Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 3, 1 Malaki 1991 — Our job is to protect you [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Our job is to protect you

by Moses K. Keale OHA Chairman

Anoai kakou, About 70 years ago, a great Hawaiian warrior battled to save the Hawaiians and their lands. His efforts led to the establishment of the Hawaiian Homes Rehabilitation Act and eventuallu the eneum-

bering of hundreds of thousands of acres of lands for our people to live and prosper upon. At least that was the intention of our beloved Prince Kuhio and his labors. Then, 32 years ago history repeated itself. With the admission of Hawai'i to statehood, a new effort to address the needs of the Hawaiian was put in plaee. More than a million acres of land were set

aside in a trust for people of Hawai'i and the Hawaiians. A trust was envisioned to provide for the needs of Hawai'i and in particular the Native Hawaiian. Again, that was the intention of the law makers at that time.

But what has really happened to all the "benefits" of these programs? What has happened over the more than 70 years of federal, territorial, and state administration of the assets of the Hawaiian Home Lands? What has happened to the administration of the public land trust by the State of Hawai'i? These are the questions presently being addressed under the title "An Action Plan to Address Controversies Under the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust and the Public Land Trust," a two-inch thick document prepared by the Office of the Governor. We commend the Governor for his efforts to address the erosion of the benefits guaranteed to the Hawaiian people. We at the Office

of Hawaiian Affairs have actively pursued the issues contained in this document and will continue to advocate for corrective measures and eompensation for all discrepancies. We will assist the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in addressing their particular problem areas and support them in their efforts to redress these controversies.

You are the beneficiaries! Our job is to protect you! That is why we exist and we take our job seriously. Trustee Clayton Hee has been assigned this specific task and will take the lead in pursuing justice for our people. As the Chairman of the Board, I pledge OHA's resources to the successful resolution of this issue. We will periodically update you on your progress. Stay tuned for more. A i mana'o kekahi e lilo i po'okela i waena o oukou, e pono no e lilo ia i kauwa na oukou. Na ke Akua e malama a e alakai ia kakou apau.