Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 2, 1 Pepeluali 1992 — Working together towards sovereignty [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Working together towards sovereignty

By Rowena Akana Vice Chairperson OHA Board of Trustees

■ In my October 1991 I article, I introduced you I to an exciting coalition lof Hawaiian organizaI tions working under the I name Hui Na'au'ao. Its primary purpose for existence is twofold: to provide education and ■ charitable assistance to

Na Kanaka Maoli on the issue of sovereignty and self-determination. Hui Na'au'ao was recently funded with a grant from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) to create the Sovereignty and SelfDetermination Community Education Project. This far-reaching eoalihon has clear goals and objectives in educating Na Kanaka Maoli. The project is to span 36 months and will build a teaching philosophy based in traditional Hawaiian values such as ho'ala, ho'okahua, and ho'olokahiki. The project objectives are set out in three phases:

Year One — The first 12 months of the project will be used to target cultural, spiritual, historical, legal and equitable awareness for the right of Na Kanaka Maoli to sovereignty. Hui Na'au'ao will provide 50 instructors trained by na kupuna and other ke kumu to conduct 450 workshops in the state ciimed at reaching 9,000 Na Kanaka Maoli and 1,000 young Na Kanaka Maoli. Many of the workshops will be enhanced by video productions.

The workshops will include such topics as "What Is Sovereignty?", "Specific Powers and Attributes of a Sovereign", and "Models of Sovereignty". Year Two — The second 12 months will focus on increasing the media outreach while continuing the 450 workshops created in the first year. At this point, Hui Na'au'ao will introduce a leadership skills program targeted at high school and college students. A fourth workshop, "Cultural Acceptable Forms of Hawaiian Sovereignty" will be added.

Year Three — The final 12 months of the project will be used to refine the format set out in the first two years. Again the media outreach will be expanded to reach more than 15,000 Na Kanaka Maoli. Instructional materials will be distributed to 4,000 youths. Eaeh of the years will be followed by Neighbor Island conferences coordinated through councils established on all eight islands and on the mainiand. A puwalu will also be held at the end of eaeh year to bring together Na Kanaka Maoli and to create a report on a Hawaiian perspective of self-determination and governance.

A final report will be created on "Hawaiian Policy for Sovereignty and Self-Determination." This report will reflect broad observations, achievements and policy recommendations. The Office of Hawaiien Affairs is in strong support of the courageous efforts of the Hui Na'au'ao and has given it $70 thousand dollars in grant aid to assist in the media outreach program. This money eame from the 1991 operating budget of OHA. There is hope that the legislature will realize the importance of such goals and follow with funding to further assist

Hui Na'au'ao in it's three year odyssey. The Sovereignty Advisory Council whieh I chair, also support the efforts of Hui Na'au'ao. The SAC ean be an integral part of the longrange goals Hui Na'au'ao has set out. The SAC has recently created a report whieh is to be distributed to the legislature outlining a plan for educating na kanaka maoli that will emphasize areas not provided for in the Hui Na'au'ao grant.

The importance of the two groups working in conjunction with the numerous community organizations involved in the educational effort is vital. This could very well be the first time so many concerned Hawaiian groups have banned together with clear and eommon goals. A meshing of so many different organizations is bound to cause friction. Yet, with the centennial of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom just one year away, the need for all the groups involved to cooperate in a constructive and productive manner is paramount. The time has eome for an orchestrated effort in accomplishing powerful goals instrumental to the success of the sovereignty of the Hawaiian people.

Hui Na'au'ao and SAC should be viewed as bridges created by the need of the people to find healthy avenues of communication. More understanding and sympathy are necessary to dispel the suspicions that there are vested interests in accomplishing the same goal. The goal of sovereignty and self-governance is reachable, but it is step-by-step process. We, as a united eoalihon, have all the tools necessary to achieve sovereignty. Patience and understanding are the keys.