Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 1985 — Applauds Decision [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Applauds Decision

By Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawaii

Circuit Court Judge Edwin Honda is to be applauded for dismissing the State's objections to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs claiming Hawaiian native rights to revenues to all ceded lands. The people of this State should realize that it is in everyone's best interest that the aloha spirit may grow and

prosper. For we Hawanans, it is a matter of survival as we are strangers in our own homeland. When we natives receive our rightful share from these ceded lands resources, 80 percent of these resources go to the general public via the public school system, and only 20 percent to OHA for the native Hawaiians. This is the only state whieh has these potential resources; if not for this land trust of the Hawaiian people, general public benefit would be nil. It is hoped that with the additional resources coming in from the airports, harbors and the Aloha Tower develop ment. we in OHA ean begin to more ably help "better conditi<?ns of the Hawaiian community," OHA's mandate through the Constitutional Convention. Job training, educational and health services programs as well as making more affordable housing available to native Hawaiians ean be a reality when we get our fair share of these ceded land resources. Laek of resources has caused our so-called "beach p>eople, native Hawaiians" to suffer serious injuries reportedly at the hands of poliee on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in Waimanalo a few months ago. As T rustees with these resources we ean begin to address the vicious cycle of poverty facing..so many of our people today. Eighty-five percent of the native Hawaiian community makes less than $20,000 a year. That doesn't go far in paradise; yet for the past 10 years a family of two on welfare receives $390.00 a month plus food stamps and medical whieh is $4,680 a year. These ceded land assets ean help get Hawaiians off welfare and provide the opportunity for ohana to live productive and meaningfu! lives in dignity in this land of our roots. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono. Malama pono!