Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 3, 1 March 1999 — Beneficiaries offer clarity on Hā Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Beneficiaries offer clarity on Hā Hawaiʻi

ALOHA MAI e nā 'ōiwi Hawai'i. This 3 1 st article of 46 extends February's KWO " Community debates Hā Hawai 'i" article by highlighting some comments by beneficiaries who stepped forward at the Jan. 23 OHA Governmental Affairs and Sovereignty Committee meeting at the Center for Hawaiian Studies. The KWO February article quotes support and opposition. Following are excerpts from beneficiaries who brought clarity to elements of previous criticisms. Henry D.K. Alau stated, "It seems to me that the issue eoneeming Hā Hawai'i is one of lineage and parentage. Because the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Committee was formed under the auspices of the state, its offspring, Hā Hawai'i, should be suspect. If lineage is to be a criterion

for suspicion, then OHA and the Hawaiian Homes Commission should also be suspect, since one has the State of Hawai'i as its parent and the other has the federal government. As far as the criticism of the process and the eleeūon of delegates are concerned, those who did not participate chose not to run as delegates. Those who did not vote chose not to vote." Of the nation, Alau said, "Culture reflects

the thoughts of the people and is eonstantly evolving. The nation that we create should evolve with that culture. The historical nation is a nation for the dead. The new nation based upon Hawaiian culture would be dynamic, vibrant and responsive. What is the answer? If you want Hā Hawai'i to go away, then fund the Native Hawaiian Constitutional Convention and Hā Hawai'i will cease to exist." Keoni Kealoha Agard stated, "Opponents of Hā Hawai'i argue that because Hā Hawai'i was state-

financed, its process is somewhat tainted. We need only to look at those that lead the opponents' charge and who speak on their behalf to see that they themselves are employed by the University of Hawai'i system and by OHA, both state agencies. The very people that point fingers at Hā Hawai'i are collecting payroll checks from the state. It behooves OHA to support the Hā Hawai 'i native initiative whieh

has not pre-selected any model, but instead allows all Hawaiians to make a ehoiee amongst the various models. Hā Hawai'i has already started. OHA need not and should not re-invent the wheel. Indeed, Hā Hawai'i is a native initiative whieh is a fair and open process that invites all Hawaiians to participate. After the delegates are elected in late January '99, the delegates, not Hā Hawai'i, will control the process and make final decisions on how we will proceed in conducting a Native Hawaiian Convention to restore a nation and

form a native government of our own choosing. After the delegates complete a proposed governing document, that document will be taken to the Hawaiian populaee for final approval. This act of final approval will validate the goveming document thus providing the opportunity for ALL Hawaiians to participate before a governing document is ratified by the people." Keoni further said, "It is not important who screams the loudest. What is important is who recognizes what needs to be done at crucial junctures in time. OHA and Hā Hawai'i are not duplicative but complimentary efforts." On Jan. 27, a petition signed by 37 candidates for delegates to the Native Hawaiian Convention was delivered to OHA trustees regarding Hā Hawai'i's grant proposal to OHA. It said, "The grant proposal has been prepared and submitted in accordance with all known requirements of OHA and has been pending since April 1998." Further, "Now therefore, we the undersigned beneficiaries of the public trust, do hereby, request the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to hold a hearing regarding Hā Hawai'i's grant." request at its next scheduled board meeting." ■

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