Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 5, 1 Mei 2001 — The priorities [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The priorities

Charles Ota Trustee, Maui

It has been a little over three months since the new Board of Trustees has been in plaee. During this brief period, some reviews have been done, new eommittees were formed and projects were discussed and prioritized, including the unexpected challenges from the courts. I wish to make it clear, I eampaigned earnestly to represent you as beneficiaries, to contribute to the betterment of OHA. I did not do it for fun - it was very expensive. I believe a first priority is federal recognition. It is paramount to stop the ongoing lawsuits. My priority is with land - your ceded land - and how to receive better benefits from it. Land is one of the reasons I have proposed charging fees for ceded land use, particularly since the state has not paid ceded land revenues previously agreed upon. Only partial payments have been made. According to a survey, Hawaiians feel land is the most important priority, followed by education and health. What concerns me is that we do not have enough dedicated staffing in the area of heahh. Just as important, or more so, is adequate staffing for land issues. The recommendation to assign $150,000 towards heahh programs should be also

matched with $150,000 for the land division to oversee this most valuable or potentially productive area for OHA For example, it is incumbent on the Trustees to update the inventory and prioritize land. Take the case on Kaua'i. AMFAC, n'amely the Kekaha Plantation, went out of business last year. Kekaha was 100 percent ceded land, and if this is so, then OHA should move and let the state know that perhaps on Kaua'i this is our number one priority as far as the title to ceded land and benefits. We need adequate staffing to address this. AMFAC was farming 12,000 acres with adequate water for euhivation of sugar and I think these are the types of lands we should let the state know we are interested in. Many people on Kaua'i and nonHawaiians are looking at those lands and they want to get the state to subdivide the land into agricultural lots, and a portion is now being leased for aquaculture, etc. As far as I'm concerned, any citizen of this state has the right to go to the Land Department and demand information. And OHA, as a subdivision of the state, has all the right to go in for that purpose. If we are denied access, then get our attorney to help. I believe this is very basic to OHA and I will persistently pur-

sue these important issues. It is important to pursue user fees, protect the potential resources of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and treat with respect the iwi of Hawaiian ancestors that are resting

in many places being left in boxes awaiting proper internment. Whieh could be well taken care of by the creation of a dignified cemetery for now and in the future. I would support a program by

OHA that could use ceded lands in developing Homesteads for the 50 percent Hawaiians and also for the less than 50 percent. Housing is needed by both groups of qualified Hawaiians and those not meeting blood quantums. If history is correct when Hawaiian Homes was granted 200,000 acres mueh of the land was poor or worse. I think the Territory and plantations collaborated and got the best land. A good example on Maui is on the slopes of Haleakalā. Haleakalā Ranch and 'Ulupalakua Ranch, both owned by missionary families, while nearby Kahikinui under DHHL is in the boondocks without water, no nothing. I believe every island has an example like that of what Hawaiian Homes got. I think it is very important that the proper committee establish staffing that will be devoted fully to land issues. I don't care what is being said, next to my motto that money is the key to the kingdom, land is just as important. And onee the Hawaiian nation is formed they, not the Department of Land and Natural Resources, will control the land. If there are conflicts then efforts to change existing statutes should be looked into. As far as I am concerned, land and money are the wealth of the nation. If ^ou^ain'l got land, forget it. ■

Onee the Hawaiian nation is formed, they, not the Department of Land and Natural Resources, will control the land. If there are conflicts then efforts to change existing statutes should be looked into. As far as I am eoncerned, land and money are the wealth of the nation. If you ain't got land, forget it.

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