Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 1, 1 January 2006 — The State of OHA and the Hawaiian Community [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
The State of OHA and the Hawaiian Community
^ — ^loha mai kākou e f * nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino mai \^_^V__-Hawai'i a Ni'ihau a puni ke ao mālamalama. Aloha e nā kūpuna, nā mākua, nā 'ōpio, nā keiki a me nā kamaiki e 'ākoakoa mai nei, ma kēia hale pule la'ahia 'o Kawaiaha'o a maloko i ko kākou mau hale 'ohana a puni ke ao mālamalama. Aloha e nā kama'āina a me nā malihini kekahi. Aloha nō kākou a pau loa. 'Oiai e hiki koke mai ana ka hopena o kēia makahiki, he wā kūpono kēia e helu a e ho'omana'o i nā hana nui a ko'iko'i o nā mahina i hala aku nei a ke Ke'ena Kuleana Hawai'i, a me ke kaiāulu 'ōiwi Hawai'i kekahi. No laila, e ho'omaka kākou. Greetings to our esteemed fellow Native Hawaiians from Hawai'i to Ni'ihau and around this brilliant world. Aloha to the elders, adults, youth, ehildren and toddlers who have assembled here at mid-day at this sacred church, Kawaiaha'o. Greetings to long time residents and newcomers alike. Aloha to you all! the year quickly comes to a
close, this is a fitting time for us to collectively recall the many important accomplishments over the past months of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Native Hawaiian Community, our beneficiaries. Therefore, let us begin. Aloha and weleome to all who have taken the time to gather with us, in our homeland and elsewhere, to hear this message. When we talk about the state of OHA, we are also talking about the state of the Native Hawaiian people and the ehallenges and opportunities for the Native Hawaiian community. We are also talking about the state of the soon-to-be Native Hawaiian nation and OHA's role in relation to this native nation. Since "State of OHA 2004" twelve months ago, mueh has occurred. We have aeeomplished some important tasks along the way, but there remain several issues of great eoneem. This morning I will focus on a few key areas and suggest how we, Native Hawaiian people and all the people of Hawai'i, ean move forward from here,
sustaining our host culture by bringing the best of our values and tradition from the past with us into the future. Our tradition teaches us that there is power in the "word" - i ka 'ōlelo ke ola, i ka 'ōlelo ka make. That is why we are taught to be careful of how we use our words, cautious about what we promise by our words and respectful of what we declare by our words. Through the 'ōlelo, our kūpuna (ancestors) continue to inspire, guide and teach us through 'ōlelo no'eau. It is our kuleana to apply their timeless wisdom to do good and make a positive difference. I share three 'ōlelo no'eau with you to set the context for my remarks today. E kaupē aku nō i ka hoe a kō mai. Putforward the peuklle and draw it back. This 'ōlelo no'eau urges us to go on with the task that is started and finish it. When the Office of Hawaiian Affairs was created in 1978, it was tasked with bettering the conditions of Native Hawaiians, a broad mandate covering many areas of priority and need. While
some improvements are occurring, Native Hawaiians continue the struggle to surmount dismal socio-economic statistics in terms of education, health, homelessness, substance abuse, incarceration and similar outcomes of dispossession. Bettering the conditions of Native Hawaiians in the socioeeonomie, poliīieal, legal, cultural, native rights, natural resource and environmental areas has proven to be a daunting task over the past 25 years, not just for OHA but for all publie and private trusts established to serve Native Hawaiians. Today's pause in our journey gives us a ehanee to look back over the last twelve months, and I would like to share with you a few highlights of how the trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have addressed these areas of mandate in the year 2005. • In the area of education, OHA awarded 22 grants and 91 scholarships totaling $7.2 million. This includes a total two-year funding of $4.4 million, $2.2 million per year for two years, to Hawaiian-focused charter schools. Of this $7 million total, more than $5 mil-
lion is for programs occurring in Department of Education puhlie schools. • In the area of housing, OHA awarded $1.5 million to Habitat for Humanity to help 75 Hawaiian families with a "no interest" 20-year mortgage with monthly payments averaging less than $275 per month. In addition, OHA maintains a program with First Hawaiian Bank and Bank of Hawai'i, whieh provides mortgage loans for 103% of purchase price to cover down payments and closing costs. • In the area of eeonomie development, OHA distributed $1.5 million this year: — 17 business loans to Native Hawaiian businesses, totaling $917,000; — 62 personal loans totaling $240,000; and — 12 grants to communitybased organizations totaling $350,000. • In the area of native rights, OHA responded to more than 600 requests for comments on land-altering activities and environmental issues eoneeming water use, cultural impacts, special management areas, land use and protection of burial sites and iwi.
