Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 6, 1 June 1989 — Kamehameha Schools And The Bishop Estate [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kamehameha Schools And The Bishop Estate

By Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i

Onee again we are faced with major decisions that will affect the future of the Hawaiian people. Individuals and institutions will make these decisions. No institution is a "sacred eow" above reproach or criticism, including the State of Hawai'i and the Bishop Estate. I

think it's healthy for us to take a look at what is happening to Kamehameha Schools up on Kapalama Heights, and with the Bishop Estate board of trustees, who make decisions weekly at that magnificent koa table over at Kawaiahao Plaza. We would be wise also, to look at the objectives of Princess Pauahi Bishop as she established the Kamehameha Schools as her legacy to the Hawaiian people. I was fortunate enough to attend Kamehameha in the 7th and part of the 8th grade before my 'ohana was uprooted to Northern California because of my father's employment. I also take a personal interest in this school and its workings because Pauahi's father Abner Paki is one of my ancestors. As 'ohana I feel I have every right and responsibility to be concerned about how the Bishop Estate cind Kamehameha Schools function. Furthermore as OHA trustee, I also have an elected responsibility to encourage a programmatic approach to the improvements of our people: the greatest benefit to the greatest number — education of youngHawaiians. Let us be honest, Hawaiians are over-presented in the prison system, not because our people are inherently bad but because oursocial, eeonomie and political history have made us victims of our own generosity . Education is the main avenue out of this unsavory position of poverty and criminality. A century ago, Pauahi first saw this tragic circumstance overwhelming our people— it was for this reason the school was established. We also have an interest that the Bishop Estate trustees have sound management and land-use practices in the development of our Hawaiian 'aina. In the past, since we started the Hawaiian

movement for justice in Kalama Valley, I would oftentimes hear Bishop Estate staff state "we must develop Kalama Valley or Makalawena or across from Sandy Beach because we have a responsibility to educate Hawaiian boys and girls." I am sure Pauahi wnuld not want her trustees to desecrate one of the iew open awe-inspiring coastal vistas remaining on O'ahu. By a vote of 2 to 1, O'ahu residents voted by initiative to save Sandy Beach in last November's eleehon. The trustees of the Bishop Estate should realize that there are some special areas that should be kapu— never to be touched by development. These unique areas like Sandy Beach and Makalawena should be preserved for present and future generations. And presently Pine T rees just outside of Kailua-Kona is being threatened by the Bishop Estate. Loeal people for generations have been enjoying this area; today it is a camping and fishing refuge from urban sprawl. lt is being targeted for yet another resort development. From South Point, Ka'u (the southernmost point in the state) along the coastline through Keauhou past KailuaKona all the way to Spencer Park, Kawaiahae there is nowhere for loeal families to eamp by the oeean, though there are lots of hotel rooms costing hundreds of dollars a day whieh most of our people cannot afford. Why destroy Pine Trees when Bishop Estate already has zoning for a hotel at Keauhou? Do our loeal working people not need recreational areas? Recently, the Honolulu Aduertiser surveyed its readers. Eight out of ten persons when asked, felt there should be a eap on the Bishop Estate trustees' salaries. Better than eight out of ten Hawaiians surveyed showed displeasure at the Bishop Estate trustees' $800,000 salaries last year. I would say this indicates the Hawaiian people are righteously concerned with how their resources are being used. I would suggest that the majority of Hawaiians would be supportive if the Bishop Estate trustees were to move in this direction: 1. Establish quality satellite schools on every island. It is the responsibility of the Kamehameha Schools to also reach the kids who are increasingly falling through the cracks, ending up on welfare or in prison. 2. Incorporate "aloha 'aina" as a guideline for environmental protection on land use practices.

3. That the Bishop Estate trustees be paid equivalent to the democratically elected trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. 4. Those Hawaiian monies that make up the bloated Bishop Estate trustees' salaries ean then be transferred to scholarships needed for many Hawaiian students state wide. For the currently vacant seat on the Bishop Estate board of trustees I strongly recommend a tried and proven friend of the Hawaiian people, one who for years and years has been a beacon of patience and proven commitment to the people and our heroic struggle — Sonny Kaniho, a retired military man who continues to fight for justice on Hawaiian Homes Land. The inclusion of Sonny Kaniho as a trustee of the board of Bishop Estate will bring a genuine grassroots perspective whieh is direly lacking at this juncture in history. Malama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka'aina i ka pono.