Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 5, 1 Mei 2000 — Working groups assist Task Force [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Working groups assist Task Force

By Manu Boyd ATASK Force on Native Hawaiian Affairs has been established at the federal level in response to the Rice vs. ruling handed down Feb. 23. Headed by Senator Daniel Akaka, the Task Force's membership comprises Hawai'i's congressional delegation: Senator Daniel Inouye and Representatives Patsv Mink and Neil Abercrombie. The

immediate goal identified by the Task Force is to clarify the relationship betweer Native Hawaiians and the United States. To this end, federal legislation will be introduced. At present, according to the United States Supreme Court in Rice vr. Cavetano. the

federal govemment has no official relationship with Native Hawaiians and no political status is implied under the United States Constitution. This was a basis of the court's determination in Rice that the Hawaiians-only vote in state-run OHA elections was race-based and, therefore, unconstitutional. At the announcement of the formation of a Task Force in March, Sen. Akaka said, "The Rice decision underscores the need to resolve longstanding issues fac-

ing Native Hawaiians such as political status and self-determination. The Hawai'i delegation is committed to addressing the concems of Native Hawaiians." The Task Force has designated five working groups to assist in its efforts, including representatives of the Native Hawaiian community, the state govemment, the White House and federal officials, congressional members and eau-

cuses, tne JNative 5 American community 9 and constitutional " scholars. I The Native Hawai5 ian community work- § ing group counts 25 "o members, and the > gstategroup, 16. Both S working groups S include trustees of the | Office of Hawaiian " Affairs. The Native Hawaiian community working group represents diverse points of view

and expenence with members, īn alphabetical order, including Emmett Aluli, Roy Benham, Gladys Brandt, Tom Contrades, Robin Danner, Beadie Dawson, Kawika Gapero, Kekama Helm, Corbett Kalama, Kamaki Kanahele, Kīna'u Kamah'i, Na'u Kamali'i, Māhealani Kamau'u, Rev. David Ka'upu, Rev. Sharlan Kunia, OHA Tmstee Colette Machado, Rev. Charles Maxwell, Tara See GROUPS on page 18

Hawaiian activist Wayne Kaho'onei Panoke and Senator Colleen Hanabusa are among diverse representatives on the Native Hawaiian community and state working groups, respectively.

GROUPS From pagc 1

Lulani McKenzie, Manu Meyer, Ho'oipo Pā, Kaho'onei Panoke, Tony Sang, Pi'ilani Smith, OHA Trustee Mililani Trask and Nani Watanabe. Īhe 16 members of the state working group are OHA Trustee Rowena Akana, Sen. Whitney Anderson, OHA Trustee Haunani Apoliona, David Forman, Rep. Eric Hamakawa, Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, OHA Chair Clayton Hee, Department of Health nutritionist Claire Hughes, Department of Land and Natural Resources Director Tim Johns, Rep. Mike Kahikina, Rep. Sol Kaho'ohalahala, Professor Lilikalā Kame'eleihiwa, Ph.D, Rep. Hermina Morita, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Chair Ray Soon, University of Hawai'i Regent Nainoa Thompson and Professor Eric Yamamoto. The purpose of the five working groups is to gather information and input in a timely manner. The ultimate goal is to introduce federal legislation in June that will recognize a political and trust relationship between Native Hawaiians the United States, and assure that under federal law, Native Hawaiians have a right to selfdetermination. Inquiries on the Task Force and its working groups may be directed to Sen. Akaka's office in Honolulu at 522-8970. Those wishing to assist the community woriring group, please see page 19. ■ /4 '