Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 3, 1 Malaki 1990 — 'IIuna Aʻe" is OHA long-range plan [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'IIuna Aʻe" is OHA long-range plan

In 1982, OHA submitted to the Native Hawaiians Study Commission a report entitled "Reparations and Restitution," whieh set out four general principles to bring native Hawaiians into the modern era of federal Native American relations: 1) Acknowledgement by the U.S. of the wrongful taking of Hawaiian land: 2) Provisions of selfgovernment for native Hawaiians: 3) Provisionofa land base for native Hawaiians: and 4) Monetary compensation. Six years ago OHA pointed out that no final plan for reparations ean be achieved without significant input and ultimate approval by the native Hawaiian community. To that end, OHA has begun a detailed and extensive consultation process with the community. We believe that native Hawaiians are intelligent, aware and eapahle of making decisions on issues such as self determination, but that the concepts must be developed by the native Hawaiian people themselves. OHA's role is to be the conduit for this development and the repository of the concepts. As facilitator, OHA has developed a long-range plan called "I Luna A'e" (Moving Upward).

Operation 'Ohana (Enrollment) Operation 'Ohana, part of the "I Luna A'e" program, was initiated on July 27, 1989. 'Ohana is one of those special words inspired by Hawaiian reverence for life — past, present and future. It comes from the word 'oha meaning the rootlets by whieh the taro plant reproduces itself. It also means family in the most important and extended sense. In order to grow and flourish, the Hawaiian people are re-establishing their familial relationships. The goal of Operation 'Ohana is to encourage all native Hawaiians to join in one allianee beginning with families and expanding to include the entire community and culture. To accomplish this, OHA has organized an enrollment program whieh builds on the traditional family system. OHA's goal is to enroll some 150,000 native Hawaiians. As part of the enrollment process a follow up validation and survey will take plaee thereby providing mueh needed data to develop a benefits package for native Hawaiians. The validation process will also provide a native Hawaiian genealogy data base. Operation 'Ohana will not only serve to unite the native Hawaiian community, it will also provide the first true demographic information on our people, giving us data based on wants and needs identified by Hawaiians for Hawaiian use. It seeks to give all native Hawaiians an opportunity to transform family decisions into action whieh keep the community moving upward. Enrollment in Operation 'Ohana continues. People interested in being trained as registrars may eall the OHA office to ask about free training sessions. Volunteers are also needed who are willing to go into communities to register people for Operation 'Ohana. OHA is applying for a federal grant from the Administration for Native Americans to assist in the enrollment process over three years. Registrar training sessions have been held in various O'ahu locations. This year training sessions will be added in Waipahu, and will continue to be held at least onee a week at OHA in Honolulu. OHA volunteer coordinator Elaine Tamashiro is planning day and evening training and registration sessions. She is available to conduct registrar training wherever a group has a public facility with a television and a videocassette player. The next step will be to conduct deputy registrar training on the neighbor islands. Neighbor island residents who want to enroll their family may contact the OHA office in Lihue, Kahului, Kaunakakai, Kona or Hilo. In Honolulu Tamashiro may be contacted for an appointment at 946-2642. Registration began in September 1989 in California and in October in Hawai'i. To date, an estimated 10,000 forms have been distributed,

1 100 forms have been returned (an average of five names are on eaeh form), and approximately 220 registrars have been trained and deputized. Operation Ka Po'e (Definition of Membership) A second component of "I Luna A'e" is Operation Ka Po'e. Operation Ka Po'e was designed to provide an opportunity for the native Hawaiian community to define its own membership. By conducting a plebiscite of all OHA voters, Ka Po'e sought to have Hawaiians define "Who is a Hawaiian?" Through Operation Ka Po'e, OHA launched on November 15, 1989 public electronic meetings, mailing, questionnaires, and media campaigns designed to stimulate thinking about this important topic and to provide a forum where those thoughts ean be heard. OHA feels strongly that Hawaiians must exercise

self-determination to define who we are and what we stand for without outside interference. This selfdetermination process is a critica! step to an eventual goal of self-governance. Last session, the state legislature asked OHA to determine how Hawaiians want the term "native Hawaiian" defined for purposes of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs trusts. During December 1989 and January 1990, with legislative funding, OHA conducted a mail plebiscite of its registered voters to ask whether they supported the concept of a single definition of "Native Hawaiian." Results of the plebiscite (80% yes) were announced Jan. 30. (See related story this issue) The plebiscite has no power in itself to change the existing state definition of native Hawaiian. An amendment to the state constitution is necessary for the single definition to be incorporated into Hawaii's statutes. That requires legislative action and ratification by a majority of all the voters. The first of a series of hearings on a bill to amend the definition of native Hawaiian in the Hawaii Revised Statutes (Chapter 10) as it concerns the Office of Hawaiian Affairs was held Feb. 10. Operation Ea (Entitlement) A third component of "I Luna A'e" is Operation Ea. This approach to federal entitlement was initiated by OHA on Sept. 2, 1989, the birthday anniversary of Queen Lili'uokalani. Native Hawaiians believe that the federal government has

breached its trust responsibility to the native Hawaiian community. All the problems we are experiencing stem from the loss of our native Hawaiian lands and self-government. To determine what approach should be taken OHA has developed a discussion document called the draft Blueprint. The draft blueprint is a concept paper proposing possible approaches to the issues of claims and self-governance. It provides a process to address these important issues. lt is not a fina! plan. Through our efforts on enrollment, definition and federal entitlement OHA's goal is to develop a proposal whieh it ean take to the state and federal government whieh truly comes from the Hawaiian people with OHA serving as facilitator/coordinator.

