Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1997 — Page A8 Advertisements Column 3 [ADVERTISEMENT]

an extremely broad rationale that linked every possible revenueproducing activity connected with the airports program, and then awarded OHA a full 20 percent of all that revenue. The calculations were presented to the legislature in a complex testimony of nine pages and six exhibits. But this rationale includes revenue sources that are far beyond what OHA's attorneys and accountants have asked for in the lawsuit, and farther than Judge Heely's ruling. By contrast, Clayton Hee cites documents prepared by the accounting firm of Deloitte and Touche concluding that the amount owed to OHA as a result of the Judge Heely decision is $262 million, before interest required under law. Historically, Hawaiians have shared a relatively small portion of airport revenue. From 1981 to 1996, the Airlines Committee figures show the airports as having collected over $3 billion in revenue. Less than three percent was shared with Hawaiians for the use of ceded lands in the airport system. For Hawaiians, the stakes are very high. In H.B. 2207, the state House has said that there shall be no airport revenue transferred to OHA - whether collected on ceded lands or not. Such a cutback would curtail the programs OHA is trying to expand. OHA Trustees have repeatedly stated that they are willing to negotiate a ceded land revenue settlement that is both reasonable and fair. Trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto urges legislators, "Don't give in to pressure from industry lobbyists. Do what is right."