Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 2001 — Honoring our commitments [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Honoring our commitments

Colette Machado Trustee, Moloka'i and Lāna'i

ii ~w~maika 'i ke kalo i ka 'oha ā — The goodness oftaro is A judged by the young plant it produces." Twenty years ago, the state gave birth to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at the 1978 constitutional convention. Though a painful process, the intent was to aloha the Hawaiian people. In hindsight, more could have been done to truly strengthen the Hawaiian people's political relationship with the U.S. and the world. Nevertheless, the OHA child was born and has experienced varying degrees of success in caring for the betterment of Hawaiians. Though some consider OHA a useful institution, many argue that the state's child is in need of serious discipline. Recent reorganizations of the Board, in-fighting and poor management by the former Administrator has caused this institution to flounder. At year's end, we need to review what works and what doesn't at OHA. Hawaiians need to take a

good look at OHA and determine if it truly works to "better the conditions of Hawaiians." Arguably, OHA has missed its mark on several important matters and continues to laek the vision to do "the right thing.

For example, last year OHA and the state presumably agreed to eollaborate on a project that was languishing in the state legislature for over 10 years. The KīkalaKeōkea subdivision was created after Tūtū Pele took back the land settled by generations of Hawaiian families in Kalapana. The state then agreed to resettle the families of Kalapana in

an adjacent area known as KīkalaKeōkea. Unfortunately, bureaucratie red tape held up the settlement for over ten years and many kupuna have passed away unahle to reconnect with their birth lands. The perseverance of the Kalapana families paid off in 2001 when the

leadership of the State House and Senate worked out an agreement with the OHA Board of Trustees. The BOT voted to match the state dollar for dollar for a total of $2.7 million so that the infrastructure

could be installed and the families moved in. The bill passed and became law in last year's legislative session. In June, OHA and the DLNR were solidifying the contractual agreement that would allow the project to move forward within the next year. In

a show of overwhelming appreciation and commitment, representatives from the state legislature, OHA, the County of Hawai'i and DLNR joined the community for a sight visit and prayer gathering in Kalapana. However, since that time, a new

bundle of red tape has been unraveled by none other than the chairman of OHA's Board of Trustees who voted against the project. Now, the chairman is refusing to release OHA's matching funds forcing the families to wait indefinitely, failing onee again to honor our commitments. Will OHA ever grow up to support the Hawaiian people? Not if we promote selfish "individuals" who care more about their own political well being. OHA's unhealthy development and stagnated board is deplorable. The 'ōlelo no'eau above teaches us that OHA has not»grown due to the heavy handed pressures of the state and poor leadership. OHA's only hope is to clear the patch and have it replanted by the Hawaiian people we are duty bound to serve. Perhaps then, the new parents will be able to raise an institution that will honor its commitments and be worthy of the name "Hawaiian Trust." ■

OHA's unhealthy development and stagnated board is deplorable. OHA has not grown due to the heavy handed pressures of the state and poor leadership.