Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 1995 — HSEC appeals to Gov. Cayetano for funding, receives part [ARTICLE]

HSEC appeals to Gov. Cayetano for funding, receives part

by Jeff Clark Take it to the man upstairs, that's Tasha Kama's philosophy. The sovereignty commission's funding was in question, and Kama led some of her fellow commissioners on a somewhat successful excursion to Gov. Ben Cayetano's office for an answer. When the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council met in the state office tower June 29, there was doubt as to whether there would be any funding in the new fiscal year to uphold their mandate or keep their staff. Executive director Tara Lulani McKenzie said she had been lobbying Gov. Cayetano with letters and phone calls urging him to sign the Legislature's special session bill that would fund the council's activities - its day-to-

day operations, public education, voter registration, and the plebiscite asking the Hawaiian people whetlter there should be a process to restore Hawaiian selfgovernance. It was suggested that another letter be sent, this time asking the governor to state his position. But Analu Berard had another solution: Get it straight from the horse's mouth. Fellow eouncilmember Tasha Kama liked the idea, and, asking "Who wants to go with me?", headed to the elevator and up to Gov. Cayetano's office on the 1 5th floor. After several minutes, Kama, joined by councilmembers Analu Berard, Olani Decker, Ann Nathaniel, Davianna McGregor, Kaipo Kanahele, Bruss Keppeler, and Māhealani Kamau'u, was granted an audience.

When Cayetano welcomed the councilmembers, Kama introduced herself and said, "I just want to be able to just ask you point-blank, what is your position on the plebiscite? What's going to happen to our staff eome June 30th . . . ?" Cayetano said he supports the sovereignty movement but pleaded poverty, saying the increase in the state's deficit from $100 million to about $700 million since he took office will make it impossible for the state to follow through with a convention if that's what the plebiscite determines is the wish of the Hawaiian people.

"The plebiscite itself does not eoneem me as mueh as what follows thereafter," he said. "My big eoneem is holding the convention that they have estimated is going to cost $12 million. And it seems to me that it is not a good idea to go ahead and spend over a million dollars for the advertising, hold the election - I don't know what that's going to cost - elect the delegates, and not be able to then hold the convention. Because I ean tell you, we don't have $12 million. It's really that simple."

Kama said she had no problem with delaying the convention, but wanted to get through the plebiscite, and at the very least secure funding for the commission staff so that the commission could continue to plan and look for possible alternate sources of funding. Bruss K. Keppeler clarified that the commission had already voted to postpone the plebiscite whieh had been scheduled for the end of this year. Cayetano agreed to sign the legislation but reserved the right to withhold funding for education and voter registration.

"I will sign the bill, (but) I will restrict most of the monies; I will give enough money for the staff, but the rest of the money for the education program and all of that will be restricted," he said. The staff's status on surer footing, McGregor said, "You told us what we wanted to hear," and the delegation departed. Praise was heaped on Kama as the commissioners and staff headed for the elevator. With a laugh she said her Bible told her that day, "Ask and you shall receive." And later that day Cayetano

signed the bill. During the rest of the meeting, the commissioners discussed back-up plans for fulfilling their mandate, whieh they reminded eaeh other remains regardless of funding. The commission voted to explore the formation of a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that would work with the commission toward holding the plebiscite. Speaking privately outside of the meeting, commissioner Analu Berard displayed mixed emotions about the funding problem. "Without two key contracts —

media and registration - that puts us six months behind schedule," he lamented. At the same time, he suggested that the Hawaiian people still aren't ready for sovereignty. "Some can't even spell the word. So maybe the funding delay, and the resulting plebiscite delay, is a blessing in disguise." HSEC has moved from the State Office Tower to its new office in the Mabel Smyth building, Room 202. The phone number is still 587-2834. The next meeting is cheduled for 9 a.m. on Aug. 5 on the second floor of the Mabel Smyth Building.