Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 7, 1 July 1990 — OHA Board Business [ARTICLE]

OHA Board Business

By Dcborah L. Ward

The board of trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs held its May business meeting Saturday, May 12, at the Lana'i Library in Lana'i City. Present were trustees Louis Hao, Manu Kahaialii, Moses Keaie, Thomas Kaulukukui and Kevin "Chubby" Mahoe.

Chairman's Report Chairman Kaulukukui and administrator Richard Paglinawan plan to visit Alaska as guests of native Alaskan groups that will present giant spruce logs to the Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program to build a Hawaiian voyaging eanoe. While in Alaska they also were invited to meet with Hawaiian organizations in Anchorage.

Administrator's Report 1. Administrator Richard Paglinawan summarized the major bills passed in the spring legislative session that affect Hawaiians. These include HB2896 whieh resolves the question of OHA's ceded land revenue entitlement, and various bills concerning the OHA budget and hiring matters. 2. Administrator Paglinawan reported on a recent visit by John Luxton of New Zealand, a member of the Maon Parliament, who shared in-

formation on a five-year process now underway to establish an elected congress of officials to implement laws on behalf of Maon concerns. The Bureau of Maori Affairs no longer exists, and in its plaee the government of New Zealand has established a system to review all government affairs for their impact on Maon people.

3. Testimony in May was planned on behalf of OHA's Historic Preservation Task Force on S. 1980, a federal bill that provides for "repatriation of Native Amehean cultural patrimony." The bill would also make it possible for Native Hawaiian remains and artifacts to return to Hawai'i to designated Native Hawaiian organizations. OHA is seeking to be named the designated Native Hawaiian organization, as is another community group, Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei. Task force chair Lydia Namahana Maioho was to present testimony in Washington, D.C. in support of the bill.

4. The Mainland Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs has written for OHA board support of their grant proposal to the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) for $500,000 over three years to conduct a campaign to identify and register mainland Hawaiians through "Operation 'Ohana", and to establish an interim California office of OHA. The eouneil stated they hope OHA will be able to expand to the mainland in three years. The board voted unanimously to send a letter of support to the AHCC Mainland Council for its request, on condition that after a year, the OHA external affairs committee should review the status of the California OHA office before considering a possible commitment by OHA to support a satellite office. 5. The board also heard a request for support

from Big Island wood carver Alapa'i Hanapi who is challenging the True Geothermal company over his rights to practice native Hawaiian religion. Hanapi built an ahu (religious altar) on True Geothermal land in Puna after receiving access to the land from the company. The company says it did not give him permission to build the structure and had it removed. In a subsequent lawsuit by Hanapi the court ruled there was no proof of religious practice at the site over a period of years and the suit was dismissed.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs culture plan seeks to promote Hawaiian traditional values and belief as part of daily life. Toward this end OHA filed an amicus eunae (friend of the court) brief in support of Pele worshipper Lambert Kaolelo Ulaleo's challenge to the federal government at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park in regards to Native Hawaiian religious rights.

The trustees asked the hypothetical question, "If I put an ahu in your yard, on your land, does it become my church on your land?" The board voted unanimously to request participation with Hawaii Councilman Russell Kokubun in his investigation of this situation and efforts to develop mediation steps. 6. Trustees also heard a request for assistance from several Hawaiian families displaced by the lava flows through the Kalapana Gardens subdivision this year. The board voted to support a staff recommendation that the most effective means of relief for the residents is through the Kalapana Task Force, and that OHA asked to be kept informed on the task force's assistance to area residents.

Committee Reports Committee on External Affairs Trustees discussed strategies with regard to fishing rights of Milolii fisherman as considered at the board meeting on April 27. Trustee Hao agreed to consider the Milolii issue at the external affairs committee meeting scheduled for May 18. Committee On Programs Trustee Kahaialii stated that the programs committee is working closely with administration on the budget of OHA and a new OHA employees handbook, whieh will be distributed soon.

Other Business 1. Chester Cabral, manager of the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund project reported on the progress it is making with the filling of two staff positions — a loan officer and secretary — whieh had been vacant. He said 39 loans were approved to date and that the staff's two loan offi cers were working on a backlog of 200 pending loan applications. Onee the staff is caught up, he anticipates there will be more time to spend on providing technical advice to loan recipients. 2. Trustee Moses Keale reported receiving a letter from the Anahola Hawaiian Farmers Association. Last year OHA helped them get an ANA grant but a medical emergency faced by president

Joe Loo delayed their project. New association officers want to revive the project and are inviting OHA and the Hawaiian Homes Commission to meet with them to discuss grant rules and regulations. 3. On May 22 on Moloka'i a meeting is planned by Hale O Na Alii of Hawaiian organizations to discuss the status of eaeh organization and models for cooperation. The group hopes for quarterly followup meetings.

Meetings schedule The next meeting of the OHA Board of Trustees in scheduled for concurrent community meetings on Friday June 29 in Keaukaha, Waimea, Kona and Moiliili. The board business meeting will be on June 30 at 10 a.m. in Hilo. In July the board of trustees have scheduled community meetings on Friday July 27 in Kahului and Lahaina. The regularly scheduled business meeting will take plaee on Saturday, July 28 in Kahului.