He filled the swimming pools with rocks so the Hawaiians could move in.

Yet another weirdness in Genshiro Kawamoto's self- proclaimed act of aloha.

Should we add another verse to "Mele ai Pohaku," the song of Hawaiian patriotism also known as "Kaulana Na Pua"? Should Hawaiians not only be satisfied to eat rocks, but to swim in them, too?

Kawamoto knocked down the walls and gates surrounding the houses as well, as if to live in a beautiful home in a tony neighborhood, Hawaiians have to give up privacy while they swim in stones. So now, people will be able to drive by and gawk at the lucky locals who were blessed by a Japanese Oprah.

This is the man who sent eviction notices to hundreds of families living in his California properties, giving them 30 days to get out.

This is the guy who let all those Hawai'i Kai houses rust and rot. He doesn't have a track record of generosity or compassion. Just what is he up to?

You can call Genshiro Kawamoto a lot of things: billionaire, real estate tycoon, eccentric Hawai'i Kai slum lord; but philanthropist?

That title assumes an unpalatable belief: that Native Hawaiians could not manage movin' on up to the East side without an act of charity from a benevolent outsider.

Kawamoto's statements about his mission also come with the underlying contention that having them Happy Hawaiians with their big, party-throwing families infiltrate the wealthy hood will change the place, albeit for the better. Lighten up, Bob, those aren't war drums. Come join the pa'ina!

So he's giving Hawaiians a break on rent for his million-dollar unkempt castles, knocking down the fences and filling in the pools so they don't have to fret about maintenance (Kawamoto is not known to be big on maintaining), and all the kanaka have to do is be happy and humble.

Gee, mahalo. But perhaps, deep down, lots of folks who could never hope to live in one of those homes, couldn't even picture visiting one, get a satisfied grin thinking of stone-fenced and brass-gated Kahala Avenue getting a little bit of Nanakuli next door.

Does selecting a handful of low-income, plenty kids Native Hawaiian families to live in his expensive mansions make Kawamoto a friend or foe to the race and to the cause? Is this a hand up, a hand out or an insult?

If Kawamoto truly wants to get Hawaiians back into Kahala, he should give away the houses. Certainly Micah Kane at DHHL would be happy to add Kawamoto's properties to the assets of the homelands.

To quote another Hawaiian song: Give, rich man, give away your wealth.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.