Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 1999 — Building consensus: Our right to self-determination [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Building consensus: Our right to self-determination

ĪHE TIME has eome to build eonsensus and prepare to exercise our right to self-determination. In addition to justice and the need to "right" the "wrong," there are other compelling reasons for consensusbuilding: our disappointments at the Legislature; stalemated ceded land negotiations with the Governor; the impending Rice case at the U.S. Supreme Court; and various federal bills. While there is growing agreement among Hawaiians on self-determina-tion, Hawaiians have yet to define what decisions are needed and what meehanism would be employed. In the next few months, you will see an effort by OHA to provide broad-based educational activities to build consensus and broad participation among Hawaiians in determining their political status. For many years I have advocated for Hawaiian sovereignty. Now, as an OHA trustee, I eonhnue to assert that OHA is a state agency and not a sovereign nation. As an advocate for the Hawaiian people, I believe a process for selfdetermination must be defīned by the Hawaiian people, not the state Legislature. for Hawaiians are not the state's

kuleana. OHA must empower the Hawaiian people to determine the process and address the following questions:

• What is OHA's role? • How ean OHA assist in building eonsensus and unity on the issues? • How ean OHA empower Hawaiians to exercise their right to self-determination? • How ean OHA plan a Pūwalu or series of Pūwalu that are inelusive, promote unity and offer direction? • How ean OHA facilitate a consensusbuilding process for beneficiaries without

controlling the process? These fundamental issues could not be adequately addressed by a committee of five OHA trustees. Fortunately, OHA's bylaws allow committee chairs to appoint up top five individuals to an

advisory committee, one of whieh must be the trustee chair. So, I have appointed four people from various sovereignty groups to sit with me in an advisory committee to the Stand-

ing Committee on Governmental Affairs and Sovereignty: Vicky Holt Takamine of 'īlio'ulaokalani; Clifford Chee of the De Jure Kingdom of Hawai'i; Lehua Kinilau of Ka Lāhui Hawai'i; and Ho'oipo Pā Martin ffom the Native Hawaiian Convention. JulieAnn Cachola, a facilitator/planner with experienee working with Hawaiian organizations, assists us. The committee is to consider the above

questions, solicit input from the Hawaiian community and make recommendations. It has met regularly since May, and is committed to increasing awareness and understanding of sovereignty and self-determination. The committee first considered a sovereignty Pūwalu

for October, 1999, that included several days of Hawaiian entertainers and educational workshops. It recommended the Standing Committee eaneel the October Pūwalu because of insufficient time to plan and find other, more effective ways to educate and empower our people. "the masses." The committee also drafted revisions to OHA's position statement on sovereignty and self-determination, recommending that OHA clearly state that it does not seek to become the sovereign entity, nor does it endorse any particular model of nationhood. Rather, OHA should provide īinaneial and staff assistance to disseminate information and facilitate a consensus-building process to reach the majority of the Hawaiian people. The Standing Committee has not voted on the committee recommendations. In the meantime, the advisory committee is going out to the Hawaiian community to present ideas, solicit input, and gain support ftom the beneficiaries. I support the recommendations of the advisory committee and hope you will provide your input and participate in building consensus toward the next step of self-determination. ■

TRUSTEE MESSAGES

[?]