Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 5, 1 Mei 2010 — Accord marks new rela tionship for Army, Native Hawaiians [ARTICLE]

Accord marks new rela tionship for Army, Native Hawaiians

Leaders of the U.S. Army and the Native Hawaiian community have signed a new symbolic accord to forge positive relations. The first-of-its-kind Native Hawaiian Covenant is a pledge between the parties to promote mutual respect and understanding. Speakers at the March 24 signing ceremony at Fort DeRussy included Col. Matthew Margotta, commander of the U.S. Army Gar-rison-Hawai'i, Maj. Gen. Miehael J. Terry, commanding general of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, and Neil Hannahs of Kamehameha Schools. According to a news release by the USAG-Hawai'i, Hannahs said that the agreement marked a tuming point for Kanaka Maoli, "who have endured events that pushed our eulture to the brink of extinction." "We are dedicated to remember our past and perpetuate our traditions," he said. "But we realize that it is equally important to turn our focus toward the horizon and navigate our way to a world in whieh relationships and outcomes are as we would wish them to be." Hannahs is a member of the U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai'i's Native Hawaiian Advisory Council organized last year by the Army to assist in brokering the new covenant. OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona and OHA Chief Operating Officer Stanton Enomoto joined with other prominent members of the Hawaiian community to witness the signing of the covenant. The ceremony featured a presentation of ho'okupu by the Royal Order of Kamehameha I and the planting of an 'ulu tree to symbolize harmony.

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