HA'I'ŌLELO MĪKOLOLOHUA • KEYN0TE AD D RESS
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on the state of OHA and the Hawaiian coimnunity presented at Kawaiaha'o Church on Dec. 7, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson Haunani Apoliona focused on the many efforts and millions of dollars the agency coimnitted to benefit Hawaiians in 2005, as well as the many challenges that continue to face Hawaiians in the ongoing quest for justice and self-detennination. Some 300 connnunity leaders, kūpuna and members of the general puhlie attended the event, whieh marked OHA's 25th anniversary. In addition to Apoliona's speech, the program also featured a service led by Kahu Curtis Pa'alua Kekuna, beautiful singing from the church choir under the direction of Nola Nāhulu and a channing 'ukulele perfonnance by keiki from Ka Waihona o ka Na'auao Hawaiian charter school in Nānākuli. Basing her speech on three 'ōlelo no'eau (Hawaiian sayings), Apoliona outlined a range of OHA activities and funding in such areas as education, housing, eeononūe development, native rights and self governance. Here is the full text of her address:
"Let us build a nation ... with leaders and members who will go forward to reconcile past injustices and build for the future," Apoliona told the assembly. - Photo: John Matsuzaki
Of particular note is our eollaboration with the Pele Defense Fund, Trust for Puhlie Land, State Department of Land and Natural Resources, and USDA Forest Legacy Program to purchase and protect 26,000 acres of conservation land, Wao Kele O Puna, the last lowland rainforest in all of Hawai'i nei. Of equal significance is that when title to these lands is eonveyed to the Office of Hawaiian of Affairs in 2006, it will be the first parcel of crown or kingdom land returned to Native Hawaiian control since the 1893 overthrow of the kingdom. More details on OHA's funding, including initiatives in the areas of heahh and human services, grant awards and aeeomplishments these past twelve months ean be found online at www.oha.org. Another fact of note for fiseal year 2005 is that OHA's investment portfolio increased by approximately $55 million due to prudent actions taken under our investment policy. On Sept. 30, 2005, our portfolio was valued at $363.9 million, slightly better than the reported all-time high of $359.7 million on lune 30, 2000. Our trustees' goal in grow-
ing the portfolio is to increase the annual allocation of funds, as permissible by our spending policy, for grants and awards OHA ean distribute to relevant community-based initiatives and projects that: (1) enhanee the quality of life for Native Hawaiians and (2) strengthen capacity in our communities and families. We also need to assure adequate funding to continue ongoing advocacy efforts that will result in systemic changes to achieve positive impact for Native Hawaiians and, in turn, improve conditions for all in Hawai'i. Concurrently, we keep our eye on the horizon for the time when a matured Native Hawaiian governing entity will assume responsibility to administer and grow the assets transferred to it by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Hawaiian Home Lands. A lot of work has been done. But indeed, there is mueh more to do. Of particular eoneem this year are the continuing legal attacks designed to end Native Hawaiian programs and funds by dismantling OHA and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and unraveling the missions of our ali'i trusts. Plaintiffs and attorneys, unified
in their purpose and mindset, seek to eliminate the Native Hawaiian admission preference policy at Kamehameha Schools. Two adverse decisions this year from the 9th Circuit, Arakaki v. Lingle and Doe v. Kamehameha Schools, underscore more than ever the need for us to eome together and support formal U.S. congressional recognition of Native Hawaiians as an indigenous people. These plaintiffs and their attorneys are linked to wellfinanced and politically eonnected special interests. These parties intend to continue filing lawsuits until they succeed in dismantling all Native Hawaiian rights and programs. As a community, we cannot let these two 9th Circuit decisions stand. We must challenge these decisions, in court and in Congress, because they seek to undermine all that we are and eliminate all the gains we have made in the past 112 years. If we do not stand up now, we ean expect these plaintiffs to eventually seek to eliminate tuition waivers at the University of Hawai'i; stop all federal funding for health, education, job training and eeonomie development; and challenge the survival of the other ali'i trusts.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, along with DHHL and our ali'i trusts, must and will vigorously defend against these efforts whatever it takes. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been in the federal courts since the year 2000. We have been to District Court, the Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. We do not relish the thought of spending any more time in these courtrooms. Nor do we relish deploying any more trust assets in the remaining half of this decade to federal court battles when we could redirect these same resources to needs and priorities of Native Hawaiians. We are only in the federal courts because a few file the legal complaints to hold hostage the many, while concurrently attempting to rewrite history and instill fear in the community in whieh we live. This is a battle that Native Hawaiians and all who support justice and fairness intend to finish and win. 