Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 2, 1 February 1990 — Trustees oppose forced leased land sales [ARTICLE]

Trustees oppose forced leased land sales

The OHA trustees have adopted a resolution strongly opposing any existing and proposed legislation whieh wouId make mandatory any conversion of residential, agricultural, industrial or eommercial leasehold that forces landowners to eonvey title to their real property on the demand of those leasing the property. Copies of the trustees' resolution, voted on Dec. 22, 1989, were sent to the governor, federal state and county legislators, board chairpersons and other interested parties. A copy of the resolution is on file and available to the public at the OHA Honolulu offices. In the resolution the trustees cited the reasons for their decisions. They said the Land Reform Act of 1976 has eroded the land base of Hawaiian estates and trusts causing injury to native Hawaiians as beneficiaries of those trusts and to Hawaiian small land owners whose personal investments are endangered. Trustees said that OHA is entrusted with moni-

toring policies whieh have an impact on native Hawaiians, and with protection of the rights of native Hawaiians to determine their own affairs. In that context, the trustees said there hasbeen significant erosion of trusts set up by ali'i to benefit their people. These trusts include those established by Queen Emma, Queen Kapi'olani, King Charles Lunalilo, and Queen Liliu'okalani. Trustees said the trust set up by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop has become an educational cornerstone for native Hawaiians and must be protected. The trusts specifically mentioned in the resolution include those created for the following purposes: • Queen Emma left her vast estates to provide ineome for health care for poor Hawaiians at the Queen's Hospital but that preference is no longer given, the hospital now serves the general public. While Hawaiians suffer outrageous health conditions some have been turned out of Queen's Hospital when unable to pay for health services.

• Queen Kapi'olani funded and raised funds for the Kapi'olani Maternity Home for underprivileged Hawaiian mothers in the former home of Princess Kekaulike. Today the facility is the Kapi'olani Women's and Children's Medical Center. • King Charles Lunalilo established a trust and set aside extensive land holdings on all the islands to accommodate the poor and destitute, the elderly and infirm, and today all that remains of that valuable estate is a small parcel of land where Lunalilo Home is located. • Queen Liliu'okalani also left a land trust to benefit orphans and destitute children. The estate is somewhat intact and includes valuable Waikiki land. The trust is in danger of being diminished in the Kona, Hawai'i, area by the state government. • Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop's trust has effectively benefitted Hawaiians in financial and Iiuman resources and education for Hawaiian boys and girls through the Kamehameha Schools.