Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 10, 1 December 1984 — Hawaiians Rally Behind KS/BE Land Issue [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiians Rally Behind KS/BE Land Issue

A special workshop focusing on Hawaii's Land Reform law smoked out more than 250 Hawaiians Nov. 3 at The Kamehameha Schools Kalama Dining Hall. Those who took the floor microphones vented their anger at the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold Hawaii's leasehold conversion law. Focal point of the discussions centered on the estate's lands and especially The Kamehameha Schools and continued education of Hawaiian students. Neil J. Hannahs, director of KS BE's Department of Public Affairs, conducted the workshop and addressed the large turnout. The panel of speakers included Trustees Myron(Pinky)Thompson and Matsuo Takabuki; Jack Darvill, president of the schools; and Bill Van Allen, director of the land division. Hannahs explained that while the outrage at the court's decision is still very mueh being felt, it was important that these emotions be channeled into developing a plan to address the major problems raised by the law, thereby protecting the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Participation in such a constructive effort was the fuli purposeof the workshop. Othersimilar workshops ha\e been scheduled for the neighbor islands. The Oahu session was a coming together of the Hawaiian community to learn more about the law and to join together in ensuring the availability of educational opportunities for Hawaiian children. Thesame purpose will be followed at the neighbor island meetings. All of the speakers eame to the sameconclusionand that is the land must be kept intact for the future of the children. Some speakers bemoaned the age-old problem of the schools not being able to accept many deserving Hawaiian students. Others rambled on about such matters as lease rentals and affordable housing but they all agreed in

the end that continuation of the schools as the educationa! institution for Hawaiian children is vitally important. Office of Hawaiian Affairs chairman Joseph Kealoha also decried the ruling but expressed hope that the high court's decision would be nullified when its challenge under the state constitution is heard by the Hawaii State Supreme Court. Kealoha was referring to the filing of an "amicus curiae" brief in OH A's support of theestate'schallenge of the Land Reform Act. The OHA board of trustees on Nov. 2 uanimously approved a $3,000 litigation grant in support of the challenge. (See separate story.) The high court's decision has been referred to as "a naked attempt to take the private property of A and transfer it to B solely for B's private use and benefit." The editors of the Wall Street Journal predict "We

may all live to regret the day we heard about Hawaii land reform." "We want to expand awareness of the gravc injustices we feel the law and the Supreme Court ruling represent. And obviously, our ultimate goal is to affect changcs in the state that would address our concerns," Hannahs told the Nov. 3 gathering. Hannahs urged staff, alumni, parents, studcnts. friends, property owncrs and other concerned individuals and organi/ations to get involved by ( 1 ) keeping informed; (2) expressing your views; and (3) get involved. He reported that KS/ BE plans to introduce a paekage of bills to amend Chaptcrs 516 and 519 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes in the upcoming session of the legislature. These amendments, he explained, will seek consistency and fairness.

This is the panel whieh responded to questions addressed by those attending the Nov. 3 workshop. From left to right, they are Bill Van Allen, director of the land division; Trustees Myron (Pinky) Thompson and Matsuo(Matsy) l akahuki; and Jack Darvill, president, The Kamehameha Schools.