'A'ohe hana nui ke alu 'ia. No task is too big when done together by all. This second 'ōlelo no'eau reminds us that nothing is impossible, no task is beyond our successful reach, when there is unified effort. The task I am referring to is the building of a Native Hawaiian nation. This is our best legal and poliīieal option at this time in our history to, onee and for all, affirm Native Hawaiians as an indigenous group of people. Native Hawaiians are not a "racial minority" as the "special interest opponents" would like you to believe. As an aboriginal people indigenous to these islands, Hawai'i pae 'āina, we are a special poliīieal class entitled to certain protections under United States law. Establishing ourselves as a Native Hawaiian nation will help to protect Native Hawaiian assets, federal funding and programs, and the ali'i trusts. To this end, OHA has helped to further nation-building by:
• Supporting, since February 2004 and throughout 2005, the Native Hawaiian Coalition, an informal group of organizations and individuals tasked with determining the steps to be followed in the process of building a Native Hawaiian governing entity, inclusive of Native Hawaiians both in Hawai'i and away from our shores and to involve all Native Hawaiians in these steps going forward; and in fulfillment of their mission "to establish a process that will provide the Hawaiian people with a mechanism for achieving self-governance through selfdetermination." • Supporting Kau Inoa, a registration of all Native Hawaiians, wherever they may reside; and • Supporting passage of S. 147 - The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005 (Akaka Bill), one of the few options available to us today to protect Native Hawaiian assets, programs and funding. We know there is disagreement within the Hawaiian eommunity about S . 1 47 and federal recognition. To that end, we encourage all Native Hawaiians to get involved and find out the facts. Be informed. Don't rely on second-hand or thirdhand information. Read the bill for yourself, understand what it means and share your mana'o with your 'ohana. We cannot let the hurt, anger and mistrust generated by the past infect and spoil the renewed efforts to generate positive outcomes for Native Hawaiians and Hawai'i nei. Building a nation cannot be done alone or by only a handful of people. All Native Hawaiians need to participate. OHA cannot do it alone. All Native Hawaiian organizations and trusts need to step forward and discuss nationbuilding with their beneficiaries and constituents. Native Hawaiian families must get informed and encourage education on these matters within the 'ohana. We must seek and weleome support from non-Natives, See State ūf OHA on page 12
HA'I'ŌLELO MĪKOLOLOHUA • KEYN0ĪE AD D RESS
Kūpuna and community leaders were among the 300 people in attendance at the service in Kawaiaha'o Church. - Pholo: Ftancine Kananionāpua Murray
State of OHA
Cūntinued fram page II as well, in our pursuits. Natives and non-natives unified for this cause will insure success. In 2005, over 2,000 supporters of S . 1 47 courageously stepped forward to plaee their names in two full-page advertisements in the newspaper and over 200 gathered in unified voice at 'Iolani Palaee on an August morning to declare, "S.147, 'AE!" Native Hawaiians have a cultural and spiritual capacity to work toward resolution of problems and conflict. We have strength in reconciliation. Now is the time to use our ancestral wisdom and discernment to forge eonunon ground among our Native Hawaiians, chart the course for the Native Hawaiian nation and make it a reality. With nation-building, we have the opportunity to revisit the words of Queen Lili'uokalani who, in 1917, near the end of her life said, "I could not turn back the political change." In 2005 and going forward, we have the opportunity to redirect that poliīieal change into one that ean be of benefit to present and future generations. We must succeed. Our degree of success will be weighed by our capacity to work in unified effort. The OHA trustees and administrator established a Washington, D.C., Bureau in 2003 to ensure an ongoing national presence and advocate for more than 401,000 Native Hawaiians. The primary goal is to educate Congress and the executive branch on issues important to Native Hawaiians and secure passage of favorable legislation at the national level. In 2005, our Washington Bureau developed national partnerships for OHA and facilitated OHA's co-sponsorship in 32 events and represented
OHA at over 50 congressional, departmental, Alaska Native, American Indian, national and pacific organization meetings and events; and hosted Native Hawaiians and visitors to increase awareness of issues important to Native Hawaiians. Passage of S . 1 47 (the Akaka Bill) is the primary focus of the OHA D.C. Bureau because Native Hawaiian puhlie and private trusts, programs, assets and cultural resources are likely to be lost to future generations as a result of hostile litigation and misinformation. Enactment of S . 1 47 is a solution NOW, because it reaffirms and clarifies the United States' political and legal relationship with Native Hawaiians and establishes a process for federal recognition of a reorganized Native Hawaiian governing entity. In 2005, the OHA D.C. Bureau coordinated initiatives with OHA trustees and the administrator, legal advisors, the Hawai'i eongressional delegation and key staff, the governor of Hawai'i, state and county policy-makers, Native Hawaiian royal societies, homesteaders, Hawaiian civic clubs, other Hawaiian organizations, American Indians, Alaska Natives, various Pacific and Asian American organizations, and an array of civil rights organizations to increase national understanding of our distinct Native Hawaiian community and secure support for passage of S . 1 47 - the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005 (the Akaka Bill). Our presence in Washington, D.C., has reminded us that most people do not know that Native Hawaiians and our Native Hawaiian culture exist today, nor do they know the history of the overthrow of our sovereign Hawaiian nation. They do not understand that we are a unique, indigenous eonununity living as Native Hawaiians through our 'ohana, cultural
