Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 8, 1 August 1988 — OHA Board Business [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Board Business

By Ed Miehelman Public Information Officer

The June meeting of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees was held June 25 in the Lahaina Restoration Foundation Masters Reading Room on Maui. Subjects reviewed and considered by the Trustees included: Chairperson's Letter to President Reagan The Board acknowledged "with appreciation" a letter sent by OHA Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. to President Reagan. The letter is critical of the President's recent statement that the United States may have made a mistake when it "humored" lndians by allowing them to maintain their "primitive lifestyle" on reservations. Reagan said "maybe we made a mistake" in trying to maintain Indian culture. In his Ietter, Keale said the President's remarks reflect "continued laek of knowledge and sensitivity shown its native peoples by the United States at its highest levels of decision makers." He added, "native peoples do not necessarily want to be assimilated and acculturated, but have a strong sense of identity and bonding to their own cultures whieh they will not surrender." Hawaiians, Keale wrote, "are in full sympathy with (the Indians') outrage due to the injustices we all have suffered at the hands of the United States and its agents." Advertising Agency Budget for Plebiscite A $56,700 advertising campaign proposal by Myers Advertising ine. was approved by the Board. Purpose of the campaign is two-fold: 1) to increase voter registration among OHA beneficiaries; 2) to promote a "yes" vote on the forthcoming plebiscite whieh will ask whether a single beneficiary class should be created for OHA benefits. A preference policy is proposed for native Hawaiians (those with 50 percent or more native blood). The vote to accept the Myers proposal was 8-1 with Keale voting "no". OHA Political Endorsements The Board put off a decision on whether to adopt a policy to refrain from endorsing political candidates. Although some Trustees felt that political endorsements are a powerful tool whieh should be utilized, there were questions about the legality of a state agency favoring one candidate over another. It was also pointed out that criteria for such endorsements have not yet been established. The Trustees voted unanimously to have staff review the proposal and make recommendations for Board action. Trustee Life Insurance The Board accepted a proposal to provide eaeh OHA Trustee with a $50,000 life insurance policy at a total cost of $533.80 per month for the entire

Board. Trustees do not receive a regular salary for their services. They are paid $50 for eaeh Board meeting, committee meeting and ad hoe committee meeting attended and $50 a day while on official business as authorized by the chairman. Relationships with other Indigenous Groups A resolution was approved authorizing the Board to participate in memoranda of understanding with other indigenous groups to "coordinate and assist with cultural exchanges, to share information and programs, to participate in sporting events and celebrations and the exploration of eeonomie development and trade, and any other specific agreements between the two parties." Candidate Questionnaires Candidates for political office this year will be asked to respond to questions conceming the candidate's position on a variety of Hawaiianrelated issues as a result of Board action at the Maui meeting. Separate questionnaires will be sent to OHA candidates and to those running for other offices. Candidate responses to the OHA questionnaires will be published in "Ka Wai Ola O OHA", the OHA newspaper. Lei Collins Resolution A resolution was adopted unanimously honoring "Aunty" Lei Collins and offering "congratulations, honor, best wishes and fondest Aloha" on the occasion of her retirement as curator of Hulihe'e Palaee. The resolution states in part, "Ten years ago, Lei Collins accepted a challenge in her life whieh returned her to Kona to become the curator of Hulihe'e Palaee, bringing experience and expertise leamed from around the world to share with Kona just as many years before she had taken her Hawaiian experience and expertise from Kona out to share with the world ..."

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. and Trustees Clarence F.T. Ching and Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr. at Maui meeting.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees and some staff members offer ho'okupu to Keopuolani before their meeting June 25 on Maui. Keopuolani, who died in 1823, is buried at Waiola Church in Lahaina. She was the wife of Kamehameha I and mother of Kamehameha II and III.