Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 7, 1 July 1991 — OHA Board Business [ARTICLE]

OHA Board Business

The monthly meeting of the OHA board of trustees was held on May 31, 1991 at the Keauhou Beach Hotel in Kailua, Kona. Present were Chairman Hee and Trustees Akana, Akaka, DeSoto, Hao, Kanahele, Kaulukukui and Keale. Trustee Aiona was excused. Chairman's Report Chairman Hee announced that despite the rerent changes in board leadership, the committee structure would remain the same until a full board ean be convened. Administrator's Report The board accepted without objection the revised schedule of neighbor island board and community meetings for the remainder of 1991. Except for the combined August meetings on Lana'i (Wednesday, Aug. 28), trustees will hold board meetings at 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays and community meetings at 7 o'eloek Thursdav evenings. (Ed note: see notice page 7). Dates and times for the October, November and December meetings, whieh will be held on O'ahu, will be announced at a later time. Committee Reports Committee on Budget, Finance, Policy & Planning 1. The board unanimously adopted a recommendation to approve a request from the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation for additional funding for the remainder of this fiscal year. The request whieh totals $39,916 will be used for the following purposes: a. A projected $22,000 deficit in personnel and other operating expenses. b. $5,916 to hire another title searcher and a secretary. e. $12,000 to provide a salary adjustment for the comptroller's position. 2. The trustees voted unanimously to rescind their April 26 approval to lease a warehouse in the old Millyard Industrial Park in Wailuku. The building was to have been used to house OHA's Maui office and to provide space to other Hawaiian organizations. The decision not to proceed with the project eame after the cost estimates to improve the building increased by $149,640. OHA will eonhnue to explore the concept of a multi-servire center as recommended by the Hui 'Imi Task Force. With the approval of the committee, a search for vacant land or improved property will be undertaken. 3. After considerable discussion the board voted to approve $5,000 for costs of transportation for chanters, halau hula and narrators to the Pu'ukohola Heiau 200th Anniversary observance. The event will take plaee Aug. 17. Trustee DeSoto voted "no." Trustee Kanahele's two "kanalua" votes were recorded as an "aye" in accordance with the OHA by-laws. Committee on Eeonomie Development and Land The board disapproved a recommendation to reassign $5,000 previously authorized for intervention in a land title case at Kipu, Kaua'i. After review by OHA's attorney it was determined that the Kipu case was not the proper vehicle for a test case on OHA's assertion of kuleana escheat rights. The board declined to reassign the $5,000 to fund research to determine a "best test" case. On the motion to reassign the funds, Trustees Akana, Hao, Hee and Kaulukukui voted "aye." Trustees Akaka, DeSoto, Kanahele and Keale voted "no." The motion was defeated. Committee on Education and Culture 1. The board approved a formal Scholarship Policy and Procedures statement to govern the

OHA scholarship program. The program will provide scholarships for the 1991-1992 school year. Priority will be given to those who do not qualify for existing financial aid programs. Application forms will be available in late July. The policy and procedures adopted by the board include a statement of eligibility requirements, obligations of recipients and implementation procedures. Trustee Akaka voted "no" on the motion. 2. The trustees, afterextendeddebate, declined to adopt a statement recognizing and supporting the Pu'ukohola Bicentenary as a cultural and historical event. Some concerns were expressed about the cultural authenticity of the observance. Voting "aye" to support the motion were trustees Akana, Hao, Hee and Kaulukukui. Trustees Akaka, DeSoto, Kanahele and Keale voted "no." New Business 1. The board unanimously voted to ask Gov. Waihee not to sign Senate Bill 1311. This bill would transfer ownership and jurisdiction over certain state parks to the counties and the ownershipand jurisdiction over certain county parks to the state. In discussing this issue several trustees stated that apparently some of the land in question is ceded land and other parcels are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. 2. The question of whether the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation should continue to represent OHA in the Integrated Resource Planning Procedure (IRP) was referred to the appropriate committees by Chairman Hee. In addition the chairman requested the administrator to determine whether OHA staff are available to be briefed on the IRP process by NHLC personnel and to then monitor the procedings. IRP, conducted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, involves planning for future energy needs for the state of Hawai'i. Community Meetings The trustees who attended community meetings the previous evening at various locations on the Big Island gave brief summaries of those meetings. 1. Trustee Hao reported about 18 people attended the Keaukaha meeting. Among the concerns noted were a desire for more frequent visits by OHA trustees; opposition to building a new Kamuela state highway through Hawaiian Home Lands and a sewage treatment plant in Keaukaha. 2. Trustees Akana and Akaka reported the following topics of discussion at the community meeting in Kona: a. A request that OHA take a more significant role with regard to Hawaiian fishing rights and long line fishing. b. A desire for more frequent visits by OHA trustees. e. Thanks for OHA's participation in the selfhelp housing program.

d. Mahalo for the van donated to Lunalilo Home by OHA. e. Concerns that there will be no plaee for loeal people if the proposed Kohanaiki marina and resort is developed. 3. Trustee Kanahele reported that 32 people attended the Naalehu meeting, at whieh the following topics were discussed. a. Proposed development affecting the residents of Milolii. j b. The OHA-funded Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation Milolii impact statement. : e. The impact of catching fish for aquarium purposes. d. OHA's position on long-line fishing. e. The access road being closed by the county. f. An update on OHA's financial support on the | arrival of a group of Maoris at South Point in connection with the Pu'ukohola observance. 4. Trustee DeSoto reported that at the Waimea meeting there was mueh aloha and cordiality from the community. Some of the concerns there ' included: a. The Kamuela-Lalamilo by-pass road b. Return of the Liloa & Umi-A-Liloa Ka'ai to Waipio j e. Legal assistance for aged Hawaiians. J d. Support in concept for a merger of OHA and DHHL. i e. Support of single definition for native I Hawaiians/Hawaiians. Executive Session & Adjournment

By Ed Miehelman Public Information Officer