Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 5, 1 May 1996 — An advocate for Hawaiians [ARTICLE]

An advocate for Hawaiians

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by Patrick Johnston There is nothing individuals do that is not regulated by government laws. The air you | breathe, the water you drink, the places you go, j everything is regulated, in one way or another, by a governmental entity. — Scotty Bowman, OHA Govemment Affairs Off!cer The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has grown significantly in recent years — both in resources and influence — but it is still only one player in a vast and complex arena of eompeting interests. Like OHA, these groups look to lawmakers to promote what is best for their organization. To do less would leave them at the mercy of unknowing, potentially hostile, legislators. "It is critical that an agency like OHA be actively involved in the legislative process," says Scotty Bowman, OHA Government Affairs Officer. OHA's Govemment Affairs Office (GAO) was created to do just that. Working with OHA trustees - in particular the Legislative Review Committee and Lobby Team - and OHA divisions, GAO is responsible for facilitating OHA's lobbying and advocacy efforts at all levels of government and ensuring that Hawaiian concerns are addressed. Sovereignty, water rights, jobs and eeonomie development, education, culture, heahh and housing, all of these issues are addressed every year by lawmakers and monitored by OHA's govemment affairs office. The office's work includes drafting, introducing, and supporting the passage of legislation

whieh benefits Hawaiians and preparing testimony against legislation that would hurt them. "We are involved in the preparation of all testimony," Bowman explains "whether it be for tmstees, the administration, or officers, as long as it is made before a govemmental body," Bowman says that while the state legislative session is only 60 legislative days long, it is imperative that OHA keep in regular contact with state officials year round. "What a lot of people don't realize is that government relations does not only mean passing and defeating legislation. It means working with govemment agencies to ensure that good legislation is introduced, that bad legislation is not, and that good measures whieh pass are implemented." Bowman says OHA's govemment affairs office works diligently to influence legislation at all three levels of govemment — federal, state and county. The primary focus, however, is the state Legislature. According to Bowman, this is because "so mueh activity is crammed into such a short period of time." In 1996, GAO reviewed a total of 3,064 bills and routed 646 to OHA officers for their review and recommendation. By the end of the session OHA will have testified more than 194 times on 155 different measures. GAO also worked to influence decision-mak-ing at the county level. Its efforts included providing testimony in support of property tax exemptions for homesteaders in O'ahu and Kaua'i, and coming out against proposed entrance fees at Hanauma Bay and the Kuapā Isle mandatory lease-to-fee conversion. continued page 4

Government Affairs Office /,„(

The offīce is directed by officer Scotty Bowman with support from legislative aide, Mary Aragon; legislative assistants, Aulani Apoliona and Mark Mararagan; and secretary Apolei Bargamento. Division goals Bowman says the goal of his office is to establish a strong working relationship with lawmakers at all levels of government to ensure that OHA's concems are understood before a decision is made regarding the introduction of proposed legislation. "The success of an effective government affairs program is not measured solely by the number of bills you help to pass or defeat. True success is measured by the relationships you establish and your ability

to influence legislative issues before they are even introduced. Successful govemmental programs have established these relationships and are able to reduce the workload for themselves and for legislators. How does an office go about creating such a relationship? "If you gain a reputation for presenting factual, reliable information, legislators will turn to you for counsel and advice." Bowman adds that OHA has made progress in this area, but that the agency still has a lot of work to do. "Most organizations never achieve the ideal relationship, but it is a goal eaeh strives for." Recap of various measures of major eoneem or interest to OHA in the 1996 Legislative Session

Measures directly impacting OHA's tmst: • SB 1698 HD3 - Proposed reducing the trust entitlement to native Hawaiians from $15 million to $2.9 million by excluding moneys: derived from rental of public facilities; received by the Department of Heahh from operation of its community hospitals, training schools and health eaie programs; received by Hawai'i Housing Authority from rental housing projects; derived from recreational use of public facilities; and, received by Department of Transportation from operation of its harbors and airports. Pending conference committee meeting; OHA anticipates the bill will die. • SB 3127 - Amends Act 19, Special Session Laws of 1995, relating to OHA's

budget, by deleting general fund appropriation of $40,000 for the Wai'anae Diet Program FY 96-97; Held by Hawaiian Affairs. • HB 2707 - Proposed suspending for five years payments to OHA of the native Hawaiian entitlement (20 percent of revenues derived ffom the public land trust). Held by Hawaiian Affairs and Housing. • HB 3300 SD1 - Relating to OHA's budget - Proposed amending Act 19, Special Session Laws of Hawai'i 1995, by reducing OHA's Budget appropriation for fiscal biennium 1996-1997 by $738,324 in general funds. Pending conference committee meeting; We anticipate the bill will pass.