Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 12, 1 December 1987 — A Call to Action [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Call to Action

By Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i

As we eome to the end of this Year of the Hawaiian, let it not be the end but the beginning of a new Hawaiian resurgence of involvement for justice for our land and people. This is a very critical time in our people's history. We, I and all of you, have it within our power to shape our children's future

through our participation in the process. This next legislative session will be making decisions that will impact the Hawaiian ohana relating to our ceded land resources and entitlements in perpetuity, forever and ever. These resources and revenues are our children's children's children's dowry and we together must see that they benefit as mueh as possible for na po'e deserve it. There has been mueh suffering of this aina and its people since the "Great Mahele, Bayonet Constitution, and the overthrow of our beloved Queen Liliuokalani. It is of primary impor-

tance for the present and future generations that we as Trustees, Hawaiian people, as well as our supporters for justice eome together and convince these legislators, the Governor and our Congressional delegation that it is moral and good governmental policy to give the Hawaiian people the fair play and justice we deserve.

As you may be aware, the State and Federal Supreme Courts have refused to hear the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' suit against the State Department of Transportation for money owed us native Hawaiian beneficiaries for airport and harbor use of our ceded lands (read artiele on page 1 of November 1987, Ka Wai Ola O OHA). As T rustees, we have a fiduciary responsibility to you the Hawaiian people to protect our ceded lands, resources and assets. The State and Federal Supreme Courts have said that 20 percent ceded land entitlements for State harbors and airports is poliheal and not an issue for the courts.

What is at stake is millions in revenues annually to the Hawaiian people. These are funds OHA could use to create mueh needed land, housing, culture, education, health and human services, and eeonomie development (such as loan) programs in the Hawaiian community. OHA now receives $1.4 million yearly from the ceded land revenues. However, our 20 percent of airport lands alone would be in excess of $24 million annually. Can you imagine how we could utilize these resources? $24 million yearly would help uplift our people with tangible assistance programs. Our kupuna need special kokua for many are on fixed incomes with limited resources. They should be able to live their later years in comfort and dignity after their lifelong struggle in building the

Hawan of today. I envision many viable, needed programs and projects as chairperson of OHA's Programs Committee whieh encompasses Land and Natural Resources, Culture, Education, Eeonomie Development and Health and Human Services. I am disturbed at the laek of revenues available for tangible projects to get our people some substance in the way of programs. At last we have been able to get funding from the Administration for Native Americans for the recently announced self-held housing program. Let us hope that the seven to 15 self-help homes on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands are the tip of an iceberg of such projects for as you well know there are over 16,000 families on the waiting list as applicants for DHHL lands. Some of you Hawaiians have been waiting, 10, 20, 30 even 40 years for that aina o Hawaii.

OHA is supposed to receive on/y 20 percent of revenues of ceded lands for the native Hawaiian while the general public receives 80 percent. To many, this is too little to the natives. However, at this time we are not even able to colIect the 20 percent now owned. These revenues are nota handout. They are our right! It is not unusual for native people to receive millions annually in revenues and entitlements for having their land stolen. For example, just one department for the Aborigines of Australia receives $350 million from the Australian government annually. Canadian natives and many Native American tribes on the mainland receive millions yearly as well. The Alaskan Natives received a hillion dollars

since 1971, plus 40 million acres of aina. These natives are supposed to utilize the funds to help their people. I feel it is of utmost importance that you ean observedly see how OHA improves your condition. We should have Hawaiian cultural centers islandwide where the language, dance, feather work, weaving, music and eulture are encouraged and flourish; where kupuna, makua and kamalii eome together and leam from eaeh other. American Indians have many cultural centers throughout their reservations. We also need to fund special programs for our youth. We need tutoring programs statewide and job training programs that are not minimum wage, dead-end situations. We must get our people out of the vicious cycle of poverty and secondclass citizenship.

Yet, in doing this, we must respect and aloha the aina; protect that whieh is unique to these islands. This is part of our generation's stewardship— responsibility to the future. There is a real need for well thought out, responsible projects and programs. Projects and programs that will not prove to be temporary band-aids but will substantially help make a difference by getting to the causes of problems Hawaiian. It is here within our reach — it is up to! We must moue and unify to imua. Na kamalii future depends on it. We need your kokua to help you help yourself. I want to keep you abreast of this critical ceded land entitlement issue so eall my Hilo office at 961-7349 or 961-74% or the Oahu office at 946-2642. Leave your name, address and phone number so that I may reach you to inform you about this issue. Snooze, we lose. I cannot overstress the importance of vour kokua.

We Hawaiians have made many an elected official. We campaign for them out of aloha, wear their T -shirts, make their luaus — yet onee they get into office they tend to forget about us. I am referring to some Hawaiian Right to Sue bills last legislature. We must hold everyone accoutable for their actions. Your kamalii need your kokua. Onipaa and we ean work miracles— better yet, justice— and a meaningful life of dignity in our own homeland. It is within our reach. It is up to us. Remember that as living conditions improve for our people, whieh these ceded harbor and airport lands revenues will help to provide funding for, there will be

more aloha in these islands — guaranteed We also need education and other training programs in the prison system to break the cycle of recidivism. These ceded resources owed to us ean help bring hope to our Hawaiian people's future. We need your kokua to make this a reality. This generation of Hawaiians is at the crossroads. Malama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.