Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 11, 1 November 2002 — Political activism a legacy left for us by Queen Liliʻuokalani [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Help Learn more about this Article Text

Political activism a legacy left for us by Queen Liliʻuokalani

Aloha mai kākou e nā 'ōiwi o Hawai' i, this 23rd article in a series of 48, highlights the OHA landscape 4th quarter 2002. By the time you receive this Ka Wai Ola issue, members that make up nearly one~third of the Board of Trustees will be new and ffesh; OHA's legislative measures for 2003 will be fmalized; and OHA in collaboration with our partners will be fme tuning plans for the gather~ ing of people in support of Hawaiian issues, a Jan. 15, 2003, rally on opening day of the Legislature, at the State Capitol Rotunda. In this season and for at least the next two yeam, "political activism" pursuant to Hawaiian issues will be the eall to action and the mission. Are we ready and eommitted tothe focus, discipline, aloha and collective effort that will be demanded by this mission? I believe we are. Are we prepared to work with honesty, integrity and ethics on eommon ground to advance Hawaiian rights, benefits and entitlements? We must. Are we prepared to reach out to our 'ohana and to our extended community with the tools of information and

facts on the issues so as to "empower" our influence on and participa~ tion in the outcomes? There is no other way. The flame of "political activism" ignited on Sept. 2, Queen Lili'uokalani's birthday withenergy of hundreds in the E Lili'u Ē march from h/Iauna cAla to 'Iolani Palaee in opposition to Bill 53. On Sept. 9 at OHA's morning media briefmg

on OHA's Native Rights and Entitlements Education Campaign, flanked by Hawaiians and support~ ers, "empowered" in the exercise of self~determination, and later that evening at the pre~primaiy OHA Gubernatorial Forum, the flame of "political activism" flared. On Oct. 9 when Bill 53, onee again before the City Oouneil, by a vote of 6-0 was "deferred indefmitely," moving the queen's trusts lands out of harm's way for now, the flame of "political activism" continued to burn. Ka Wai Ola' s October 2002 issue and the OHA website published, from those who replied, eandidates' answers to questions posed in the interest of Hawaiians, further fueling the flame of "political activism." On Nov. 1 at the PreGeneral OHA Gubernatorial and Lt. Governor Forum, pressing candi~ dates' commitment to accountability in fulfilling the state's obligation to Hawaiians was aggressive, docu~ mented, broadcasted live as well as re-broadcasted, furthar fueling the flame of "political activism." Nov. 5, election day, those who seek to advance Hawaiian issues and Hawaiian self-determination voted

for candidates to the county eouncils and mayors, the State Legislature, the Governor, the Lt. Governor and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs who also seek to advance Hawaiian self~determ ination. On Jan. 15, 2003 OHA requests your support as we must bring our 'ohana and our eommunity together in solidarity to work with our legislature, our governor, lt. governor and county representa~ tives toward fulfillment of the state's constitutional and statutory obligations to Hawaiians. "Political activism" is not short~lived and is not one-shot. It is not led by "one alone." Be with us. Stand with us. Share with us on Jan. 15 at the State Capitol Rotunda. The flame of "political activism" bums on. The eall to "political activism" is the legacy left to us by Queen L ili'uokalani and a responsible mis - sion of leadership to whieh we have been dedicated for generations into the future, because we are Hawaiian and because we are of Hawai'i. Stay current. Log on to website at www. OH A . org . A hui hou i ka mahina a'e, ka hopena o ka makahiki 2002. ■

In this season and for at least the next two years, 'political activism ' pur - suant to Hawaiian issues will be the eall to action and the mission 'īblitical activism ' is not short-lived and is not one-shot. It is not led by 'one alone. ' Be with us. Stand with us. Share with us on Jan. 15 at the State Capitol Rotunda.

[?]

Haunani Apoliona, MSW Trustee, At-large