Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 1989 — Inouye calls for new partnership [ARTICLE]

Inouye calls for new partnership

By Deborah L.Ward Editor, Ka Wai Ola O OHA The last day of the week-long oversight hearings took the committee to Hilo, where members heard from Big Island homesteaders, and from expert panels on land exchange policies, community and eeonomie development, and housing. By this time, many of the concerns echoed previous remarks though eaeh speaker magnified the sense of urgency for change. As former Hawaiian Homes Commissioner Eleanor Ahuna noted, "Repetition is for great reason, because the needsare there." Senator Daniel K. Inouye called for a thorough examination of the problems and the many recommendations. "I want to be your partner in rectifying the wrongs of the past. I don't have all the answers, that's why I want the opportunity to study." He added, "We will have action, not just study." He stated again his intent to hold information workshops in Hawaiian communities on models of sovereignty. Panel witnesses agreed there needs to be more sharing of responsibility, for the homestead program, between federal and state governments particularly in funding matters. Through astute questioning, committee members showed there is need for more coordination and cooperation between state agencies to work out policy conflicts that may pit one agency against another, against homestead beneficiaries, and even one Hawaiian trust against another. Native Hawaiians made clear they want more say in how homestead affairs are run and to be involved in state and county management planning to assure a culturally sensitive approach that protects native Hawaiian traditional lifestyle and religious practice. Homesteaders spoke of the need tō change the policies of federal housing loan agencies to make it easier for them to obtain bank loans for building or repairing a home. Some noted that homesteader status makes loans to veterans or for cdlege scholarships impossible. As Panaewa homesteader Linda [)ela Cruz stated, "This dilemma is a disaster beyond comprehension." The homestead award acceleration program, carried out in 1987-88 by DHHL, was praised by some who were grateful to have even an unimproved lot. One family has begun building a home on its Kawaihae lot, without permission and is bringing in their own water and gravel for the road. They are sleeping in a tent all to ensure a plaee for their children to live in that housing-short district. Kelii "Skippy" Loane, leader of the King's Landing homesteader group, whieh eame in as

squatters, said they provided their own infrastructure, with gas heater and solar panels. Others criticized DHHL for the long delay in providing roads, electricity, and water, though DHHL director Ilima Pi'ianaia explained the department had received no money from the state, until the last biennium, for infrastructure. Testimony was nearly unanimous that more money is needed to provide for accelerated infrastructure development. Most eyes look to the federal government for this help. On the final day, the panel on land exchange began with a review by Ilima Pi'ianaia of the Hawaiian Homes Commission on the department's policies for land exchange. She said there have been 10 exchanges in the history of the department, for a net gain of more than 3,000 acres, since the exchanges are made on an equal value basis. Allene Richardson, executive director of the Hawaii Legal Aid Society, commented that in their view land exchange was acceptable if for the benefit of beneficiaries only, and as a consolidation or expansion of existing parcels. She added that the monitoring and review of the Hawaiian Homes program should not be the sole job of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, to avoid political influences at that level. OHA's Big Island trustee, Moanikeala Akaka, said that the Federal-State Task Force on the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act recommended that if lands subject to the OHA trust were to be used as replacement lands in a land exchange, the DHHL must work with OHA to maximize the benefits to both trusts. "Unfortunately," she said, "that has not been the case." She cited three land exchanges by the DHHL since the task force report in 1983. As a resuit of one - the exchange of trust lands under the Hilo, Waimea, and Moloka'i airports for lands at Shafter flats - ineome to the OHA trust was severely harmed. Panelists speaking on community and eeonomie development and housing described a number of recent programs that are creating new opportunities for Hawaiian eeonomie self-sufficiency. Alu Like, ine. has conducted training through its Native Hawaiian Business Development Center. OHA has recently launched a Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund for business loans and has offered an entrepreneurship training program. OHA is seeking funds to open a native Hawaiian small business "incubator" facility on eaeh island to expand the benefits of these kindsof programs. Puanani Burgess of Wai'anae described several small community development projects in her

community including backyard aquaculture ponds and kalo growing. La France Kapaka of Hanalei described the achievements of Project Waipa, a taro-growing community with its own land base that practices the values of self-suf-ficiency. Guest panelist Jim West, a Cheyenne Indian and president of his own financial services company, noted, "If eeonomie self-sufficiency for native Hawaiians becomes a reality, it is because they took the initiative to develop their eeonomie potential." "It is very important for the committee to understand that land is more than an eeonomie asset to Native Americans. Land is our heritage, we are of this land. This defines who we are as a people, a culture. "The most significant measure of success will eome, he said, "when there are places where native Hawaiians ean seek their spirit in tides of the sea, stars of the sky and mountains of the islands." OHA Trustee Clarence Ching said a number of small programs have sprung up alongside the recognized federal ones to help alleviate the problems faced by many Hawaiians in locating truly affordable housing. OHA has conducted a pilot self-help home building demonstration project for homesteaders, and is preparing an information brochure on various available subsidized housing programs. The private Gibson Foundation, headedbyexecutive director Mililani Trask, assists homesteaders in locating financing to build their home, and with other steps necessary to becoming a homeowner. The Oahu Self-Help Housing Frogram, directed by Claudia Shay, uses the team-self help "sweat equity" approach to help families build their own home. She recommended the committee look into providing additional discretionary grant funds to the Administration for Native Americans to assist non-profit agencies to help prospective homebuilders. She also recommended: creation of additional federal mortgage plans, granting funds to DHHL for a revolving down payment fund for those who need it, and grant money for waste water treatment systems. As the hearings drew to a close, Inouye promised to communicate with various agencies to get more information on problem areas. He said he wants to begin work right away on legislative amendments and added the money will eome later. He thanked all the speakers and the many homesteaders who attended the hearings, and promised "What you have done today will benefit those here today."