMNI TEACHERS, STAFF MEMBERS PARENTS, AND IT'S A COMMUNITY.

IT'S A VERY TIGHT‑KNIT COMMUNITY FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST YEAR.

WITH THE WHOLE RESOLUTION THING.

THAT I FEEL, SHOULD NOT BE SLIGHTED BY TAKING THE IDENTITY AWAY.

>>Daryl: AMY, YOU WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE?

>> I DID WANT TO JUMP IN.

WE KEEP COMING BACK TO THE THEME OF THE NAME.

THE SIGNIFIER, HOLDING ALL OF THE POWER OF IDENTITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S NOT THE SIGNIFIED.

IT'S NOT THE SAME AS THE SCHOOL.

THE NAME IS NOT THE SAME AS THE SCHOOL.

JUST A NAME.

I WILL SAY, IF THE NAME CHANGED TOMORROW, TO HONOLULU HIGH SCHOOL, PEOPLE WOULD STILL UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAME FROM THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL, WITH THESE PARTICULAR TRADITIONS AND THAT YOU HAD THE LEADERSHIP TO HELP THE COMMUNITY PROCESS THESE HISTORICAL GRIEVANCES AND IT WOULD MEAN MORE, I THINK.

SO I THINK THAT I'M SAYING TWO THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.

THEY MIGHT SEEM CONTRADICTORY.

FIRST THING I'M SAYING IS THAT I THINK WE MIGHT BE GETTING TOO MUCH POWER TO A NAME BECAUSE YOU SEEM TO BE SAYING THAT ALL OF THE IDENTITY IS CAPTURED IN THE NAME.

IT'S NOT.

THING THAT PEOPLE SEEM TO BE EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO IS THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE, SHARED EXPERIENCES OF GOING TO THAT SCHOOL.

BEING IN THOSE BUILDINGS.

HAVING THOSE TEACHERS.

AND I THINK THAT I TAUGHT AT MILILANI HIGH SCHOOL.

IS THE NAME CHANGE TOMORROW, I WOULD STILL HAVE BEEN A TEACHER AT THAT SCHOOL.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE THOSE EXPERIENCES.

SO I KNOW PRINCIPAL OKAMURA HAS SOMETHING HE WOULD LIKE TO ADD.

>>Daryl: ALSO, PRINCIPAL, YOU ADDRESSED THIS QUESTION.

AT THE TIME NAME CHANGED TO MCKINLEY, WAS THAT A PROPOSAL INITIATED BY THE STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL OR SOME OTHER ENTITY?

REALLY FASCINATING QUESTION.

I MEAN, GO AHEAD.

IF YOU KNOW THE ANSWER.

>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE.

THAT WAS WAY BEFORE MY TIME.

BUT THE SITE THAT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL IS LOCATED ON RIGHT NOW, WAS NEVER HONOLULU HIGH.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

SO WHEN IT GOT HERE, THIS IS WHAT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL WAS ABOUT.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER FOR THAT ONE.

I WILL FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE ANSWERING IT.

THE ONE THING THAT I'M GOING TO, ADDRESS REPRESENTATIVE'S ISSUE ABOUT THE NAME.

THERE IS COMING FROM NOT ONLY BEING PRINCIPAL AND PUBLIC EDUCATOR.

BUT ALSO, SOMEONE WHO IS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN THE ISLANDS.

A LOT OF OUR IDENTITY COMES FROM WHERE WE GRADUATED FROM.

I TELL THE STUDENTS ALL THE TIME, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, AND THE FIRST QUESTION EVERYBODY ASKED YOU, IS WHERE YOU GRAD FROM?

EVERYBODY IN HAWAII, GRADUATED HERE IN HAWAII, WILL TELL YOU I CAME FROM CERTAIN, CERTAIN HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT MAKES PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU DIFFERENTLY.

>> THEY LOOK AT TREAT YOU DIFFERENTLY.

MAKES HOW YOU, WHO YOU ARE, PART OF YOUR I GUESS CHARACTERISTICS.

INTERESTING PART ABOUT THE NAME, COMING FROM THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS, WHEN I WENT TO U.H.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ASK, WHERE DO YOU GRADUATE FROM?

WHEN SOMEONE SAID FROM MCKINLEY, I MEAN, YOU REALLY SNAPPED TO ATTENTION.

SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THE NAME IS THE BRAND.

AND I THINK BY CHANGE THE NAME, YOU KIND OF TAKE AWAY SOME OF THAT PRESTIGIOUS STATUS WE HAVE.

SAME THING LIKE PUNAHOU.

IF PUNAHOU WAS TO CHANGE THE NAME TO OBAMA HIGH.

I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, WOULD THAT CHANGE PUNAHOU CHARACTERISTICS?

