Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 1, 1 January 1991 — Greetings from OHA for the new year [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Greetings from OHA for the new year

Although the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has made great progress eaeh year since its creation, 1990 must rank as one of the most significant periods in terms of historical importance to the Hawaiian people. • The nine-year-old dispute between OHA and the state on ceded land entitlements for native Hawaiians was resolved. • The Hawaiian people again voted overwhelmingly to establish a single definition of native Hawaiian, eliminating artificial distinctions based on blood quantum. • The trustees helped develop a mitigation plan that will preserve important archaeological and religious sites as the H-3 freeway is built. • OHA was a party to the agreement whieh will ensure that the bones of our kupuna will remain undisturbed forever at Honokahua, Maui. • The iwi of kupuna whieh had been part of the Smithsonian Institution collection in Washington, D.C., were brought home. • We reaffirmed our opposition to the bombing of Kaho'olawe and when iegislation was enacted to establish a cpmmission to determine the conditions of returning that island, Trustee Frenchy DeSoto was n^med to the commission. • Working with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, OHA provided administrative funds for a self-help hoiiSsjpg project on the Big Island. • OHA sought the mana'o of its beneficiaries during a series of planning meetings held throughout the state. A few months later, we went back to the Hawaiian community with our proposed budget for the next two years . . . a budget based on the concerns expressed during the first round of meetings. • The Office of Hawaiian Affairs held gatherings to explore the wisdom of our elders and to explore the promise of our youth. 'Aha Kupuna wasaconference on the meaning of being kupuna, while 'Aha Opio encouraged leadership among high school juniors of Hawaiian ancestry. • The year ended with eleehon of five new trustees and the formal investiture of the board at Kawaiahao Church, during whieh all trustees were presented with lei hulu, signifying their leadership roles. As we begin 1991, we ean look back on the past 10 years with a certain amount of pride and satisfaction. The next decade will be one of continued progress for our people as we rededicate ourselves to 1 Luna A'e, OHA's comprehensive plan toachieve self-determination and self-governance for all Hawaiians. During the coming year we will be working toward resolving the question of state entitlements for all Hawaiians regardless of blood quantum. OHA will eonhnue its efforts to settle claims and entitlements from the federal government, including the return of Hawaiian lands. Increased efforts will be made to register Hawaiians throughout the world under the Operation 'Ohana program. Hui Imi, the task force created to coordinate the planning of services for Hawaiians, will present its final report to the forthcoming session of the state legislature. We will eonhnue our efforts to preserve Hawaii's historic sites through the Historic Preservation Task Force.

Richard Paglinawan OHA's budget for the next two years places renewed emphasis on housing for Hawaiians, developing mechanisms for eeonomie self-suf-ficiency, encouraging educational opportunities, the preservation of our culture and the widest possible participation of our beneficiaries in the political process.

m&m nw & mr ; Stanley Lum On behalf of all of us at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and to thank you for all your continued support. Richard K. Paglinawan, Administrator Stanley H.L. Lum, Deputy Administrator