Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 12, 1 December 2002 — Lingle promises to restore ceded lands revenue to Hawaiians and 'right wrongs' [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Lingle promises to restore ceded lands revenue to Hawaiians and 'right wrongs'

By Naomi Sodetani Linda Lingle vows that her top priority upon taking office will be to restore ceded lands revenue payments to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and to settle NatVe Hawaiian ceded lands claims. Lingle says she will "immediately" directthe transfer of $10.3 mil-

lion in back payment of ceded lands revenues owed to OHA from state "claims and settlement funds" as a swifter alternatVe to legislation. She also pledged to personally lobby in Washington, D.C. to obtain federal recognition of Native Hawaiians, to expedite a state-funded audit and inventoiy of ceded lands, and close out the

Hawaiian Home Lands waiting list within five years. On N ov. 1 , Lingle and former Lt. Governor Vlazie Hirono sparred on Hawaiian issues before thousands of Hawaiians who attended or tuned into OHA's gubernatorial forum. Lingle said that the forum gave See LINGLE on page 6

Governor~elect Linda Lingle and Lt. Governor-elect James "Duke" Aiona at the OHA Gubematorial Forum Nov. 1, just prior to the General Eleehon

LINGLEfrom page 1 her a new surge of support for ha: campaign. In fact, on her victory, Lingle acknowledged that Hawaiian "swing votes" factored significantly in the final-hour momentum that pushed her ahead of her Democratic opponent. Hawaiians had polled as the largest bloc of undecided voters. At the event, the former VIaui mayor pledged to: halt the sale of ceded lands and to settle Native Hawaiian ceded lands claims; provide equal funding to Hawaiian charter schools; ensure fair-market valuation of ceded lands leases; appoint Hawaiians to her Cabinet and key boards and commissions; and increase resources for prevention and drug treatment programs. OHA Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o said that the Hawaiian community willremain vigilant and involved in issues that deeply eoncern them over the next four years.

And, with Lingle's stance on Hawaiian issues indeliby "on record," he said Hawaiians will hold the governor-elect "accountable to what she said." Well-aware that she and Aiona rose to power on cresting voter cynicism "that government never keeps its word," Lingle said, "If we ean change one thing, it's to make government live up to its word and commitments. We'll move forward to make it right." Lingle said, "It's important that the governor work swiftly to restore funding. You can't wait to go to the Legislature, in my opinion," Lingle said. "We need to make sure thatthe total amountthat is owed to OHA is paid now, so they ean continue with their actVities. "Ceded land revenues owed to OHA is a law, it's not something you ean choose to do or not choose to do," Lingle stressed. "You don't even need a special appropriation to

do that. Because this is a settlement amount, it could be taken right out of the state's claims and settlement account that they keep for selfinsuring purposes. Asked if she would direct a statefunded audit of ceded lands, leases and permits, Lingle replied, "It's the right thing to do ... It should have been done a long time ago. An accurate inventory of ceded lands is critical before we go forward" with a ceded lands settlement between Hawaiians and the state, she said. Throughout her campaign, Lingle has repeatedly committed to getting about 20,000 Hawaiians off the Hawaiian Home Lands waiting list within five years. Citing "the Hawaiian people's connection to land," Lingle declared, "They don't need building standard infrastructure, they need the land that they ean go put a tent on, if that's what they want to do." Lingle also said her administra-

tion will make drug prevention and treatment programs and equal funding for Hawaiian charter schools "priorities." "As governor, I would insist that the charter schools be treated fairly as they are supposed tobe under the law, with equal funding," said Lingle. She also promised to establish vocational technical schools, and support tuition waivers for Native Hawaiian college students statewide. In her forum closing statement, Lingle showed visible emotion as she spoke of "being in a position to right the wrongs that have been allowed to go on for such a long period of time. "It's not just a matter now of doing what is right for the Hawaiian people but bringing healing to the state of Hawai'i," Lingle said. "Things will nevar be pono for our state if we're not able to address these issues." ■