Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1993 — OHA Board Business [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Board Business

Na kuleana a ka Papa Kahu waiwai

by Ellen Blomquist Public Information Officer

The regular business meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order by Chairman Clayton Hee Thursday, March 4, 1993 at 10:10 a.m. All trustees were present as were Richard Paglinawan, Administrator, Jerry Walker, Deputy Administrator, and Sherry Broder, Esq., legal counsel. After an opening pule by Trustee Kīna'u Boyd Kamali'i, the Board approved the agenda after amending and filing an item pertaining to the upcoming Women's Conference. The minutes of the February 12 board meeting were approved as amended. A revision requested by Trustee Moanike'ala Akaka was directed to staff for review.

The correspondence reports of the Chairman and Administrator were approved unanimously after some discussion of how correspondence was handled. Most items on the BOT agenda were referred by the Budget, Finance and Policy Committee. A request for funding a permanent summer employment program for Hawaiian students was recommitted pending a program evaluation to be conducted by Administration under the direction of Trustees Moses Keale and Kamali'i.

The next item introduced was a proposal to sponsor a Hawaiian language eolumn in the Maui Press at a cost of $346 per week. Trustee Abraham Aiona referenced objectives in the functional plan to encourage and support the use of Hawaiian language. Trustee Akana objected to the proposal, referencing previous staff reports suggesting a Hawaiian language eolumn be run in Ka Wai Ola. Discussion on the history of the proposal followed. Trustee Keale suggested that the Maui News eolumn be funded with the stipulation that it be reprinted in Ka Wai Ola. Funding of the language eolumn was approved, 7 to 2, Akana and Akaka dissenting.

A proposal to fund a rental unit for use of the ad hoe legislative lobbying team was introduced next. The rationale for the unit was that trustees appointed to the team are required to attend hearings in both the late evening and early morning and a site near the legislature facilitates their attendance. Subsequent discussion focused on policy pertaining to per diem for trustees residing on O'ahu, and on the need for a speeial fund budget. Trustee Aiona indicated the latter item would be discussed in the Budget, Finance and Policy Committee. Upon voting, funding for the rental unit was approved 6 to 3, Akana, Akaka and Kealoha dissenting. A proposal to fund an appraisal of the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor to assess damages from Hurricane

'Iniki was approved unanimously "as was an item allowing special funds whieh had been appropriated but not used to lapse. The next item under Budget, Finance and Policy was a proposal to expand the office space used by OHA's Kona liaisons. The intent was to provide a better working area and additional space for the community to use for meetings. After some discussion of the availability of free meeting space in the Kona area, staffing problems and reference to previous work on the Maui office and the need for a new Kaua'i office, the item passed 5 to 4, Akaka, Akana, Keale and Kealoha dissenting.

Tbe next two agenda items originated with the Legislative Review Committee. A report on legislative initiatives was accepted for the record. An action item redesignating $50,000 in hurrieane relief funds from Wai'anae to Kaua'i to meet child care needs was passed unanimously. There was some discussion of the need to provide culturally sensitive expert advice on insurance settlements and rebuilding. Trustee Akaka pointed out that this issue and child care were "apples and oranges" and it was decided to discuss the need for other expertise in committee.

Subsequent agenda items were referred by the Land and Sovereignty Committee. An item recommending pursuit of legal action in the Goo kuleana/escheat case was recommitted pending resolution of some legal questions. A request to approve $2,578 for legal fees to defend a quiet title action was passed unanimously as was a request to temporarly waive fees for Hui O Kuapā, a nonprofit group working to restore 'Ualapu'e Fishpond on Moloka'i. The final item was a joint referral from the Land and Sovereignty and Legislative Review Committees whieh eonsisted of recommendations relating to OHA's position on HB

1992, HD 1 and SB 1028, SD1, regarding the Hawaiian Congress. The recommendations were to support the convening of a Congress, a referendum to decide whether there should be a constitutional convention, a proposed schedule (see story this issue), support for non-OHA administration of funds if only general funds are used, and opposition to the Loa'a Organizing Committee in the present form

and with the functions proposed by SB 1028, SD 1. After some discussion of the initiation of the original bills (HB 1992 and SB 1639), the recommendations on OHA's position were approved, 6 to 3, Kanahele, Keale and Kealoha dissenting. Under announcements, Trustee Kealoha asked about OHA's response to SB 411, on casino gambling, and it was explained that no request had been made of staff to track this legislation. Trustee Kanahele announced Kūhiō Day celebrations and

encouraged all to attend. Trustee DeSoto discussed her and Trustee Aiona's successful intervention in retaining a lease for a Hawaiian farmer in Ke'anae and commended Thelma Shimaoka, Maui liaision, for her assistance. DeSoto also discussed the importance of addressing the lease dilemma as it affects Hawaiian lessees and OHA's revenues. Trustee Kamali'i announced her intention to conduct a joint Land and Sovereignty and Education and Culture workshop on the island of Hawai'i in the latter part of March.

Kamali'i also spoke to the success of the trip she made to Washington, D.C. with Trustee Aiona and staff Linda Delaney the latter part of February. Trustees met with all members of Hawai'i's congressional delegations and, through Congresswoman Patsy Mink, were provided a rare and mueh sought after opportunity to meet with Secretary of the Interior Bruce

Babbitt. Kamali'i indicated the full details of the trip were eontained in a report submitted to the Board. DeSoto then requested that trustees attending events on behalf of the Board submit such written reports. There being no further business, the Board adjourned its meeting at 1:10 p.m.