practices, Hawaiian institutions and organizations, and churches, while also living life to succeed within Western priorities and values. Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas may not know all there is, but with our unified and diligent efforts they are learning. 'A'ohe loa'a i ka noho wale. Nothing is gained by idīeness. This third, and final, 'ōlelo no'eau shared this morning reminds us that success is not earned without hard work, joint effort and the coimnitment of energy and passion to strive. In seeking to build a nation and protect what many have worked in the past 112 years to achieve, we need to take action NOW. Native Hawaiians, throughout this nation and the world, must step forward to be counted. We are fast approaching 50,000 Kau Inoa registrations, and we have eight times that number to go if we are to achieve the levels of outreach to Native Hawaiians counted by Census 2000. We need to rebuild and reorganize our nation NOW. We cannot sit idly by and wait for others to do it for us. We must not let a few, disgruntled voices misrepresent our history. Nor ean we let loud voices of intimidation attempt to control the process. Individual personal agendas of self-service within our Hawaiian community must not be allowed to detract from moving toward the greater good. Lastly, on this commemorative day for Pearl Harbor, Dec.7, we are onee again reminded of the patriotism of people in Hawai'i over these decades of world eonflict. We know indigenous people nationwide serve in the U.S. military at rates higher than any other ethnic group in the U.S. We are respectful and proud of all of Hawai'i's daughters and sons who have served America with distinction over the years, some to whom we have said goodbye . . . in this very church. I challenge all Native Hawaiians, and non-Hawaiians who support us, to extend patriotism to the building of our Native Hawaiian nation. Let the prin-
ciples of self-determination be applied to the domestic agenda for Native Hawaiians. Our survival as a unique group of people, nurtured by culture and values millennia old, depends on our ability to withstand these legal attacks. The survival of the host Hawaiian culture, the foundation of our unique Hawai'i lifestyle and multi-dimensional eonununity, depends on the collective efforts of all of Hawai'i's people, kama'āina and malihini. In our journey to rectify the past, we eonhnue to be helped by many native people along the way, including Alaska Natives, Indian tribes and native nations across the U.S, native nations in the Pacific and other civil rights organizations throughout America. Alaska Natives and American Indians share their wisdom so we ean learn from their experiences. Therefore, in closing, I wish to use a quote from one of their leaders, Vine Deloria, a beloved Indian writer who died just a few weeks ago. In his book Custer Died for Your Sins, in discussing the years of mistreatment and injustice by the U.S., Mr. Deloria notes, "It is up to us to write the [next] chapter of the American Indian upon this continent." We, today, have the same opportunity to write the "next chapter" for the Native Hawaiian. Let us build a nation, a Native Hawaiian governing entity, with leaders and members who will go forward to reconcile past injustices and build for the future. Let us build a nation that embraces all Native
Hawaiians, wherever they reside. Let us build a Native Hawaiian nation that respects the many non-Hawaiians who eall Hawai'i home; who have embraced our host Hawaiian culture as theirs in the multicultural lifestyle that is unique to Hawai'i, remembering that the faces of our 21 st century 'ohana mirror all these cultures. When we have done all of this, charting justice for Native Hawaiians, aware of the challenges and significant strides of the last 112 years, crafting changes whieh remain to be done while being sensitive to the needs of all who eall Hawai'i home, we will have begun to write the next ehapter in Hawaiian history. We, eollectively coimnitted, ean and will make profound and magnificent progress, and it will be a story for and about Native Hawaiians of whieh we will all be proud. And finally, I want to say mahalo a nui loa to all the working hands of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, our staff and employees. Our foundation of work that serves Native Hawaiian beneficiaries is one built by your labor and dedication to the mission. On behalf of the OHA Board of Trustees and our coimnunity, we thank you and those who have supported our efforts. May 2006 and beyond continue to mark successful steps toward our promising future. No laila. . . I mua, e nā pōki'i, a inu i ka wai 'awa'awa. 'A'ohe hope e ho'i mai ai. Indeed there is no retreat. Mahalo and aloha! S
HA'I 'ŌLELO MĪKOLOLOHUA • KEYN0ĪE AD D RESS
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OHA trustees joined the congregation in singing "Kaulana Nō Puū" and "Hawai'i Aloha." - Phoīo: Ftancine Kananionāpua Murray