Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 1994 — State must not shirk duty to other Hawaiians [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

State must not shirk duty to other Hawaiians

by the Rev. Moses K. Keale. Sr. Trustee, Kaua'i & Ni'ihau How far have we eome and where are we heading? As the new year dawns, that question glares from the depth of 1 3 years of OHA operations. We have eome a long way and yet

we have not gone far enough. We have obtained a large financial settlement and now have major assets, but are we squandering those assets or setting dangerous precedents that we may live to regret?

In 1990 the state and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs announced details of a major settlement in our rent revenue dispute over the public land trust. In 1993 we received a eheek reflecting this agreement. But this wonderful news has not eome without a price. In these tough financial times, the state appears to be giving to us with one hand while taking with the other. I am disturbed at the message being sent by both trustees and administrative officials of the state, that Hawaiians should be paying a greater share of the costs of implementing and monitoring programs with the entitlement funds provided to OHA. The attitude seems to be that "Since we, the state, have given you $130 million, you resolve your problems, you fund your own projects." Let me remind all readers, these moneys were not a gift, but

a Hawaiian entitlement to be disbursed as OHA's Board of Trustees feels appropriate for the benefit of native Hawaiians (50 percent or more blood quantum). Moneys provided to OHA to run programs and staff offices to monitor those programs provided by other state agencies must eon-

tinue to be funded by the state through general fund appropriations. The burden for funding programs and staffing should not be placed solely on the back of the "native I Hawaiian." The Hawai'i Revised Statutes,

Chapter 10-3(3) states that OHA shall "serve as the principal publie agency in this state responsible for the performance, development and coordination of programs and activities relating to native Hawaiians and Hawaiians..." It further states that "It shall be the duty and responsibility of state govemment providing services and programs whieh affect native Hawaiians and Hawaiians to actively work toward the goals of this chapter and to cooperate with and assist wherever possible the Office of Hawaiian Affairs." As we proceed with our supplemental budget request to the Legislature, I am disturbed at the tendency for anyone to suggest that we should vacate the precedent set by the Legislature and OHA, that all positions and/or programs should be funded through revenue sharing between general funds and special (ceded

land trust) funds. Eaeh and every Hawaiian is a taxpayer and citizen of this state

and is entitled to all programs available to every citizen. In

addition, it is our duty to make sure that every Hawaiian is availed of all state services. How ean we execute the intent of the law if proper funding is not made available for us to pursue such action?

In these tough finaneial times the state appears to be giving to us with one hand while taking away with the other.

The resolution to this problem is simple. Either provide enough funding for all programs and provide services to our beneficiaries through the normal state agency process or give us the money to carry out those responsibilities through out office. Our trust funds are to be used to benefit the native Hawaiian. The state must provide moneys to be used

to assist all other Hawaiians (less than 50 percent blood quantum). In short, until the state wishes to address and settle the issue of the second trust class and provide a second trust asset for them, the state must shoulder that burden either directly or through OHA via funding alloeations. You must not be complacent. You must inform the trustees that you wish that distinction to be made. You must inform the Legislature of your wishes. We are all partners in this mission. Please participate! Hau'oli makahiki hou!