Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 1997 — Hawaiian Claims [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian Claims

SAN DIEGO - In a speech delivered to the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Nov. 13, Maui County Mayor Linda Lingle called the resolution of monetary and sovereignty claims by Native Hawaiians essential to the eeonomie health of Hawai'i. "Native Hawaiian rights and claims are not the cause of the eeonomie malaise now affecting the state economy," said Lingle. "But unless these claims are fully addressed, a sustained eeonomie recovery will be difficult. Lingle also took a swipe at state legislative and administrative attempts to minimize the ceded land claims by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, claims by Hawaiian Homes beneficiaries, and the exercise of traditional rights by Hawaiians. "Increasingly the reaction of those in power is to deny, avoid, or undermine Hawaiian rights and aspirations," she said. "These actions don't just affect pocketbooks; they strike at the heart and soul of the Hawaiian people." Noting that Hawaiian homelands already belong to Native

Hawaiians, Lingle also called for the transfer of an additional 50,000 acres of cultural lands held by the state. These include historic sites such as 'Iolani Palaee as well as significant traditional sites such as heiau, places of refuge, fishponds and other cultural sites. "With a defined land base, ve Hawaiian self-govern-t, or sovereignty, should be frightening to noni ,dwaiians," said Lingle, who s 'iid she supports Hawaiian self -determination.

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