Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 4, 1 April 1987 — Facts are Facts [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Facts are Facts

By Thomas K. Kaulukuku Sr. T rustee-At-Large

Recent newspaper articles and complaints from some of our beneficiaries to the effect that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has done nothing for the Hawaiians up to this point prompts me to write this pieee. Nothing means not a thing. Reference to OHA means the Board of Trustees, the Administrator,

tne stati and many good cittzens wno serve on tne advisory committees without compensation. Obviously, any criticism about OHA's operation to date does not involve the new Trustees who eame on board just last December. As one of the original Trustees who was first elected in 1980, 1 find it very disturbing that some of our more active beneficiaries run to the media to say OHA has done nothing for the Hawaiians. It is sad when they do this without first getting their facts straight. lt is easy to talk about intangibles or blow hot air but facts are facts and let's consider some of them. Land and Natural Resources — The NativeHawaiian Legal Corporation processed 1,164 Hawaiians as of Dec. 31, 1986. Of the 450 cases involving land issues, 300 have been completed and 250 acres of land have been recovered at an approximate value of $1.5 million. Over $120,000 has been returned to OHA. These are fees paid by clients who received cash payments or land after their cases were settled. NHLC is still processing many more land cases. Reparations Committee— Many meetings have been held over the past two years trying to vvork out a satisfactory proposal to present to the federal government and our representatives in Congress. Three attorneys, a college professor. T rustees and a member of the Hawaiian community have spent many hours of planning and deliberations without compensation. Culture Committee — This group has worked tirelessly to prevent the destruction of archaelogical sites around the state. A recent presentation before our OHA Board by the Department of Transportation director and his staff about revised plans for H-3 to preserve the Luluku site in Kaneohe is another sign something is being done to help Hawaiians. SchoIarships — Graduate level scholarships to 21

native Hawaiians were awarded last year for the second time in a row. T wenty-two were awarded in 1985. Of this number, one-half enrolled in a school of law at either the University of Hawaii or on the mainland. I recently met the mother of one of the UH law graduates. She saidher son was so appreciative of OHA's help that when he is financially able, he'd like to give some of his time and talent. This is without compensation. He just wants to help fellow Hawaiians with their legal problems. Eeonomie Development — Since its inception in 1982, the Business Assistance Program in this division received 90 inquiries for business planning, consulting, technical services and financial assistance. During the period July 1, 1985-June 30, 1986, there were 134 inquiries for business development or expansion effort. This division during the 1985-86 fisca! year processed 26 applications under the OHA Community Grants program with 16 app!icants awarded grants totaling $65,198. Human Services — A number of Hawaiians received assistance under this program since OHA's beginning. Hina Mauka in Kaneohe has received a grant for the past three years to assist in rehabilitating alcoholics. This division also assisted the homeless beach people during their 1985 crisis. OHA, in cooperation with the Honolulu Lions Club, participated in an education awareness drug program, visiting 37 schools with a total attendance of 7,413 students, many of them Hawaiians. A street law diversionary program established by the juvenile court was given financial aid and the services of an advisory committee member. Statistics indicate 30 percent of the youngsters who appear in juvenile court are Hawaiians. Olomana School was given monetary and moral support for two trips by its students to attend a "Close Up" program in Washington, D.C. Finally, a letter from a Hawaiian inmate at Oahu Community Correctional Center was received, thanking OHA and the Board of Trustees "for all what you have done in giving me this confidence in myself and for a very refreshing feeling in myself that there are still beautiful people like you." It is unfortunate many of the efforts of so many people go unnoticed and more unfortunate — unappreciated. During this year of Ho'olako 1987: The Year of the Hawaiian, let us go forward with a concentrated effort. If the spirit of the Lord is to magnify our labors, then a spirit of oneness and cooperation must be the prevailing spirit in all that we do. It is cooperation and mutual eoneem whieh determines the overall success.