Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 1, 1 January 1985 — I Smell a Rat! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

I Smell a Rat!

By Hayden Burgess Trustee, Oahu JB». MK

INative Hawanans have just been forced to give up 5320,000 annually. Meanwhile, our peopleare badly in need of heahh care, education, food, shelter and employment opportunities. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands reve-

nues ot 5528,000 lrom airports īn Hilo and K.amueia on the Big lsland and the airport on Molokai are being lost as a result of a recent land swap to the State for Shafter Flats. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been receiving $52,000 annually from Shafter Flats whieh will also be lost. Thus, a total of $580,000 is taken out of native Hawaiian hands. In return, Shafter Flats should result in ineome to DHHL of only $260,000 annually. OHA will receive nothing according to the Department of Transportation's (DOT) interpretation of the law. Why did DHHL interfere with OHA's ineome base? According to Georgiana Padeken, DHHL Director, she didn't know OHA received ineome from Shafter

Flats! A simple phone eall to OHA would have answered that question. lts a matter of public record. Why didn't OHA get involved earlier? On Oct. 15, 1 984, 1 requested a meeting for a progress report on the recommendations of the Task Force studying DHHL lands. Rather than a reply to me, one was sent to Joseph Kealoha, chairman of OHA's board from Miss Padeken. No copy was sent to me nor did Mr. Kealoha inform me of that letter. When I discovered this deal between DHHL, DOT and the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), 1 immediately directed a press release to be issued under my name publicly protecting this deal. Joseph Kealoha spoke with an OHA staff member resulting in my press release not getting to the public. When I examined Miss Padeken onthistransaction, I was chastised by M r. Kealoha for asking such prying questions at our OHA board meeting. I smell a rat! I don't know where it is, yet. But questions must be asked, starting with Miss Padeken an Mr. Kealoha. Why was OHA revenues affected without even notice to us? Why was my press release stopped? Why are the native Hawaiian people losing 209 acres to gain 13.8 acres, in the face of so many of us homeless? Why are we giving up $320,000 annually? Why was this matter a secret until the deal had been

struck? As of Dec. 18, 1984, I am no longer chairperson of the Resource Development Committee from whieh the Land Division of OH A had been under. Louis Hao has replaced me by decision of Joseph Kealoha. The impact of my questions are therefore mueh weaker than it had been over the last two years. I eall on eaeh of you to contact Miss Padeken and Mr. Kealoha and demand a public accounting of these transactions, ask what does OHA now intend to do, ask for an investigation into the profits to be made by members of OHA who have business before the DLNR, DOT or DHHL. Embarassing questions, perhaps, but questions that must be asked. A dangerous precedent has been set by allowing the State to manipulate lands to avoid payingOH A its fair revenues. This could lead to an eventual depletion or total elimination of OHA trust funds. We ean not stand idly by while $320,000 slips through the hands of our Hawaiian agencies. Anyone participating in and profiting from this transaction steals from the mouths of our children, denies our Hawaiian families proper shelter, and interferes with our quest for higher and better education for our children and justice to our people.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees recite the oath of reafffrmation administered by the Rev. William Kaina, pastor of Kawaiahao Church. From left to right are Moanikeala Akaka, Hayden Burgess, Rodney Burgess, Chairman Joseph Kealoha, Louis Hao, Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr., Moses K. Keale Sr., and Rockne Freitas. Trustee Gard Kealoha was ill on swearing in day.

The four trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs who were elected in the Nov. 6 General Election pose following their swearing in. From left to right are Moses K. Keale Sr., Kauai and Niihau; Moanikeala Akaka, Hawaii; Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr., Oahu-at-Large; and Louis Hao, Molokai. Akaka is the newest member of the board while Keale and Kaulukukui were reelected. Hao served a two-month interim appointment before being elected to his first full term.