Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 1, 1 January 1996 — Strictly monitored casinos could pay off; bamboo, a new industry? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Strictly monitored casinos could pay off; bamboo, a new industry?

by Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i Last fall (Ka Wai Ola Trustees eolumn 1 1/95) I wrote about my impending visit to the Pequot Indians of Connecticut, owners of Foxwood — the largest gambling casino in

the westem hemisphere. Only 10 percent of the isolated 2,000,000 square feet casino is devoted to gambling, the rest consists of two hotels, good restaurants, a cafeteria, family entertainment center and 23 Pequot-owned shops selling crafts made by natives from "Indian Country." (See Honolulu Advertiser Dec. 1, 1995. "Pequots and Gambling

- Hawaiians and Native Americans" series). From a cultural, environmental, and health standpoint, the Pequots from the beginning made sure their cultural and sacred sites were

preserved at all costs and that infrastructure (water and sewage) met the highest standards. Heavy security permeates the gambling areas - cameras everywhere feed 100 T.V. sets, personnel constantly circulate. If prostitution, drugs, or organized crime ele-

ments surface, they are tmmediately eliminated. If it is felt that certain gamblers are losing substantially, counseling is offered at the tribes' expense. For some, gambling ean be an obsession and addiction. All tribal members have full health services, are encouraged, supported and rewarded (including housing) for furthering their education at all levels in all

areas. I could possibly, after fiirther careful scrutiny, support gambling as an eeonomie altemative for Hawaiians and the state if it were strictly monitored (like the Pequots are doing) in an

isolated area removed ffom the community and with the Hawaiian people, eventually a Hawaiian Nahon, in control. We might hire managerial expertise to begin with, train successors lfom amongst our own, and always maintain Hawaiians overseeing the operation. We must weigh the issue of gambling very carefully, for the stakes are high. In the Pequot's case, at least 25 percent of profits go to the State of Connecticut; 10,000 jobs are created and they are the largest employer of that state — ffom obscurity to dominance-so far! Bamboo Alfer attending this summer's International Bamboo Conference in Bali, (Ka Wai Ola 7/95) I am more enthusiastic about the possibilities of bamboo as an eeonomie development and housing altemative for the Hawaiian people and Islands. lntemational bamboo experts shared information about the viability of bamboo cultivation as an economically empowering altemative for communities worldwide. Oscar FIidalgo, a world-

renowned architect, has been designing low-cost bamboo houses in Colombia and Costa Rica with drywall covering what looks like American westem-tract houses. (I prefer the bamboo-looking hale.) The Bamboo Trade Show featured fumiture, medicines, houses and plans, food, plywood, and endless other items from throughout the world. A whole industry could develop around bamboo in these islands. Though it takes 4-7 years to mature, onee planted, bamboo ean be harvested yearly. It is easy to care for — and ginger and other crops ean be grown among the bamboo. Dr. Segundino Fronda, of the Phihppine govemment, (his father and grandfather worked for Laupahoehoe

Plantation for over 30 years), ... planted bamboo on former sugar lands. The move has proven to be a wise and economically-feasible venture, while sociologist show that rural people improve their lives and are better able to support their 'ohana." Bamboo products imported from Bali, Thailand, and China, while inexpensive to produce, sell for thousand of dollars in fme furniture stores in Hawai'i due to high shipping costs. With trained workers, we too could build furniture, pay good wages and make a profit. The Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) was "excited" at the possibilities of helping fund bamboo as an economic-development altemative. I recently made a presentation to Hawai'i County Council Research and Development Committee on Bamboo. Peter Berg, a bamboo nursery owner in Kawaihae helped enlighten the eouneil on bamboo's potential. A bamboo conference will be held at UH Hilo, May 24-26, 1996. Contact Pat Watanabe

to register, (808) 885-6057. The Bali conferenee vastly enriches our own resources. Oscar FIidalgo, author of a book on bamboo eonstmction and Simone Velez, who designs upscale homes and facilities, will be in attendance as well as others. It is hoped that OHA and many Hawaiians wiU participate. I refuse to dignify accusations by Tmstees Beamer and Akana that I misuse travel funds. Apparently, we need a "kukae comer" eolumn to keep the absurd ffom derailing important programs. It is sometimes necessary to travel and leam firsthand as with Pequots and gambling, and the bamboo conference in Bali how we Hawaiians ean best take advantage of what's available to us in this rapidly changing world. Hau'oli Makahiki Hou kākou! Mālama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono.