The resolution below as approved by the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents at the Thursday, October 17 meeting held at Leeward Community College.
Urging de-escalation of tension and non-violent solutions within University of Hawaiʻi community regarding Maunakea
WHEREAS, the Board of Regents believes and acknowledges that Maunakea holds a special and important place in the history, culture, and hearts of the peoples of Native Hawaiian ancestry and all of Hawaiʻi; and
WHEREAS, meeting after meeting, testifiers have come to the Regents urging Kapu Aloha be exercised by all parties; and
WHEREAS, the conflict at Maunakea involves people on all sides of the issue who must make individual judgments of right and wrong; and
WHEREAS, each side shares in this personal responsibility to do what it can do to prevent violence which may cause injury or harm to others; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Regents desires to ensure that the University of Hawaiʻi and all of its units acknowledge their collective responsibility to work in the spirit of aloha; and
WHEREAS, when one faculty member recently made hurtful statements regarding Kamehameha Schools, in the spirit of reconciliation, University President David Lassner disavowed and apologized for those statements, as did the professor, and Kamehameha Schools acknowledged the apology; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Regents wishes to take this opportunity to call for all sides to similarly work toward a peaceful resolution and work together in the spirit of aloha.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Hawaiʻi administration under the leadership of President David Lassner is encouraged to pursue good faith efforts to de-escalate tensions within the UH community regarding Maunakea including exploring the use of hoʻoponopono, and to pursue non-violent solutions regarding Maunakea; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that University leadership continue to explore ways to learn from what is happening today to become a stronger community of learners, teachers, and scholars, with a shared commitment to civility and respect for one another.
