Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 2, 1 Malaki 1984 — OHA Ready for April Hearing by U.S. Senate Committee [ARTICLE]

OHA Ready for April Hearing by U.S. Senate Committee

When the Senators eome to Hawaii in Apnl, OHA will be ready. The Senators are members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources who will hold four days of hearings throughout the state on the report of the Native Hawaiians Study Commission (NHSC). The Committee will be chaired by Hawaii Sen. Spark M. Matsunaga. Last year the OHA Board of Trustees adopted five resolutions supporting the recommendations of Volume 11 of the NHSC report and announced a "major initiative" to have Congress accept and implemenl those recommendations. The Commission was established by Congress in 1980 and its nine members were appointed in September, 1981, by President Reagan. Volume II is the "minority report" released by the three Hawaiian Commissioners, dissatisfied with the recommendations and work product of the other six members. One of the more objectionable findings by the mainland commissioners was that the United States has no legal or moral obligation to pay reparations for the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian government in 1893. OHA staff members have been eonducting research and preparing testimony on several aspects of the report. In addition, the OHA Board authorized a grant to the Kaulana Na Pua Institute,

headed by former NHSC Chairperson Kina'u Kamali'i, to conduct and prepare research focusing on certain other aspects of Hawaiian claims. The Institute, a non-profit, state chartered educational and research organization, has invited a number of prominent and knowledgeable persons to participate in this effort. According to Kamali'i, those who have been invited are Harlan Cleveland, former U.H. President and the grandson of Grover Cleveland who was U.S. President shortly after the monarchy was overthrown; Neil Levy, Professor of Law at Golden Gate Law School; Dr. Lawrence H. Fuchs, Chairman of the American Studies Department, Brandeis University; and David H. Getches, Attorney and Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources, Denver, Colorado. Here is the statewide schedule for the four days of Congressional hearings: Monday, Apr. 16 — 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., State Capitol Auditorium, Honolulu. Tuesday, Apr. 17 — 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Yano Community Center, Captain Cook, Kona, Hawaii. Wednesday, Apr. 18 — 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. County Council Chambers, Wailuku, Maui. Friday, April 20 — 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. County Council Chambers, Lihue, Kauai.

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