Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 1, 1 January 2004 — THE STATE OF OHA ADDRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE STATE OF OHA ADDRESS

On Dec. 17, OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona delivered the firstever State of OHA address before an audience of community lead.ers at Kawaiaha 'o Church. What follows is an abridged version of Apoliona' s speech. For the full text, please visit www.oha.org. As we stand here at the fringe of 2003, it is a fitting time to turn back and reflect on the many endeavors of the year and recount the many good things as well as the challenges we faced. For the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the entire Hawaiian community, this has been a year of daunting tasks as well as a myriad of productive activities. In the past year, we witnessed attacks on Native Hawaiian rights like no other period since the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. At no other time have Hawaiians faced attempts to dismantle the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the Kamehameha Schools, the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. It is clear the longterm goal of most of the proponents of these lawsuits and legislative actions is to dismantle all the rights Hawaiians had worked for many years to obtain. Fundamentally, these attacks reinforce the need for Hawaiians to be alert, to react responsibly and to assert our rights for survival.

OHA's role in the movement for self-determination Mueh of this report brings to the forefront the question, "what is OHA's role in the movement for Hawaiian self-determination?" Today is an excellent time for me to clarify OHA's position. The board's unanimous decision to support federal recognition is driven by our desire to protect Native See STATE OF OHA on page 3

"īhe road to selfdetermination is not an easy one, but there is no turning back now. Even though we may differ about whieh path to follow, we are certain that there is no retreat."

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STATE OF OHA from page 1 Hawaiian rights and assets, as part of our fiduciary duty to ensure that options are open to beneficiaries. However, the 'aha (constitutional convention) that will eventually be convened to guide the Hawaiian nation ean choose to continue down that road or any other road. It is not for nine trustees to decide. Our vision is that OHA is a

transitional entity and someday will go away. Contrary to statements made in the community, OHA trustees did not support federal recognition for self-preservation. Federal recognition is being supported for preservation of the assets for the Hawaiian people. Activities that OHA conducted or participated in this year in support of federal recognition and Hawaiian self-determina-tion included: 8 Several large rallies and a family education day; # The opening of an OHA bureau in Washington, D.C.; # Lobbying efforts to encourage the passage of the

Akaka-Stevens federal recognition bill; 8 An outreach effort that included informational gatherings on all six major islands and the U.S. mainland; 8 A telephone survey indicating that 86 percent of Hawaiians and 78 percent of non-Hawaiians support federal recognition; # Televised forums on Hawaiian issues; 8 A leadership summit to identify and encourage potential leaders of the new Hawaiian nation. Financial Base This year the Board of Trustees worked on two ways to increase OHA's financial base: The first was to secure undisputed ceded lands revenues, and the second was to increase OHA's investment portfolio. In the areas of ceded lands revenues: # OHA successfully worked with the Legislature and Governor

Lingle to resume payment of undisputed ceded land revenues; # The board authorized the creation of a negotiating team for resolving issues relating to the land trust; # OHA filed a lawsuit contending that the state had failed to perform its fiduciary duty as trustee of the ceded lands trust when it halted revenue payments. In increasing OHA's investment

portfolio, the Board of Trustees changed the process to a "manager of managers" investment approach in March. Under this approach, the Native Hawaiian Trust Fund grew in market value by 22 percent, or more than $58 million, in seven months. In accordance with its mission of the betterment of Hawaiians, OHA approved several million dollars in grants to community organizations in areas such as education, health and human services, legal representation, eeonomie development and housing. To continue the flow of funds into the community, the Board of Trustees in September approved an annual set-aside of at least 10 percent of the annual budget to grants and programs. In the area of cultural preservation and native rights, OHA continued to work with our partner the Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Council to resolve

issues relating to Hawaiian cultural artifacts. OHA also filed and won a lawsuit against NASA for its failure to conduct a full impact study for its telescope development on Mauna Kea. OHA and the community We know OHA's relationship with the Hawaiian community has, at times, been troublesome. We hope that by doing things differently

in recent years, we have been more responsive to the community, and those critical feelings have begun to change. We, the trustees, intend to demonstrate that OHA is worthy of your trust and recommitment. We invite all Hawaiians into the hale to discuss, deliberate and decide as we look for the right path to self-determination. And as the decisions are made, we will not forget the many non-Hawaiians who now make Hawai'i home and are members of our 'ohana. Regardless of whether

the Akaka-Stevens Bill passes, the time has eome to begin an enrollment process whereby all Hawaiians will have the opportunity to stand up and say "I am Hawaiian, and I want to be part of the decision-making process." Those who enroll would be notified of the convening of a constitutional 'aha. They ean choose to run as a delegate, and they ean vote for delegates. Although OHA is funding the enrollment, OHA cannot be its sole sponsor or promoter. A coalition of many Hawaiian groups must help to enroll Hawaiians. The enrollment kick-off is targeted for Jan. 17, and we invite all Hawaiians to join. The road to self-determination is not an easy one. But there is no turning back now. We must continue to go forward. Even though we may differ about whieh path to follow, we are certain that there is no retreat. ■

Trustees Apoliona, Waihe'e, Mossman, Machado, Carpenter, Cataluna and Akana at the State of OHA service. Photo: Sterling Kini Wong