Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 2, 1 February 2010 — We need to act now on the Akaka Bill [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

We need to act now on the Akaka Bill

Aloha mai kākou, As we approach another legislative session in Hawai'i and the resuming of Congress in D.C., we ean anticipate that Hawaiians will be faced with ongoing ehallenges in seeking passage of the Akaka Bill, resolution of the 30-plus-year ceded lands debt owed to OHA by the state and other issues affecting Hawaiians.

After 10 years the Akaka Bill is on the verge of finally getting there, but until the State Attorney General approves of the recent changes, it is uncertain whether Hawaiians as a people ean achieve the degree of self-determina-tion promised by the bill. OHA, not having been a player in the last iteration of the bill, nevertheless has sought to secure its passage within the parameters of endorsement by all the players. Of course we don't expect those who oppose the bill to change their positions and arguments of race-based legislation, blood quantum for selective Hawaiians and independence from the United States. We have been challenged in court, in Congress, in our own Legislature and in all puhlie forums; nevertheless, we continue to seek that whieh will be of most benefit to our people and we have prepared for the time that Hawaiians ean lift themselves up and gain control of their own destinies. The Akaka Bill, Kau Inoa, ceded lands iniīiatives and all of OHA's programs have set the framework for this to happen. And it ean happen soon. As we enter 2010, the political environment is fragile as U.S. Representative Abercrombie leaves the House, as the Congressional democratic majority is threatened and as the Governor and Attorney General seek to modify last-minute changes whieh could affect passage of the Akaka Bill especially if Congressional Republicans who now support the bill change their minds. Hawaiians need their support. To demand the Akaka amended

bill as is, with no state input, will plaee it in serious jeopardy. OHA continues to work for us all in seeking a resolution that will accommodate the concerns of all sides but foremost will pass Congress. And so it is important that we all stand together and support that whieh will help us as a people. Independents ean continue to argue their case in the United Nations and in the courts, but they stain their

integrity by collaborating with those who seek to eliminate us as the indigenous people of our own land as they stand hand in hand against a bill that seeks our legal recognition and preservation of us as a people. With recognition we will be able to expand our opportunities through a eoncentrated effort to educate our people and to prepare them to be economically self-sufficient and to benefit from the resources and culture we are seeking to preserve and utilize for our future and 'ohana. The OHA Eeonomie Conference, recently held and co-sponsored by the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, demonstrated that Hawaiians have many opportunities to succeed in life given an education and direction in the business arena. The federal government is willing to partner and assist in so many ways and increasingly with renewable energy. All we need to do is secure federal recognition to protect against lawsuits and then provide the information and education necessary to qualify for decent jobs that will sustain our families. OHA will continue to persist with pahenee. We will harness our passion with preparation. And we will advocate for power not to a government but to its people through participation by them in its creation and implementation. The time is now for the Akaka Bill to pass. Let's not delay any more. We must take what we ean now for the political winds are shifting and we need to act without delay. ■

Būyd P. Mūssman TrustEE, Maui