Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 3, 1 March 1997 — Bill threatens OHA's existence [ARTICLE]

Bill threatens OHA's existence

by Barbra An Pleadwell The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) strongly opposes the passage of House Bill 119 and other legislation providing for another state constitutional convention in 1998. Created by

an amendment at the 1978 constitutional convention, OHA could be eliminated by an amendment at a second convention. A lawsuit filed by Hawai'i citizens challenging the November 1996 election outcome on the convening of a constitutional convention is before the Hawai'i

Supreme Court. "V OHA beheves passage of any legislation to implement another "eon-eon" before the lawsuit , is resolved is premature. OHA Trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto, a delegate at the 1978 state constitutional convention and chair of the Hawaiian Affairs Committee whieh proposed estabhshment of OHA, testified against HB 119. Rights of native Hawaiians grounded in provisions of either the Hawai'i state constitution or the i Hawai'i Revised Statutes (HRS) "ean be deleted or severely limited at a constitutional convention whieh is unfamiliar with Hawaiians rights," DeSoto said. ' "The on-going hostile attitude toward native Hawaiians and Hawaiian rights on the part of many influential people in Hawai'i, including the state administration, land i developers, legislators and some busi-

nessmen, has already resulted in serious efforts to reduce Hawaiian gains made in recent years," she added. "The focal point of this hostility is not really Hawaiians. It is, we beheve, the poor fiscal condition of our state whieh is promoting this negative swing in atti-

tude," Desoto said. Another reason OHA opposes the constitutional convention in 1998 is the current effort to create a sovereign Hawaiian nation. The results of the "Native Hawaiian Vote" eall for the election of delegates to propose a Native Hawaiian

government. When completed, the organic document for the nation will propose amendments to the state's constitution relating to recognition of the nation; disposition of ceded lands, disposition of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, OHA, and other state agencies whieh offer services and programs whieh benefit Hawaiians; and decisions relating to historical Hawaiian buildings and significant cultural and religious sites now under state jurisdiction. DeSoto raises the question, "Why is the state pushing for this convention when it knows eomplehon of the Hawaiian constitutional convention will require another state constitutional convention?" Finally, OHA also opposes HB 119 because the estimated cost of more than $20 million to hold the eoneon is a major expense at a time when the state has a sizeable deficit.

"Why is the state pushing for this convention when it knows eompletion of the Hawaiian constitutional convention will require another state constition convention?" — Trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto