Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 2006 — FEDERAL CANDIDATE SURVEY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FEDERAL CANDIDATE SURVEY

Although Washington, D.C„ may seem far away, Hawai'i's congressional representatives regularly make decisions that strongly

impact the Native Hawaiian community. Among these is the approval of more than $60 million per year in federal funds for Native Hawaiian heahh, education and social welfare programs. And there is the ongoing issue of federal recogni-

tion for Native Hawaiians, whieh may ultimately determine whether programs that solely benefit Hawaiians are held to be legal. To help Ka Wai Ola readers make informed choices in this yeai''s election, we asked the candidates for federal office to submit brief answers to tlri'ee key questions on Hawaiian issues at the federal level. REMEMBER TO VOTE ON NOV. 7!

QUESTIONS 1) Do you believe Native Hawaiians qualify for indigenous federal status similar to that afforded to Native American and Alaska Native groups? If so, what would you do to secure such status for Hawaiians? If not, why not? Background: Since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2000 decision in the Rice v. Cayetano case, in whieh the court declared the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Hawaiians-only elections to be unconstitutional, other lawsuits have sought the eliminahon of all programs solely benefiting Hawaiians as being illegally based on race. The heart of the matter is that Congress has never extended speeial poliheal status as an indigenous people to Native Hawaiians, as it has to Native Americans and Alaska Natives. For the past six years, Hawai'i's congressional delegation has endeavored to get measures granting such status passed, but their efforts have been blocked by lawmakers who feel that special status for Hawaiians

would be racially discriminatory. Some Native Hawaiian sovereignty groups have also opposed the measure as not going far enough to promote true Hawaiian self-governance. OHA's Board of Tmstees has strongly supported the federal recognition measures. 2) What are your views on efforts by Native Hawaiians to organize their own governing body? Background: With the efforts to gain federal recognition stalled, OHA has reapplied itself toward sponsoring a process through whieh Native Hawaiians could elect their own poliīieal body to represent their collective interests. Those elected to form such an entity would choose on behalf of their constituents what form the governing body would take, and whether or not to seek federal and state recognition. Many Native Hawaiian leaders feel that Hawaiians' laek of an accepted single poliheal entity has harmed efforts to seek justice

and reconciliation for the Hawaiian people. Over the last several decades, various groups have sought to form such an agreed-upon poliheal entity, but so far the efforts have not been successful. 3) Do you support continued federal funding for programs designed solely to benefit Native Hawaiians? If so, what would you do to safeguard such funding? If not, why not? Background: In the debate over federal recognition, it is has become clear that some federal lawmakers believe that all programs solely benefiting Native Hawaiians constitute illegal racial discrimination. In addition, there have been proposals by some lawmakers to drastically reduce or eliminate existing funding for Hawaiian programs. Two key pieces of federal legislation supporting such programs - the Native Hawaiian Education Act and the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act - are currently up for reauthorization by Congress.

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As the indigenous people of Hawai'i, Native Hawaiians do have an existing political and legal relationship with the United States. For six years, I have worked to enact S. 147, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act. This legislation would extend self-gover-nanee and self-determination to Native Hawaiians for the purpose of a government-to-government relationship, providing parity in federal policy between Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. I eonhnue to work with my colleagues to enact this legislation, whieh I strongly believe will help to unite and empower all of the people of Hawai'i to move forward, together, as a state. Indigenous status would harm Native Hawaiians just as federal status has harmed other indigenous peoples. In effect, federal status has created a dependency on the federal government such as the supervisory aspect of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Instead, those that have had title to lands should have those lands returned to them. Ceded lands and other lands controlled by the state should be auctioned to native Hawaiian people. Keep the government out of the equation. Yes. I ean work with the majority party in Congress to secure support.

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Native Hawaiians should be afforded the opportunity to reorganize a governing entity. It is of the utmost importance that this is done in a comprehensive manner at not only the state level, but initiated at the federal level. Rather than predetermine outcomes, I have worked carefully to ensure that the S. 147 reorganization process has both the structure and flexibility necessary for Native Hawaiians to eome together in a meaningful and effective way. The negotiation process is a democratic and inclusive process that will address the needs and concerns of all the people of Hawai'i, Native Hawaiian and non-Native Hawaiian. Initiate a plebiscite to determine whether the State of Hawai'i should secede from the United States. A government-within-a-govern-ment would create more confusion and more authoritarianism. So many Native Hawaiian groups elaim to be the true representative of the Hawaiian nation. I represented the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana for years and have the utmost respect for the members' abilities and the abilities throughout the Hawaiian community. I believe this decision is for Native Hawaiians to make.

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Throughout my congressional career, I have supported and secured federal funding for programs addressing the conditions of the Native Hawaiian community. Congress has treated Native Hawaiians in a manner similar to Native Americans and Alaska Natives through numerous statutes. Programs and services are based not on race, but on the existing relationship that the United States has with Native Hawaiians, as indigenous people. These programs provide jobs, contribute to our economy and enhanee the quality of life for all in Hawai'i. I will eonhnue working with my colleagues to adequately fund these programs and combat efforts to terminate them. I do not support programs to fund Native Hawaiians because it becomes another welfare program that creates dependency and freezes Native Hawaiians within a fixed ineome. Absolutely. If the courts strike down such programs, I will introduce legislation to reinstate these benefits. And I will be part of the majority party in the Senate, whieh gives me more authority and influence.

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ūaniel K. Akaka (D) Candidate U.S. Senata

Lloyd Jeffrey Mallan (L) Candidate U.S. Senata

Cynthia īhielen (R) Candidate U.S. Senata