Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 2, 1 February 2000 — What's new? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

What's new?

WISH to announee that my office and staff will implement a new and different schedule. It is clear that I have a moral duty to become aware of and understand the community's needs and eonceras. With this in mind, the Maui office wiU gather reports of eommunity spokespersons that eall attention to ongoing needs in the Maui districts I am representing. It is my intention to give more "hands on" time to Maui eonceras. And in that respect, our Maui office will be programmed toward to collect information and make needed contacts. We are

also planning to redesign our Maui office to include a related library of information for the community's reference and benefit. How pending congressional legislation may affect Native Hawaiians will be important to us here in Hawai'i. The Native Hawaiian Housing Assistance Act, also known as S. 225, has wended its way through the United States Senate and is being forwarded to the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services for further consideration. Also being considered in the United States House of Representatives is the Native Hawaiian Education Act, parts of whieh the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has unsuccessfully supported. There has been strong opposition to fund-

ing native education, including by congressional representatives who cite the fact that the "wealthy" Kamehameha Schools should really assume the responsibility. This would ignore the role of government in a democracy: to educate the entire public universally and regardless of ethnic origin. Of equal importance is the Native Hawaiian Heahh Care Improvement Act of 1999, or S. 1929. The legislation pro- | posed in the Senate suggests that Papa Ola Lōkahi be charged with implementation and oversight of a master

plan. In the past, OHA has been represented on the board of Papa Ola Lōkahi. These three important pieces of legislation appear to be in response to the findings detailed in the Native Hawaiian Study Commission's report of 1983. Interestingly, the commission found that Native Hawaiians did not deserve anything for the loss of their home land or their sovereignty. With regard to all the above-mentioned, ongoing legislation, any comments would be appropriate to assist in the best development of the issues. I wish to express my desire to continue to be, as I have always earnestly tried to be, dedicated to working for the community benefit regardless of any accompanying decision. ■

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