Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 1999 — Page 15 Advertisements Column 1 [ADVERTISEMENT]

The Court Case All Hawai'i Residents Should Know:

TWENTY years ago, the people of Hawai'i created the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to better the conditions of Native Hawaiians. Since that time, OHA has waged a continuous uphill battle to obtain and protect Hawaiian rights and entitlements. One major case sits before the U.S. Supreme Court that may affect OHA's constitutional mandate from the people of Hawai'i. THE U.S. Supreme Court will for the first time examine part of the relationship between Hawaiians and the State of Hawai'i in Rice vs. Caijetano

• 1996 Harold F. Rice, a non-Hawaiian, attempts to vote in an OHA election, whieh by law requires voters to have Hawaiian blood. • 1997 Rice sues the State of Hawai'i, claiming he was denied voting rights in a state-supported election for OHA, based on race. (As the state's top official, Govemor Ben Cayetano is named as defendant on behalf of the state.) District Court Judge David Ezra mles against Rice. • 1998Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upholds Judge Ezra's mling. Rice appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court. Status: Rice vs. Cayetar\o is to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in its session beginning in October. ^ rnessage from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs —

Significance: Through affirmation of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals mling in Rice vs. Cayetano, the U.S. Supreme Court will: 1 . Put to rest any further argument regarding the validity of the OHA elections process. 2. Allow all OHA social and eeonomie programs to continue their assistance to Hawaiians. Reversal of Rice vs. Cayeta.no could: 1. Invalidate current OHA election system, and/or 2. Threaten rights and entitlements of Hawaiians — the indigenous people of these islands. "Working for a better Hawai'i" www.0HA.org