Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 1987 — Reestablishing La Hui [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Reestablishing La Hui

By Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Haweiii

Molokai's Ho'olako Celebration Sept. 26 at Kaunakakai Park included a Ho'olaule'a where great Hawaiian entertainment was presented by both loeal groups and those from Honolulu — Owana Salazar, Chucky Boy Chock, Kekolu Hana Hou Band. Kupuna, makua and kamali'i gathered to eele-

brate this Year of the Hawaiian and enjoyed every bit of it. There were crafts, foods, T-shirts and game booths by different halau and community groups. Molokai La Hui, whieh had invited Kia A'ina Mililani Trask, Papa Henry Auwae from Keaukaha (Lt. Gov.), and your Hawaii island Trustee, sold out on its ono Hawaiian food. We were invited to speak about La Hui, our Hawaiian Nation whieh we are working to reestablish. The response from the Hawaiian community that day was very positive and enthusiastic. Na kupuna were eager to help resurrect our nation and almost 150 Hawaiian citizens of the nation were enrolled that dav.

I wrote about the Hawaiian Constititional Convention in my last February eolumn. Along with myself, three other Trustees from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs played active and positive roles by their participation at this January Hawaiian Con-Con. They were LouisHao, Molokai; Clarence Ching, Oahu; and Manu Kahaialii, Maui. Hao and I have been asked to be interim members of the La Hui legis!ature from our respective islands until statewide elections are he!d in 1989. Kia A'ina T rask and statewide La Hui members will make a presentation shortly before the OHA Board of Trustees. The previous board did receive a workshop by Trask through OHA's Reparation Committee whieh I chaired last year. It was favorably received by those Trustees who attended — Gard Kealoha, Thomas K. (Unele Tommy) Kaulukukui Sr., and Hao.

The interim constitution, whieh shall be refined for the next two years, is a combination of parts of native constitutions as well as the U. S. constitution whieh stems from the Iroquois nation. The United Nations Charter and Bill of Rights are also part of this sound, democratic, constititional foundation. Workshops are being held statewide to let you know about La Hui and the Hawaiian constitition. Bring your ohana and friends and take advantage of this opportunity to enroll as a citizen. The reestablishment of our Hawaiian Nation is happening and it is of paramount importance to all Hawaiians and their ohana present

and future. You will recall that it was Nixon and Reagan presidential policies that "Native Americans (whieh Haweūians are classified as) have the right to selfdetermination and self-governance." Inreestablishing La Hui, we are folIowing policy. You ean belong to the Hawaiian Nation as well as be a part of the State. Kupuna ean continue to receive Social Security entitlements if they so desire. Although one must have Hawaiian blood in order to vote in La Hui, we will have honorary citizenship for non-natives who are Hawaiian at heart.

La Hui is the type of self-determination and selfgovernance referred to by the presidential policies. In the almost 20 years since we started the Hawaiian movement for justice xin Kalama Valley, this Ho'oulu La Hui (to raise the Hawaiian Nation) is one of the most exciting opportunities for our people to shape their destiny relating to Hawaiian concerns. This is self-deter-mination and empowerment. The dismal statistics on health, social and otherwise for our people speak for themselves. We are like aliens in our own home.

La Hui and OHA should be able to work hand īn hand to help take the Hawaiian people forward. OHA needs La Hui because its legislature is composed of grass roots leaders who work in their communities to improve the plight of the Hawaiian people. Who better knows the problems than those who have lived and worked with them? These are the kinds of !egislators you should elect for the Hawaiian Nation. No special interest; only justice for our land and people. When we Trustees met with Sen. Daniel K. Inouye over a month ago, he suggested we work with Trask and La Hui. He did not know at the time that she was OHA's legal adviser. We must all work togetherfor that

is very important to uplift our people. Mahealani Ing, executive director of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (whieh gets over $300,000 annually from OHA), wrote to OHA Board Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. that there is "no conflict of interest between La Hui and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs." La Hui's second interim Iegislative session is scheduled Oct. 16-18 in Mana'e, Molokai at Kilohana School. Members of the legislature will be elected by you who enrolI a citizens of La Hui. It is your responsibility to elect representatives who are truly going to help uplift the Hawaiian people and not just mark time while our peoples' conditions worsen as has been the situation for generations. This must not be allowed to eonhnue.

For more information about workshops, La Hui and its constitution, eall these respective island captains: Hawaii — Genesis Lee Loy, 959-3262; Oahu — Marie 01sen, 668-1738; Kauai — Atwood Makanani, 822-7184; Lanai — Sol Kahoohalahala, 565-6583; Molokai — Donna Blevins, 558-8151; Maui — Apolonia Day, 248-8416. If you would like to gather a group of your ohana and friends for a La Hui workshop, please eall and make arrangements for we must ho'ouluulu La Hui (gather the Nation) in order to ho'oulu La Hui (raise the Nation). Calling all Hawaiians. Malama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.