Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 1, 1 January 2000 — CHAIRPERSON'S MESSAGE Reconciliation talks: a window on the future [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

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CHAIRPERSON'S MESSAGE Reconciliation talks: a window on the future

I AST MONTH marked a milestone in the history of the Hawaiian people, as officials from the federal government and Hawaiians gathhm ered to approach the start of a reconciliation process as outlined in the 1993 Apology Bill, introduced in the United States Senate by U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka. During the two days of federal hearings on O'ahu, I witnessed Hawaiians express a range of heartfelt emotions as they shared their mana'o on the long overdue reconciliation process, and the attempt by the federal government to right past wrongs suffered by our people. For many attending these hearings, myself included, it was a heartwrenching, painful and extremely emotional experience. It was obvious to me the wounds endured by our people over the past one hundred years have been slow to heal. However, Hawaiians are too akamai to continue to dwell on wounds from the past. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, seeing hundreds of people sincerely express their mana'o on reconciliation further cemented my resolve to participate in

the process on behalf of the beneficiaries we are elected to serve. In order for the reconciliation process to be successful, we Hawaiians have to first identify the critical issues requiring attention. These are the bedrock for our future, to whieh we will turn for strength and guidance in seeing this process to fruition. There must be a meaningful commitment from both the United States and the Hawaiian people to negotiate in good faith, and an unwavering agreement that the decision on the extent of the relationship between the two parties will be ultimately reserved to the Hawaiian people. Of equal importance is the aeknowledgement and implementation of the Federal trust responsibilities to the Hawaiian people. The United States has always had oversight over our lands, despite the 1959 Admissions Act. To that end, the federal government, in its role as trustee, has a duty to preserve, nurture and account for our sovereignty and lands. Most importantly, the United States has a duty to work toward a day when the sovereignty of our people will be right-

fully returned. Another key element in this process is an agreement between both parties to build upon the unique historical, eeonomie, social and cultural heritage of Hawaiians through understanding and coexistence. Through this process we ean begin to address education, housing, eeonomie development, education and social justice for Hawaiians. In order to breathe life into these pivotal goals, we must decide on a formal structure that facilitates and continues the dialog the federal reconciliation hearings have started. We are working at the federal level to establish and implement a framework in whieh the process of reconciliation ean continue, with input from both

sides. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees, I see Hawaiians as a step closer to achieving our goals of self-determina-tion. For the first time, Hawaiians are empowered in determining the extent of the relationship with the U.S. The window to consensusbuilding was cracked open with Assistant Interior Secretary John Berry and Director of the Office of Tribal Justice Mark Van Norman's visit to our islands to talk about the steps to be taken to achieve an equitable relationship. It is the responsibility of those who have Hawaiian blood flowing through their veins to look within themselves for a way to positively contribute to achieving justice for all Hawaiians. Let all Hawaiians resolve to work together to open that window wider in the new millennium. ■

"Let all Hawaiians resolve to work together to open that winaow wider in the new millennium."

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TRUSTEE MESSAGES

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