Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 1985 — Payments to Cover 10-Year Period [ARTICLE]

Payments to Cover 10-Year Period

$1 Billion Reparations Package Proposed

Hawaiians would receive reparations of $100 million a year for 10 years from the federal government under legislation being proposed by Hawaii's Congressional delegation. The billion dollar reparations bill is part of a package designed to implement the recommendations contained in Volume II of the Native Hawaiians Study Commission. The reparations portion of the package is divided into two components. The first is a joint resolution calling for federal recognition of the moral and legal obligation arising from the participation of the United States in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. The justification reads, in part: "As a result of unjustifiable and profound involvement by the Amenean Government in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, the native residents of Hawaii lost their self determination. The U.S. Congress shall therefore make restitutions to compensate Native Hawaiians for their losses". The second component is the "Native Hawaiian Claims Act". It authorizes payment to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs of $1 billion over a 10-year period to: 1. Promote the eeonomie development and self-suffi-ciency of Native Hawaiians. (Native Hawaiian is defined

as "any individual whose ancestors were natives of the area that constituted the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778". 2. Promote the social welfare of Native Hawaiians. 3. Provide educational programs for Native Hawaiians. 4. Provide health programs for Native Hawaiians. 5. Provide programs that promote the cultural preservation of Native Hawaiians. 6. Provide job training and employment placement of Native Hawaiians. 7. Acquire and develop land and natural resources for the benefit of Native Hawaiians. Other portions of the package address the federal obligation to return ceded lands to the State of Hawaii and to implement the recommendations of the Federal-State Task Force on the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. The ceded lands legislation attempts to facilitate the return of outstanding ceded lands by amending the standards and procedures by whieh such returns are made. A commission would be established to review all existing federal ceded lands

in Hawaii and to make appropriate recommendations. The Hawaiian Homes proposal initially would focus on securing the return of federally controlled Hawaiian homelands. The Department of Interior will also be requested to provide a detailed report on its position and planned actions with regard to eaeh of the Task Force's recommendations. A final component of the legislative package is a concurrent resolution "Expressing the sense of the Congress that Native Hawaiians should be included in the definition of Native Americans". The resolution says "That the Congress recognizes that Native Hawaiians share all the attributes and needs eommon to other indigenous peoples and are entitled to any and all benefits extended to other Native Americans". Hawaii's Congressional delegation also proposes the establishment of a "Native American Commission" to be responsible for reviewing federal legislation and programs in order to ensure that the interests of Native Americans are considered and accommodated. The commission would include at least one Native Hawaiian. The Congressional package was submitted to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and other Hawaiian agencies along with a request that comments be submitted by January 31, 1986.