>>Daryl: CHANCE, WHEN I ASKED THAT QUESTION ABOUT HOW DID THE NAME COME ABOUT, HE RAISED HIS HAND AND CHANCE, YOU KNOW THE STORY BEHIND HOW THE NAME CAME ABOUT?

THERE'S A COUPLE OF THEORIES HERE I'LL SHARE WITH YOU IN A MINUTE.

>> I APOLOGIZE.

>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT HOW THE REASON, REQUESTED NAME CAME ABOUT.

>>Daryl: LET ME READ THESE QUESTIONS.

FIRST OF ALL, ONE PERSON POINTS OUT, TRYING TO ERASE NAMES AND SYMBOLS FROM OUR HISTORY DOES NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOMES.

CARA, HAWAII'S CASE, SCHOOL WAS NAMED AFTER WILLIAM MCKINLEY TO HIDE THE TRUTH ABOUT HAWAIIAN KINGDOM FROM FUTURE GENERATION.

REASON NAMED AFTER PRESIDENT PART OF PROPAGANDA PLAN TO ERODE HAWAIIAN NATIONALISM AND TEACH CHILDREN TO BE PROPER AMERICANS.

DO YOU CONCUR WITH THAT, THAT DID THE IMPACT OF THE SCHOOL CHANGING ITS NAME BACK THEN ACTUALLY CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF PEOPLE'S UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED DURING THE OVERTHROW?

>> I DO.

BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION NOW TOO.

1906 WHEN THE PROGRAM WAR PATRIOT EXERCISE WAS IMPLEMENTED.

DENATIONALIZE OUR PEOPLE.

TIMING OF THE NAME CHANGE COINCIDED WITH THE TIMING OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STATUE.

SO CLOSE TOGETHER AND LONGER STORY OF DENATIONALIZATION TO DISCONNECT TO THE PLACE WE COME FROM AND RATHER UNDERSTAND SOME PLACE SO FAR AWAY OVER THE SEA, THAT HAS KNOWN SO MUCH CONTROL OVER OUR ISLANDS TODAY.

THESE LARGER, THIS LARGE CONVERSATION IS, WE'RE LIVING IT SO MANY PEOPLE LOST THEIR IDENTITY.

LOST WAYS OF LIFE AS A RESULT OF THAT INDOCTRINATION I MENTIONED EARLIER.

OVER THE TIME, OVER GENERATIONS NOW, BUILT SENSE OF IDENTITY THAT IS NOT ALIGNED WITH O LANI, BACK THE QUEEN, BUT WE'RE IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT OUR IDENTITY RELATES TO A NAME OF INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS CAUSED GREAT DEAL OF INJUSTICE.

GOING BACK TO OUR POINTS ABOUT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND THIS IMPACT TODAY, GOING BACK TO THAT TESTIMONY THAT I SHARED EARLIER FROM A STUDENT, CLEARLY, THERE'S SOMETHING, REPRESENTATIVE, WE'VE HEARD SOME INTERESTING STORIES EVEN FROM ABOUT A FOOTBALL PLAYER, AND THAT WHOLE STORY ABOUT HOW HE COULDN'T RUN AS FAST WHEN HE PUT THE JERSEY ON BECAUSE OF THE NAME.

SO IF WE'RE NOT ALLOWING INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIND COLLECTIVE RESURGENCE.

UNDERSTANDING OF OUR KUPUNA.

(HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE).

RISE BY UPLIFTING OTHERS.

LIKE I SAID OVER AND OVER.

WE NEED A PATH TO HEALING TO ALL COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER.

PATH TO HEALING NOT JUST WITH CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS KIND OF PUT TO THE SIDE ALMOST.

>>Daryl: VERY WELL SAID.

LET ME GO TO NUMBER OF PEOPLE, PROPOSED VARIOUS COMPROMISE.

>> OTHER IDEAS.

LET ME GO TO SOME OF THOSE.

IF I WERE TO VOTE FOR A NAME, HAUNANI K TRASK WOULD BE MY CHOICE.

NO HONOLULU HIGH.

LAZY.

PERSON FROM KAKAAKO.

THEN ANOTHER ONE SAYS, SUPPORTS MEKIA KEALAKA'I CHANGE AND REMOVING‑NAME CHANGE.

REMOVING STATUE.

SUGGESTS NAMED AFTER PRESIDENT GLOVER CLEVELAND.

NO KNOWS WHAT THE GOING TO COME OUT ABOUT CLEVELAND.

STUDENTS AND ALUMNI.

HAS THERE BEEN A SURVEY.

ANY EFFORT TO GET A SENSE HOW ALUMNI FEELS?

HAVE THE ALUMNI MAKE THE DECISION.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU THREW THIS OUT TO THE ALUMNI OR HAS THAT DISCUSSION HAPPENED?