In 1989 a series of public information meetings was he!d in the islands and in cities on the mainland to share with all Hawaiians the contents and purposes of the draft Blueprint, to receive comments and answer the questions of the Hawaiian community. This year OHA continues to meet with community groups to discuss the draft Blueprint. Clubs, groups or organizations that want to host a meeting or presentation may eall the Blueprint coordinator at the OHA Honolulu office, or eall liaison offices on Kaua'i, Maui, Moloka'i, and in Kona and Hilo on Hawai'i island. Free copies of the draft Blueprint are available in the OHA Honolulu office and ean be picked up, requested by phone or mail at 946-2642 or by writing to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1600 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1500, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96814. Operation Hui imi (Task Force on Services to Hawaiians) The Hawai'i legislature appropriated funds for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in 1989 to create a task force that will coordinate planning services to Hawaiians. This 20-member task force is headed by the chairman of OHA, and includes representation from several Hawaiian services agencies, plus the state and federal governments. The task force project has been divided into two phases: 1. Preliminary inventory, to include an examination of the provision of services for both eoniinue page 16

Hawaiians gathered for the announcement of the ceded lands proposed settlement, whieh is one of several OHA long-range plans for Hawaiian entitlements.

Iluna A'e from page 9

the elderly and youth, the availability of legal and cultural services, and an assessment of the needs of "at risk" school drop-outs, juvenile offenders and pregnant adolescents. Also inc!uded are medical and employment needs, and access to government services and transportation for those in rural areas. An interim report will be submitted to the legislature in 1990. 2. Comprehensive inventory and recommendations, to include an analysis of services and needs, plus recommendations to improve accessibility, coordination and delivery of services for unmet needs to the legislature in 1991. Operation Hui 'Imi is closely tied to OHA's Operation 'Ohana.

Operation Malama Mau (Historic Preservation Task Force) In the regular session of 1989, the House of Representatives and Senate approved House Concurrent Resolution No. 136, entitled: "House concurrent resolution requesting a study of ways for the state to better respond to the discovery of important historical sites within the state." An interim report has been submitted to the members of the 15th state legislature. This report clearly identifies the areas where state laws should be changed in the interests of giving Hawaiian sites greater and stronger protection. More important, it clearly identifies the central role whieh the Native Hawaiian people and culture must assert and assume in law if the protection effort is not only to succeed, but to truly live. In HCR No. 136, the Legislature resolved that the OHA study "include, but not be limited to, the following: " (1) A review and analysis of the existing laws and rules that pertain to Hawaiian historic sites; (2) Problems with the existing process that weaken attempts by the State to better protect Hawaiian historical sites; (3) Recommendations for resolving these problems; (4) A plan on how the Office of Hawaiian Affairs would promulgate rules relating to Hawaiian historic sites if given the authority to play a major role in the management of historic sites; and (5) Recommendations on the type of role the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, itself,

would assume if it was authorized to respond to the discovery of important Hawaiian historical sites." Operation 'Alohi (Public Relations) The Office of Hawaiian Affairs seeks to expand its influence and effectiveness as the official representative of the Hawaiian people. It is perceived that the role and responsibility of OHA are not well known or understood among its constituency, or the general public. The objectives of this plan are to: (1) Determine the nature and extent of feelings and understanding of Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians of Hawaiian issues and OHA; (2) Increase awareness, and understanding of Hawaiian issues, and of OHA (3) Educate the Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian community on purposes, goals and programs of OHA; and (4) Generate a network of support for OHA and its efforts to improve the conditions of Hawaiians. Operation Ho'okuleana (State Entitlements) The objectives of this plan are to: (1) Identify issues relating to native Hawaiian and Hawaiian trust entitlements, 2) Determine the nature and manner for honoring these trusts, and 3) Clarify existing laws to embody such trust covenants. As recently announced, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Governor have completed the first stage of negotiations regarding entitlements due OHA. Legislation addressing the "past due" and future entitlement for native Hawaiians of 50 percent or more blood is now before the percent or more blood is now before the legislature (see related articles, this issue). To be completed by 1991, is a resolution of the prospective entitlement for all Hawaiians regardless of biood quantum. Operation Lokahi This plan is to develop an issue-oriented response team for Hawaiian community issues that are related to, or may affect other components of Operation I Luna A'e. The team will meet with concerned groups such as 'Ohana organizations.