HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Rep. Faye Hanohano has apologized on the House floor for offending people by using racial slurs to express disapproval of art in her office.
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Rep. Faye Hanohano has apologized on the House floor for offending people by using racial slurs to express disapproval of art in her office.
Hanohano apologized Thursday, the same day the Honolulu Star-Advertiser published the remarks, which included slurs disparaging white, Japanese and Chinese people.
Executive Director Eva Laird Smith of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts says exhibit specialists were hanging paintings in Hanohano’s office Wednesday when the lawmaker expressed displeasure that the work wasn’t completed by Native Hawaiians.
“Any work by Haoles, Japs, Paranges and Pakes, you can just take away right now,” Hanohano allegedly said.
Hanohano, who is of Native Hawaiian ancestry, said on the House floor she is committed to representing all people in the state. She spoke in both English and Hawaiian.
Smith says the artwork depicts nature scenes in Hawaii and was previously approved by Hanohano’s office manager.