Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 6, 1 June 2000 — TRUSTEE MESSAGES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TRUSTEE MESSAGES

OHA news and views

MEMBERS OF the OHA Land Committee observed the migratory species conference, MHLC-6, April 11-19 at the Convention Center. Progress was evident from the many changes in the draft that is eontinually under revision to aeeommodate the participating nations' views. The projected date for completing negotiations has been moved to months from now, when the conference will be held in Fiji as MHLC-7. At this conference, MHLC-6, the Land Committee representatives began to dialog with the head of the 52-member U.S. delegation on the question of full Hawai'i participation and membership when the Convention is signed and adopted. More dialog was conducted with the chairman of the MHLC-6, Satya Nandan, to alert him to the possibility pursuit of a poliheal relationship between the United States and Hawai'i. He was informed Hawai'i would be interested in participating in the management of highly migratory species so Hawai'i receives its fair share

of an important traditional food source. Ongoing protection of resources On May 5, a report to the Land Committee indicated that the Department of Land and Natural Resources has agreed that gathering shellfish and hmu constitutes a traditional and customary practice of Hawaiians. With regard to the Haseko planned development of a marina and the dredging of a service ehannel at Pu'uloa on the 'Ewa Beach shoreline, OHA and others have

opposed this threat to the fresh water reserve lying below the protective caprock under the proposed marina site. Dredging may damage the covering caprock and release thousands of gallons of precious ffesh water into the environment to be lost. Federal desk reports OHA's federal desk ofl5cer reports the Congress, with S. 2327, is moving to estabhsh a Commission on Oeean Pohcy to

include Hawai'i Senators Inouye and Akaka. The proposed legislation divides the country into five regions with Hawai'i and Pacific territories in the southwest region. The bih provides for pubhc meetings in the different regions on a coordinated, comprehensive and long range nahonal pohcy for the responsible use and stewardship of oeean and coastal resources, whieh coincides with a native OHA goal of mālama. Settlement and abandonment Two islands in the Hawaiian archipelago have ancient histories. Nihoa and Necker were populated by Hawahans who left behind artifacts and burials sites. These confirm the early settlers fished the abundantly stocked surrounding waters. They demonstrates a history of native fishing whieh ean give natives preferential access to these waters for traditional fishing. Since the 1800s, the islands have not been populated. They might have been abandoned due to a diminished supply of birds as a food source. Like others in the

Hawaiian archipelago, these islands are important not only as habitable areas but also because of the surrounding waters and resources for the enjoyment of future generations. Ever watchful and 'eleu A report from State Department Watch advises that the U.S. Department of State, without congressional approval or public debate, has tumed or ceded to Russia more than five disputed islands with mineral, gas, oil and fishing resources. Alaska is protesting because of the strategic importance of the potential oil resources so near the state's own reserve. The state has pointed out that the Alaska Purchase of 1867 included those Arctic islands, and that the citizenship of the some 100 Americans is now in limbo. This sounds like what happened in Hawai'i when annexation occurred and natives' citizenship was transferred. Now even the Census Bureau has to make a decision. For more information log onto www.newsmax.com/articles/?a= 2000/5/7/153932. ■

"OHA's federal desk officer reports the Congress, with S. 2327, is moving to establish a Commission on Oeean Policy to include Hawai'i Senators Inouye and Akaka."

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