Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 7, 1 July 2004 — Setting the record straight [ARTICLE]

Setting the record straight

On the Akaka Bill eall-in television broadcast

By Clyde Namu'o OHA Administrator

We have been asked several times why OHA sponsored a television forum on the Akaka Bill but not the option of independence. There are several reasons. First, the purpose of the television forum held on June 21 was to discuss the myths and facts about the Akaka Bill. It was not to weigh the option of federal recognition as opposed to independence. Although the Akaka Bill has been under discussion for several years, there are still many misconceptions about what it does or does not do. The purpose of the television forum was to explore those misconceptions and to convey the facts. See the excerpts from the show on page 4 of this issue for a sample of the types of questions the forum was intended to and did address. It is important to note that several hundred additional questions were received during the live, one-hour telecast but could not be addressed because we ran out of time. Some questions eame from as far away as Las Vegas and Massachusetts. This high volume of questions shows there is a strong interest in understanding the Akaka Bill. The second reason for sponsoring a television forum on the Akaka Bill but not other options is that the discussion of whieh model of self-gov-emanee is best for Native Hawaiians will take plaee at the 'Aha (convention) to be held at a future date. We are not at that stage yet. It is the delegates to the 'Aha who will weigh the various models of self-determination. That is the time to weigh the various self-determination options and debate their benefits.

One way to get involved in the upcoming 'Aha process is to attend the meetings of the 'Coalition,' a loosely organized group that has held three meetings this year and is scheduled to meet again in late July. The Coalition is the group tasked with determining what the steps should be in forming a Native Hawaiian governing entity. For example, the steps might include actions like: • enrolling all Hawaiians, • electing delegates to an 'Aha, • holding the 'Aha, at whieh debate of various models would occur, and • having the Native Hawaiian community ratify the 'Aha's decisions. Onee the Coalition determines what the steps should be, OHA will provide funding and administrative support for eaeh step. You ean find the minutes of the first three meetings of the Coalition in the June 2004 edition of Ka Wai Ola. A third reason for sponsoring this live telecast is that OHA supports passage of the Akaka Bill. OHA's trustees believe it is their fiduciary duty to use federal recognition to protect OHA's trust assets and to preserve federal recognition as an option for long-term self-governance. At the 'Aha or subsequent ratification, Native Hawaiians may choose to pursue another option, such as independence or free association. But until some form of self-determination exists, OHA's trustees have a fiduciary duty to preserve federal recognition as one of the options available to Native Hawaiians. If you would like to know more about the Akaka Bill or other self-determination issues, feel free to contact OHA's Governance section at 594-0219. We are available to attend your community meetings or family gatherings to further explain these issues and answer any questions you may have. ■