>> THROUGH THE VARIOUS I GUESS ORGANIZATIONS THAT TO THE VOICE, ONE IS MCKINLEY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.

OTHER ONE IS MCKINLEY FOUNDATION.

THEY HAVE STRONGLY SUPPORTED NOT CHANGING BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR SCHOOL.

THEIR BRAND AND THEIR CONNECTION TO ALL OF THE ALUMNI.

SO DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE.

I DO GO TO THESE MEETING AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.

THEY REPRESENT THOSE I GUESS DIFFERENT BODIES OF ALUMNI.

BOTH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION SIDE.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN THOUGHTS.

WE'VE HELD DIFFERENT INFORMATIONAL I GUESS TYPE OF RALLIES PETITION SIGNING AND THOSE THINGS OF THOSE NATURE.

THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN.

>>Daryl: LET ME ASKREPRESENTATIVE.

HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS OR THAT.

AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE I WANTED TO JUST MENTION POP UP FROM KAIMUKI.

SAYS IT SHOULD BE CALLED PATSY MINK HIGH SCHOOL.

AND ANOTHER SAYS, QUEEN LILI'UOKALANI HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT WOULD BE TOO CLOSE TO MY HIGH SCHOOL.

WHICH IS KALANI HIGH SCHOOL.

WHERE IS THE COMPROMISE HERE?

IS THERE A COMPROMISE?

SOME WAY THAT YOU COULD SEE THROUGH TO BREAKING THIS STALEMATE AND MAKING PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE?

>> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

MAYBE THE ANSWER IS NOT ABOUT COMPROMISE BUT IT'S MORE ABOUT HO'OPONO.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT AS A RECENT SETTLOR, I RECOGNIZE THE PAIN CAUSED BY THESE HISTORICAL EVENTS AND THEIR CURRENT IMPACT ONLY BECAUSE AS PART OF MY FURTHER EDUCATION AT U.H.

MANOA, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE EXPOSED TO THE NEW SCHOLARSHIP, THAT KAINOA WAS TALKING ABOUT.

FORTUNATE TO BE ON CAMPUS WHEN THESE NEW DISSERTATION WERE BEING WRITTEN, PETITIONS WERE DISCOVERED.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A BROADER CONVERSATION THAT IS COMPASSIONATE, NOT JUST FOR THE NATIVE HAWAIIANS WHO EXPERIENCED THAT NAME, AND THAT STATUE AS DIRECT ASSAULT, BUT ALSO FOR I THINK GENERATIONS OF SETTLORS WHO YOU KNOW, THEY WEREN'T TAUGHT THE TRUTH.

IN THEIR CURRICULUM.

AND IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, I THINK RECONCILIATION IS ABOUT TRUTH‑TELLING, THE NAMING OF SCHOOLS SHOULD BE ABOUT HONOR AND INTEGRITY, AND I THINK WE ARE BIG ENOUGH TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IN A RESPECTFUL WAY AND TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WE ARE CAPABLE OF CHANGE.

>>Daryl: LET ME READ THIS AND BOUNCE IT OFF OF CHANCE.

THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPROMISE.

KEEP THE NAME MCKINLEY, DROP THE FIRST NAME WILLIAM REMOVE THE STATUE AND PLAQUE.

DO YOU SEE A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD COMPROMISE WHERE YOU FOLKS COULD STILL SAY YOU WENT TO MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL AND NOT HAVE SAY THE STATUE QUITE SO PROMINENT?

>> ME PERSONALLY, I DON'T.

BUT COMPROMISE THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE, SINCE I'M REPRESENTATIVE KEEPS BRINGING UP HOW THE CURRICULUM DOESN'T EXACTLY TEACH THE FULL EFFECTS OR THE FULL STORY THAT PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY ANNEXATION HAD A PLAY HERE IN HAWAII.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE DISCUSSION TO HAVE ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT IS IMPLEMENTED INTO ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

WE DO KNOW THAT HISTORY.

PERSONALLY, WHEN I CAME TO MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

WONDERFUL MODERN HAWAII HISTORY TEACHER.

HER NAME WAS MISS LAMB.

I DID GET THAT.

I DID GET THAT BIT OF HISTORY.

>>Daryl: LET ME ASK KAINOA.

WHERE COULD YOU SEE COMPROMISE HERE?

IS THERE A WAY TO DO THIS?

CAN YOU FOR EXAMPLE, USE THE STATUE AS A TEACHING POINT AND MAKE THAT A REGULAR THEME?

THIS IS IT WRONG ABOUT THE STATUE.

WHEN MCKINLEY DID.

HOW IT FITS INTO THE LIST.

