Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 3, 1 Malaki 1997 — Sovereignty groups unite on issues [ARTICLE]

Sovereignty groups unite on issues

| by Peborah Ward More than 400 Hawaiians gathered at Kualoa, O'ahu over a three-day weekend in early February in a "unity conference." Emerging from the Feb. 7-9 gathering was a "palapala 'aelike", signed by more than 70 participating organizations and individuals. This consensus statement addressed traditional and customary rights of Hawaiians, the inherent right of sovereignty and to pursue self-determi-nation; reaffirmation of a shared history, language and culture; and improved eeonomie opportunities. Though disputed areas still remain, many participants were encouraged to find significant points of eommon ground in order to move together toward some form of Hawaiian sovereignty. One sticking point was the disagreement over an eleehon of delegates to a Hawaiian constitutional convention in several years' time. Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs first vice president Charles Rose said the association still supports the eleehon of delegates and a

Native Hawaiian constitutional convention. Other groups, such as Ka Lāhui Hawai'i were hesitant to support a eon-eon because they oppose a state-funded or controlled process. Unity conference spokeswoman Kīna'u ; Kamali'i said areas not agreed on were set aside ■ for future discussion. She said the weekend was only the beginning of what parhcipants hoped would be a continuing dialogue between I Hawaiians to forge understanding and agreement, healing and commitment. Known as "Ho'omalu ma Kualoa," the eon- ; i ference was based on the idea of "ho'omalu: to j bring under the care and protection of, to rule j over, govern, make peaee between warring par- | ties; to preside, as at a meehng." A number of Hawaiian organizations whieh have strongly differed in the past agreed to share in the planning, covering expenses, and to meet Feb. 7-9 at ; the Kualoa regional park. They included Associahon of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Ka Lāhui | Hawai'i, Hā Hawai'i and the State Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations, Nahon of Hawai'i, Ka Pakaukau, Nahon of Ku, as well as groups, families and individuals from most ; "Goo/ of sovereignty " contihued on page 2 ;

continued from page one islands. News reporters were not invited to the event, organizers said, in order to allow for participants to freely express their feelings and to bring up points of disagreement for resolution without perpetuating media stereotypes of discord among Hawaiians. Reporters were provided a statement before and after the conference. A further gathering is being planned at Kualoa park, tentatively for the second or third weekend for April, if logistics ean be arranged. For more information on future unity conferences eall Kīna'u Kamali'i at 941-4946. Organizers pointed to Kualoa's historical significance as a wahi pana — sacred area — that was the heart of sovereignty on O'ahu in traditional times, and seat of traditional learning. Following is the Unity statement issued at the conclusion of the weekend gathering. Palapala ' Aelike (unity statement) We have eome together in the spirit of Kualoa as the Hawaiian people, the Kanaka Maoli, as Hawai'i Pono'i, ka po'e Hawai'i — bone of one bone, all descendants of Hāloa. We have met and shared our families, our food, and our thoughts. As a result, we have unified

on the following principles and positions: PRINCIPLE. As Hawaiians, the indigenous peoples of these islands, we have certain unique traditional and customary rights. By our ancient genealogy, Hawaiians are kahu of ka pae 'āina. The practice, exercise and perpetuation of these rights define and guard our existence as Hawaiians in our own homeland. Included among, but not limited to, are the rights

of access, gathering and use of the resources of the land, air, water and sea. POSITION: As Hawaiians we accept and assert those rights as an obligation whieh we must meet and fulfill. We oppose and must resist all efforts to restrict, diminish or extinguish those rights. PRINCIPLE: From our traditional and customary rights, certain other unique and inherent modern rights and related entitlements have evolved. Among those rights are: beneficial ali'i trusts; public Hawaiian land trusts and benefits;

and outstanding claims for the return of lands and for the stewardship and management of our sacred lands and ancestral objects imbued with the spirit of nā Akua and our ancestors. POSITION: To assure the integrity of the rights related to these lands, we support a moratorium on the sale, exchange, transfer or encumbrance of "Unity "continued on page 3

Unity rally finds concensus at Kualoa Unity Conference

continued from page 2 these lands. We also support the return of our ancestral objects. PRINCIPLE: Hawaiians have the inherent right of sovereignty, and the right to freely pursue self-determina-tion. POSITION: To assure these rights, we eall for an end to the policies and practices of wardship. PR1NCIPLE: As Hawaiians we share a eommon tradition, history, language and culture. We are one people. Our continued cultural integrity requires that we walk in the footsteps of our ancestors — for that is the way to insure our shared future. POSITION: We join and support all Hawaiians in the struggle to uphold the foregoing principles and beliefs eentral to our integrity. PRINCIPLE: The wellbeing and spiritual, mental and physical health of Hawaiians — reflected by mālama — requires improve-

ments in the quality and choices of our lives. Improving eeonomie standards, living conditions and equal access to employment, and opportunities are essential. This agreement demonstrates the unity of the organizations, famihes and individuals who have met in Ho'omalu ma Kualoa, February 7, 8 and 9, 1997. We invite others to join us in signing this papapala 'aelike. We also resolve to eonhnue our efforts to achieve unity. We will meet again. Fr°' ln,°'rnation d°roing the upc°rni„g - April U„ity Co„iere„ Kina'u c°" 41 '4946

Kualoa unity conference