Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 3, 1 March 1991 — OHA Board Business [ARTICLE]

OHA Board Business

By Ed Miehelman Public Information Officer

The first OHA board meeting of 1991 was held on Jan. 24 at OHA's then office in the PanAm Building, 1600 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite 1500. All nine trustees were present.

Legal Report (Price IV) Steven Michaels, chief of the appellate division of the state attorney general's office briefed the board on a legal matter known as "Price IV." The law suit involves an action currently in federal court against several members of the previous and present OHA board of trustees. Following the briefing, the board decided there is a need to hold a workshop to discuss this and related matters.

Hui imi Hui imi Vice-Chair Haunani Apoliona and Dr. David Johnson of Omnitrak ine. informed the board that the report of Hui 'Imi, the Task Force For Hawaiian Services has been finalized. There are two volumes whieh contain data collected and assessed over a two-year course of meetings and activities. Volume I contains data and assessments on whieh the Volume II findings are based. Volume II contains recommendations on improving accessibility, quality of coordination and provisions for future services and programs. OHA trustee Thomas K. Kaulukukui, Sr., task force chairman, stated that members of the task force have pledged to remain together and follow up on the recommendations.

Legislative Review Committee The board considered a number of recommendations from this committee for action. 1. To approve in concept the drafting and introduction of a measure to permit resettlement at Kikala-Keokea of Native Hawaiian families displaced by lava flows in Kalapana. These families have urged they be allowed to remain in the area of their ancestral homes. The proposed bill would permit such settlement in a manner similar to the settlement of displaced villagers at Miloli'i. Because of financial and other considerations, it was decided to defer further consideration until actual introduction of the measure in the state legislature.

2. I he board approved a recommendation to support an amendment to the kuleana escheat law whieh would require appropriate notification and judicial action. Under current law, OHA is to receive title to kuleana lands where no known heirs ean be identified. Frequently, however the first notification of such cases is when quiet title or adverse possession actions are filed. 3. The board deferred a proposal to support the conversion to fee of 999-year leases under the Territorial Homestead Act. The matter was referred to the Committee on Eeonomie Development and Land to develop information about the leases including the number of leases outstanding, loeation and amount of land involved and identification of the lessees.

4. A proposal to support an amendment to the Native Hawaiian and Hawaiian Judicial Relief Act was discussed in executive session and the board later voted in regular session to table the matter. 5. The question of OHA trust entitlements without regard to blood quantum restrictions is still the subject of negotiations. The board agreed that a legislative "vehicle" measure is needed in the event that agreement is reached on this matter.

Executive Session The board ratified all actions taken in executive session, including a recommendation by the Committee on Native Hawaiian Status and Entitlements and Housing to retain the services of attorney Earl Anzai to assist the committee ehainnan in entitlements negotiations with the state.

Legislative Review Committee (continued) 6. The board approved a measure to set forth an OHA position on self-governance for Hawaiians. It recommended a "vehicle bill" whieh could be fleshed out later in the legislative session. 7. A motion was adopted to support a constitutional amendment acknowledging the inherent right of Hawaiians for self-determination and affirming the basic right of a native people to determine its own membership. 8. The board approved a resolution to recognize the joint and mutual responsibilities of both the federal and state governments to redress Native Hawaiian claims for land and for sovereignty. 9. The board voted to defer a proposal amending the Hawai'i Revised Statutes to permit the board rather than the administrator to hire staff whieh reports directly to the board.

10. The trustees adopted a motion to support a bill to provide automatic salary adjustments for OHA staff whenever collective bargaining agreements have been reached on behalf of state employees. 11. The board approved introduction of a bill supporting an aquaculture education project with Oeeanie Institute at Keahuolu, Kona. 12. Support was given to a slate of bills recommended by the Historic Freservation Task Force whieh were introduced into the legislature by Sen. Eloise Tungpalan and Rep. Peter Apo.

Calendar The next meeting of the OHA board of trustees was set for Feb. 22 at the new office located at 711 Kapi'olani Boulevard, Suite 500 in Honolulu. The March meeting of the OHA board of trustees is scheduled on Friday, Mar. 22 at 9:30 a.m. in the OHA board room, 711 Kapi'olani Boulevard, Suite 500.

To the Editor: These notes are intended to complement and supplement Chairman Moses Keale's statement in your last issue, (Feb. 1991). "Your committee report #59 whieh stated "Your committee intends that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs would be able to accept title to the Hawaiian Home Lands ..." Here are excerpts from (a table of fiqures in) Standing Committee Report #59: • 14,342.11 Acres Utilized By Government Agencies

• 14,342.11 acresbyfederalgovernmentwithan annual ineome of 45 cents per acre. • 29,585.385 acres by state government with an annual ineome of 12 cents per acre. • 259.929 acres by county government with an annual ineome of $3.105 per acre. These findings supported the "decision" of Standing Committee Report #59, as quoted by Chairman Keale. Leon Kapuahelani Sterling Jr. Vice-Chairman, Committee on Hawaiian Affairs 1978 Constitutional Convention