POSSIBLE TO USE THIS AS A TEACHING TOOL IN SOME FORM?

HOW IT FITS INTO HISTORY.

>> THE THINK TEACHING TOOL IS THE CHANGE ITSELF.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS FOR ME.

REALLY, LIKE I WAS SAYING EARLIER, THERE'S THIS LARGE MEMORY THAT IS PRESENT BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE BEEN INJUSTICE EVERY DAY.

ALWAYS HAVE PUBLIC LANDS ISSUES.

PUBLIC LANDS WHICH FORMER CROWN AND GOVERNMENT LANDS THAT WE WITNESSED BEING LOST CONTINUE WAY.

MISMANAGED, NOT UNDER OUR CONTROL AS A RESULT, OF THIS DENATIONALIZATION.

SO FOR ME, IT'S A MATTER OF MAYBE WE'LL HAVE A LARGER DISCUSSION FOR ALL OTHER INDIVIDUALS TOO.

WE'LL SEE KIND OF WHERE EVERYBODY PLAYS.

BUT FOR ME PERSONALLY, THE CHANGE IS NOW.

IN THIS TIME WHERE THERE'S SO MUCH AS REPRESENTATIVE SAID, SCHOLARSHIP THAT IS BEING RENEWED FOR OUR UNDERSTANDINGINGS.

AND THE OPPORTUNITIES NOW TO GIVE THAT NEXT GENERATION THAT FOUNDATION ALREADY.

>>Daryl: MCKINLEY PRINCIPAL RON, IN THE ANOTHER SUGGESTION IN THE TALK, ERASING MCKINLEY NAME.

WHAT OF ERASURE HAWAIIAN PLACE NAMES THROUGHOUT PAI'AINA.

SCHOOLS SHOULD BE NAMED BY PLACE, NOT PEOPLE.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO ASK SAME QUESTION I ASKED OF THE OTHERS.

DO YOU SEE A COMPROMISE HERE?

DO YOU SEE A PLACE TO GO OR IS THERE SOMETHING YOU COULD DO AT YOUR SCHOOL OR OUR SCHOOL COULD DO TO SYMBOLICALLY AND REALISTICALLY USE THIS STATUE OR NAME OF THE SCHOOL TO HELP EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY?

>> YOU KNOW OUR CLASSES ARE SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES STARTED DOING THIS.

AS FAR AS LOOKING AT IT.

CONTROVERSY CAME ABOUT, IT'S BEEN ONGOING FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.

AT LEAST AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, THE NAME CHANGE.

ALWAYS WANTED TO CHANGE THE NAME.

OUR TEACHERS, SOME OF THEM ARE USING AS A TEACHING TOOL ALREADY TO DO THE HISTORY OF SCHOOL.

AND GO OUT AND TALK ABOUT, HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MCKINLEY.

AS FAR AS HIS ROLE IN HAWAII HISTORY.

BUT ALSO, NOT ONLY HIS ROLE IN HAWAII HISTORY, ROLE ALSO IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.

SO IT IS A GOOD TEACHING TOOL.

LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, GOOD AND BAD, BECAUSE GOT TO LOOK AT BOTH SIDES OF EVERY ISSUE EVERY TOPIC.

TO COME UP WITH THE BEST INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN.

DECISIONS THAT YOU CAN.

COMPROMISE, WISE, I THINK TO ME, IT'S HARD BECAUSE WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ARE ADAMANTLY AGAINST KEEPING THE NAME, IT'S GET RID OF IT OR NOTHING ELSE.

SO MY COMPROMISE IS BASICALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND IN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE ARE A LOT OF STATUES THAT HAVE BEEN ERECTED ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE.

THEN SOME OF THEM ARE HISTORICALLY INACCURATE.

TO MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS AND USE IT AS A LEARNING TOOL, I THINK IS IMPORTANT AND THAT WILL BE A GOOD COMPROMISE FOR US AS WELL TOO.

BUT KEEP THE NAME.

KEEP THE STATUE AND LET'S USE IT AS EDUCATIONAL LEARNING TOOL.

>>Daryl: LET'S KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

EVERYBODY.

VERY INTERESTING, VERY ENLIGHTENING.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS, REPRESENTATIVE AMY PERRUSO, AND MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL RON OKAMURA, AND HONOLULU YOUTH COMMISSION CHAIR KAINOA AZAMA, AND MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNUS CHANCE NAAUOA‑OTA.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII, IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS SINCE FUEL WAS FIRST NOTICED IN THE TAP WATER OF MILITARY HOUSING ON OAHU.

THOUSANDS ARE STILL ENDURING THE EFFECTS OF THE RED HILL FUEL LEAK.

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO PROTECT OAHU’S WATER SUPPLY?

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M DARYL HUFF FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

ALOHA!