The Akaka bill now before the U.S. Senate would bring about the creation of a separate native Hawaiian government, like an Indian tribe. During my yearly pilgrimage to Las Vegas, I always purchase cigars at the Paiute Tribal Indian Smoke Shop on Main Street a mile north of the California Hotel. There's always a line there with people buying cigarettes. Federal, state and local taxes don't apply so they undercut the competition. Cigars are half off or less than what I find downtown.
Business is so good the smoke shop has a drive-through window.
The area of the Indian Smoke Shop is colored pink in a one block area on the map indicating an Indian reservation. In her Nov. 24 letter , Emma Howard recommended a shift away from Japanese customers to a more local-friendly economy. Yet no matter what we promote, we will always be subject to a consumer economy. It's not discrimination, just niche marketing. We shouldn't expect stores to put local people first.