Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 2, 1 February 1987 — Our Native Right [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Our Native Right

By Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawaii

It is good to see that the National Park Service has been wise enough to exempt ethnic Hawaiians from paying proposed park fees for religious purposes on national parks at Volcano and Honaunau on Hawaii Island; Haleakala on Maui; and Kalaupapa on Moloka'i. However, this exemption does not go far enough.

Your Uttice ot nawanan Mttairs Doara oi ī rustees on Dec. 14 took a position for NO park fees for natives for religious, cultural, fishing, subsistence, gathering and recreational purposes. National Park's position is to exempt tees because of the Native American Religious Freedom (NARFL) Act for religious purposes. This, however, does not take into account that it is our native right to visit these parks for gathering — whether it be liko for our lei po'o or mamaki for our kupuna for medicinal purposes — or for our own recreation. After all, let us remember that this state's national parks are Hawaiian land. Yet they now expect to charge us a fee for what is ours to begin with. These park fees are a user's tax (yet President Reagan said there would be no new taxes). The Nahonal Park Service says they ean exempt us from these fees for religious purposes because the NARF Act is recognized federally, but native rights are not. That is one of the reasons why it is so important that we implement a Hawaiian Constitution and legislature whieh is what I wrote you last month. Remember Presidents Reagan and Nixon have stated as part of their presidential policy that native Americans (Hawaiians included) have the right to self government and selfdetermination. This Hawaiian Constitution will lay sound foundation to be able to insure our native rights and benefits that the state and Feds ignore. We as natives would be able to deal on a government-to-government basis with these entities denying us that whieh really belongs to our people. We are re-establishing our Hawaiian Nation. Those who want to become a part of the Hawaiian Nation must have ethnic Hawaiian blood; however, we may offer honorary citizenship to those whom it is felt are Hawaiian-at-heart. To be a member of the Hawaiian Nation, one does not have to disavow U.S. citizenship. One could be a citizen of the Hawaiian Nation, this state, and American as well — triple citizenship — if that is your desire. Na kupuna do not have to worry about

losing their social security eheek. Malia Puka o Ka Lani Church, Father George DeCosta, his staff, parishioners, and community members are to be congratulated and thanked for sponsoring, along with the Native Hawaiian Land Trust Trask Force, this first interim Hawaiian Constitutional Convention in Keaukaha, Jan. 15-18. This gathering was exciting for young and kupuna alike as we could see the potential of the implementation of this president's condoned Hawaiian (self)-government. Convention chair Mililani Trask of Oahu; vice chair and kupuna Genesis Lee Loy of Keaukaha — Panaewa; and Mei Ling Ahuna of Keanae recessed the convention until midMarch so that this Constitution draft ean be worked on more before first passage. lt should be understood that this Native Constitution will become mueh more refined in the next few years. We members of the Hawaiian Nation want to set up a good, firm, solid foundation with this Constitution in plaee, followed by the election of a Hawaiian legislative body made up of grassroots leaders from throughout the islands. It is this Trustee's hope that this island-wide legis!ature of grassroots leaders ean work hand in hand with the Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to help better our people's condition whieh is OHA's mandate. Who better knows the problems of the community than those of the community. Two trustees besides myself attended the convention proceedings. The several hundred Hawaiian grassroots leaders at this interim Hawaiian Constitutional Convention were pleased to see Trustees Manu Kahaialii of Maui and Clarence Ching of O'ahu in attendance at this historical occasion. Louis Ha'o of Moloka'i has been open to help support the Moloka'i and Lana'i deiegation when the convention reconvenes. Kahaialii said that weekend it was good to see the young and the "not so young" working together. The kupuna circulated throughout the six workshops listening to mana'o and sharing theirs as well. They were happy with what they saw happening. With this nation set up and OH A's kokua, there is more hope for a better tomorrow for our land and people. Malama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono.