Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 2, 1 February 1999 — Time to stand united [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Time to stand united

ĪHROUGHOUTMY yearsofservice as a trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, I have seen many programs eome and go and have experienced many OHA successes and not just a few failures. I have seen priorities change, budgeLs grow, and programs develop, bloom and mature. I have seen many, many ideas evolve and have good, strong and

positive impacts on the Hawaiian community. While all these things are part of the maturing of OHA, one of our most important tasks is the settlement of the ceded land issues and the receipt of the revenue entitlements. At this stage, the Supreme Court has reprimanded all parties for their laek of progress toward resolution of this issue. The implied threat of court intervention is real and such intervention would not be in the best interest of all parties.

I am not sure who is to blame for this present situation, but then again pointing fingers has never resolved issues. The task requires talent, determination and fortitude. It is our good fortune to have Kali Watson to assist in our negotiations. He has walked this path with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. We also have an excellent law firm on our team, and with Chairman Akana, Trustees Hee, and Tra.sk at the helm, I am confident that we have assembled a formidable team. We must not be distracted by eaeh

other, the state, legislators or the courts. We must focus our full attention toward the task. Let us not divide our support for this team settlement becau.se of personal agendas or personal dislikes or differences of personalities. Too often over these years, we have allowed personal feelings to interfere with good decisions. Too often we have fought over past discretions, blamed eaeh

other for mistakes, or dwelled on eaeh other's failures. All of this fighting only benefits those who are trying to restrict our benefits and entitlements. This is the time for all of us to put aside differences and stand \ united in our settlement issues. Again, I repeat that our team is diverse and truly representative of our Hawaiian people. Let us support their work. In supporting their efforts, let us make sure that all the neonle of Hawai'i rec-

ognize that justice for Hawaiians benefits all of our brothers and sisters who eall Hawai'i home. As I have said many times in the past, what is good for Hawaiians is good for all the people of Hawai'i, and what is good for all the people of Hawai'i is good for Hawaiians. And so I say to our negotiating team and all the people of Hawai'i: "Be strong and ofa good courage, fear not, nor be afraid ofthem;." Deuteronomy 31:6 ■

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