Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 5, 1 Iune 1984 — Autonomy: Right to Self Government [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Autonomy: Right to Self Government

By Walter Ritte Trustee, Moloka'i

"OHA is a family and when a family member gets into pilikia, the ohana must rally around and protect him . . . what are you trustees going to do about Walter Ritte?" (Kupuna Henry Awai addressing the OHA Board in Hilo, May 17, 1984.) "Mr. Joe Kealoha, you are the chairman of this board, you are the spokesperson for the Hawaiian people. Whenever you speak publicly about this issue, 1 expect you to say positive things ..." (Kupuna David Roy addressingtheOHA Board in Kona, May 18, 1984.) "lf we are going to be a Hawaiian nation, we should stand back of this boy even if we have to petition the state." (Kupuna Jojo Norton addressing the OHA Board in Kona, May 18, 1984.) "OHA was created to be a self-deter-mining body . . ." (Kahu Leon Sterling, delegate to the 1978 Constitutional Convention. addressing the OHA Board in Kona, May 18, 1984.)

It was this kind of consistent support from Hawaiians, especially Kupuna, that has made me stand so strong in my eon\iction that OHA should be an autonomous body. The issue is noi Walter Ritte hunting, but more importantly the state's attempt to remove an OHA trustee. The constitution created OHA and it is clear on who ean participate and run for office — Hawaiians — but issilent as to disqualifications. The silence means Hawaiians are to decide disqualifications, not the state. The election and removal of Hawaiian leaders are the business of Hawaiians and no one else.

On June 12, 1984, 1 had the good fortune of attending a "Hawaiian Concerns" meeting sponsored by the Hawaiian State Council of Congregational Churches held on Molokai. Many topics were covered whieh indicated strong leadership and great foresight, tempered with love and eompassion on the part of the Council leaders. I would like to repeat a few of the statements whieh strengthened me. Kahu Kimo Merseberg, Hawaiian Ministry Coordinator for the Hawaii Conference United Church of Christ, spoke passionately of finding wortny ways to minister to the human needs of our people. In speaking about the role of the church, Kahu said, "We have a fear of breaking out of these limits. . .we ean handle our affairs and become solution makers." He also used a phrase 1 have been using to describe OHA's role when he talked about "self determination" within the ministry.

Kahu Abraham Akaka talked about the difference between what is legal and what is right. "Killing Jesus was legal,"he said, "but was it right?" "Killing six million Jews was legal, but was it right?" He applied this analogy to the Land Reform Act affecting Bishop Estate and said, "Taking lands from 200,000 Hawaiians and giving it to others is legal, but is it right?" In closing my eolumn, 1 leave you with the same question — ls it legal for the state to maha'oi into the affairs of OHA? And more importantly, is it right?