Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1990 — OHA is fulfilling its responsibility to Hawaiians [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA is fulfilling its responsibility to Hawaiians

Aloha kakou! The eolumn this month is to answer some of our critics who accuse OHA and the trustees of misusing trust funds for official travel. Other criticsaccuse OHA of not doing anything to help Native Hawaiians and Hawaiians.

The trustees reject these charges and vigorously protest these improperallegations. The persons making these charges have been critics of OHA for some time but this new round of very personal, unfair and slanderous attack is totally unacceptable. The OHA trustees serve without receiving any salaries whatsoever. Many of our trustees work five days a week. Some take unpaid leave from their jobs to attend meetings. For the past two years the trustees have worked late into the night in order to negotiate with the state administration for substantially more benefits to better the conditions of the Hawaiian community. The trustees were able to bring this hard work to completion by announcing an agreement with the state government to increase dramatically the funds that will be provided for Native Hawaiians from trust lands. These critics may understandably feel threatened by this action because it illustrates onee again that OHA is fulfilling its responsibilities to the Hawaiian community. The OHA Board of Trustees has authorized individual trustees to accept invitations to represent OHA at events celebrating Polynesian or Pacific island culture and at meetings of indigenous people around the world. OHA believes that attendanee at these events and meetings is important for many different reasons. Some of the reasons for this international travel were (1) to strengthen the cultural ties between Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders and thus to reinforce the cultural roots of Native Hawaiians, (2) to leam about and contribute to the Iegal principles being developed at a global level to protect indigenous peoples, including Hawaiians and their culture, and (3) to promote the goals of selfdetermination for our people. Some of our critics would like you to believe that in the 10 years of OHA's existence, nothing wasachieved on behalf of Native Hawaiians and Hawaiians. As one critic puts it: "A big zero!" The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, financed in part by OHA, has recovered over 500 acres of land worth over $6 million to some 350 Hawaiian clients. Have our critics been able to do the same? No! OHA has testified, along with the state Department of Human Services, at a hearing in Washington D.C., in support of Alu Like's proposal for federal funding for the aged in Hawai'i and especially our kupunas in the Lunalilo Home. $1.2 million was granted for the Lunalilo Program. Did our critics have the same accomplishment? No! On Sept. 1, 1987, OHA contracted with O'ahu Self Help Housing Corporation and provided $105,834 to begin work on seven to 15 homes in Wai'anae. In 1989, the projectwascompletedand, after a brief ceremony, the new owners moved into their homes. Did our critics help our native Hawaiians build their new homes? No! On Jan. 26, 1990, at a regular board meeting, the trustees unanimously passed a proposal to grant the amount of $63,348 to the Hawai'i County Eeonomie Opportunity Council for the drafting of house plans and to pay administrative costs for a Self-Help Housing Project on Hawaiian Home

Lands in Panaewa and Keaukaha. To our beneficiaries on the other islands, hoomanawanui we wil! get to your island as soon as possible. Were our critics able to do the same? No! As of this month, the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund — with a grant from the federal government administered by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and monitored by OHA's Eeonomie Development Division — granted a total of $967,300 to 26 Hawaiian-owned businesses on the Islands of O'ahu, Hawai'i, Maui and Kaua'i. Were our critics able to do the same? No! OHA has been granted fundinq for an educational program on substance abuse (aleohol and drugs). OHA named the program "Malama Pono" and has been working with Castle Medical Center and the Honolulu Poliee Department. OHA's proposal to the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. ranked number one in the nation and was granted $112,000 for the first year's program. Sixteen schools, 1,500 students, 200 facufty members and 500 parents were involved in the program. I have broken bread with our lndian friends from Canada and Alaska and I foresee, in the very near future, a possible business relationship between our people and theirs in the salmon industry. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been recognized not only by the state and federal governments as the representative of the Hawaiian people, but also by business and private agencies as well. In the 1988 OHA elections, more than 76 percent of registered OHA voters voted over-

whelmingly for the re-election of Trustees Keale, Hao, Akaka and Kaulukukui. Can our critics make the same elaim? No! The OHA trustees are proud of their contributions and accomplishments and intend to eonhnue their work for all members of the Hawaiian eommunity. The recent agreement with the Governor's negotiating team for tens of millions of dollars in back rents and the prospect of receiving more than $8 million in revenues just for the next fiscal year for native Hawaiians is, as one legislator commented: "You made history!" Did our critics accomplish the same? No! This, however, is only the beginning. The trustees intend to continue their work for all members of the Hawaiian community. They look forward to gaining additional funds from the state for the Hawaiian people and will vigorously seek restitution from the federal government for the wrongs resulting from the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i in 1893. They look forward to continued work on many important projects and believe their accomplishments will warrant the support of the Hawaiian community. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees, I regret the necessity of having to answer false charges and criticisms by critics. Like many of you 1 also seek guidance from the Lord, and it is my humble prayer that in the not too distant future all Hawaiian organizations and individuals who elaim to have a sincere desire to help our people ean eome together in one harmonious, unifying effort to "Kuikahi" — Stand together as one. Na ke akua e malama ia oukou apau