Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 7, 1 July 1996 — Mākua eviction; cultural impact of development [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mākua eviction; cultural impact of development

by Moanike'ala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i When you read this the June 15 evictions at Mākua will have passed (press deadline 6/8). While the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) allows rich Drivate land-owners at

Diamond Head to fence up and steal beach-front footage of ceded 'āina, they plan to arrest people living at Mākua. May 5, '96 Honolulu Advertiser reports, "Mākua villagers have more aloha than a dozen rich neighborhoods." For many decades people (mostly Hawaiians) have hved at Mākua for a weekend or longer for various reasons

including high housing costs and the obvious need for a Pu'uhonua, plaee of refuge and healing by the oeean. Did you know that on March 8, '96, U.S. military (who bomb and play war games in Mākua Valley) signed a 5 yr. lease with the state DLNR for the makai strip of 'āina where Mākua keiki o ka 'āina live? Four

days later (3/12/96) nā po'e Mākua were served eviction notices, set for April — extended to June 15. If the lease between the military and the state is valid then the state is evicting the native on behalf of the military. Furthermore, the "broke" state Legislature found 5500.000 to build another park along the Wai'anae Coast at Mākua - no one mentioned it was for the military. The military, whieh now controls 25 per-

cent of highly populated O'ahu, apparently insists on the state kicking the natives off Mākua Beach. Something should be worked out to avoid eviction at Mākua. While some of the Mākua people are finding accommodations, some people should be allowed to remain at Mākua, a

pu'uhonua, plaee to heal from the modem madness - a necessity for many people, especially Hawaiians. Public access and upkeep will not be a problem. Cultural Impact of Development The Hawai'i District Council, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, made

up of nine Hawaiian island chapters, as well as many Hawaiian groups, organizations and individuals are very disturbed that H.B. 3081 (on cultural impacts of development) was killed for the second time in Calvin Say's (Hawaiian adversary) Finance Committee. There is strone evidence that exist-

ing EIS mles are not sufficient to protect and preserve the native Hawaiian culture and resources. The Kohanaiki (PASH) mling clearly demonstrated that governmental agendas must focus on their responsibilities to protect Hawaiian cultural

values and that these values are tied environmentally to the 'āina. Aloha 'āina! According to Leimana Da Mate, president of Hawai'i District Council (and OHA Staff, Kona Office), "after monitoring the past legislative session, tracking bills that have died, we see that many bills benefiting Hawaiians were killed in Calvin Say's (Chair) House Finance Committee." The Office of Environmental Quality Control (EQC) under Gary Gill has done an excellent job in being accessible to people, and holding state-wide hearings to get input on amendments to improve rules essential to the preservation of Hawaiian culture. The result was the proposed Cultural Impact Amendment to Title II, Hawai'i Administrative Rules chapter 200. Govemor Cayetano has vetoed this amendment, but the issue of the Cultural Amendment is not over at EQC. It is more than disappointing that Govemor Cayetano doesn't feel Hawai'i's host culture needs preservation. One wonders if Calvin Say and the governor feel that the extent of Hawaiian culture should be limited to playing guitar and ukulele and shuffling for

tourists. Ron Lim, Cayetano's No. 2 man, told Mākua community workers, "Let me know if OHA gives you problems," fanning the controversy of state control of OHA. I am appalled by Lim's strong armed, threatening statement. I have struggled for over a decade that OHA be a true voice of the Hawaiian people - a voice that reflects the needs, ambitions and dreams of all Hawaiians. I personally convinced many Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians to vote for the governor and have been protective when nay-sayers point out that as lieutenant governor he knew of the state's financial pilikia. Last month's eolumn mentioned the govemor's threat to OHA's revenue stream. The Mākua eviction and govemor Ben Cayetano's veto of the Cultural Amendment plus the attack on OHA's revenues give a feeling the administration is anti-Hawaiian. I hope I'm mistaken. Mālama Pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono.