Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 10, 1 October 1990 — OHA Board Business [ARTICLE]

OHA Board Business

By Ed Miehelman Public Information Officer

The August 25, 1990, meeting of the OHA Board of Trustees was held at the Kaua'i County Council chamber, Lihu'e. Trustees present were Vice-Chair Rodney Burgess and Trustees Akaka, Ching. DeSoto, Hao and Kahaialii. Chairman Kaulukukui and Trustees Keale and Mahoe were excused. Chairman's Report Acting Chair Burgess asked for brief reports from the trustee teams who attended community meetings held the previous evening at Kekaha and in Lihu'e. Trustee Kahaialii and Ching said the two major areas of discussion in Kekaha involved housing and concerns about the disposition of ceded lands currently leased to the plantations, when those leases expire in 1992. Ching suggested that the chairman write the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for further information. Trustees Akaka, Burgess and DeSoto attended the Lihu'e meeting. Akaka said that there was a good discussion concerning the incineration of ehemieal weapons on Johnston lsland and the possible impact on Kaua'i. Trustee DeSoto added that although the meeting was small it was productive. She suggested that trustee teams meet informally with the community several times during the year. Administrator's Report A. The first segment of this agenda item eonsisted of a report from Frank Tabrah, M.D., an expert on the subject of the effects of electromagnetic radiation. Dr. Tabrah said that although a number of studies have been done, it is not yet possible to determine whether electromagnetic radiation is a serious threat to human beings. He said there may be some biologic effects from power lines found in ordinary buildings. Some studies, he said, indicate that people who have worked around electromagnetic fields all their lives have higher incidences of brain tumors and leukemia. He suggested evervone should be as cautious as possible i> exposing themselves to electric blankets, computers and TV sets, all of whieh may be health hazards. He emphasized, however, that no one really knows at what level electromagnetic exposure is safe. Trustee DeSoto expressed grave eoneem over the high number of cancers among children and adults as well as other health problems suffered by individuals living in close proximity to the Lualualei Naval Radio Station transmitters and elsewheri' on the Wai'anae coast of O'ahu. She indicated she has reservations about the integrity of radiation tests performed by government researchers Dr. Tabrah agreed there is a problem of confidence in the results of some of the official data. He suggested the formation of a small group of scientists to take an independent iookatelectromagne tic radiation levels.

• Acting Chairman Burgess said the subject matter needs to be explored in greater depth and referred the proposal to the Comrriittee on External Affairs. B. The second portion of the Administrator's report was a request for authorization to make the OHA liaison staff, OHA's neighbor island representatives, directly responsible to the office of the administrator. Supervision of the liaison staff had been a function of the Government and Community Affairs Office. Administrator Richard Paglinawan explained that the liaisons are OHA's onlv field staff and in order to maximize their effectiveness they need to function as direct representatives of the administrator. Paglinawan noted that the reorganization conforms with recommendations contained in the recent legislative auditor's report. The reorganization request, whieh involves 12 staff positions, was approved unanimously. C. The trustees approved a recommendation to send a delegation of four trustees and the administmtor to Alaska and points enroute to visit the Sealaska Corporation and other similar organizations to discuss the establishment of native corporations to preserve and enhanee native trust assets and to develop and administer services to beneficiaries. Historic Preservation Task Force Report The trustees received an invitation to join members of the Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Task Force in an informal get-together at Waimea Falls Park on Sept. 14, to share details of the Task Force's continuing work and pians for the future. The Task Force will present an outline of the approach and substance of its required final report to the legislature as mandated in H.C.R. 136 Adjournment At this point the trustees adiourned "subject to the eall of the chair." The remaining agenda items were to be considered on Sept 29. before the regular September board meeting at Ho'olehua Congregational Church on Moloka'i.