Greetings Professor Keahi Renaud, My name is “Dr. XX” PhEd, and I’m writing to you as the Chaminade Hawaiian Cultural Professional and I request your counsel and assistance with cultural wisdom: Background: For the last year, I leased office space/property in Ewa from Bishop Estates in order to run a small merchandising business. In November of last year, without any apparent justification, Bishop Estate refused to renew the lease which subsequently required that I vacate the property by December 31. Unfortunately, I was traveling and could not complete this unexpected move. Instead, I offered an opportunity of rehabilitation to an ex-convict by hiring him to pack-up the premises. Upon my return in late December, I realized that the employee had abandoned the job site having made little progress. I made every reasonable attempt to still meet the deadline. However, acquiring the rental trucks, orchestrating storage space, and lack of adequate time during the “holiday season” had posed a made for unavoidable barriers along with a brief personal illness. Nonetheless, the property was completely vacated by January 4th. Since January 1st was Saturday (holiday) and 2nd was Sunday (non business day), I was only ONE business day beyond the deadline (Jan 3rd to 4th). Much to my dismay, the Estate issued me a $20,000 bill (per contractual small print of $5,000/day penalty) immediately due and payable. Request: As you and I are educated people, I wanted to provide you a small retainer
fee to conduct research in support of my case refuting this exorbitant penalty fee. Though born and raised on the mainland, I have lived in Hawai’i for over 20 yrs. This Hawaiian Estate should surely realize that even the State Constitution provides protection for “traditional and customary practices.” As a cultural expert you are, I wanted you to provide support for the obvious concept that “Hawaiian Time” is one of those cultural understandings which justifies the ever so slight but unintended delay in vacating the property. Afterall, the Aloha-spirit and warm demeanor characterizes that which makes Hawaii‘i the most special place in the world and why we both call it our ‘aina, our home. Dr. XX, PhEd