Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 10, 1 October 2010 — OZ STENDER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OZ STENDER

1. The single issue of eoneem facing today's Native Hawaiians that most concerns me is the quality of life of many. Research often shows that many of our people rank highest among the incarcerated, uneducated, substance abusers, unemployed, uninsured

and without heahh care, and homeless. It saddens and frustrates me that we continue to be challenged in this area. With limited resources, the ability to address these issues is daunting. OHA must continue its efforts to settle the ceded lands situation between the indigenous Hawaiians, the State, the City and County, and the Federal Government. Settling this matter will give us the financial means that will help us build the eeonomie base necessary to provide funds to address these concerns. 2. If the Native Hawaiian Reorganization Act (aka the Akaka bill) becomes law, our Hawaiian beneficiaries will realize help from our Federal Government that will allow us to build stronger programs, make provisions for our people and build a stronger Hawaiian community. A stronger Hawaiian community means a stronger Hawai'i for all. Personally, I feel that even if the Bill does not pass, OHA should begin a process of fonning a Native Hawaiian governing entity. OHA must eontinue to work with our Hawaiian communities in order to know how they want to be governed and what the new governing entity should look like. The work should begin now; OHA should be the body that guides the process that will bring us to the plaee the majority of Hawaiians want to be. We must continue to seek the knowledge and the wishes of our Hawaiian people in our Hawaiian communities. In order to be a successful government, we must all put our differences aside and must work together for the greater good of our people; OHA cannot do this alone nor do they want to. 3. With regard to the ceded lands issue that was raised earlier, I would like to first say that I am sorely disappointed SEE STENDER 0N PAGE 6

STEI\IDER Continued from page 5

that the State of Hawai'i legislative body has chosen not to bring closure and resolve to this very significant issue. The delay of 30 years without resolution or solution has and continues to penalize our Hawaiian people. Funds received for the ceded lands would have provided OHA with the means to address the many social and eeonomie issues we continue

to face on a daily basis. By refusing to resolve the issue, the State is in breach of its fiduciary duty as mandated by the Hawai'i State Constitutional Convention of 1978. Over these many years, OHA has offered a number of options for settlement to our legislative body; but they have yet to respond to OHAs proposals for settlement. First, I would like to see the settlement of the delinquent payment (past due amounts) along with the amounts owing be settled by the transfer of lands to OHA or a combination of land and cash with the costs to be funded by the State's general obligation lands or time payments of cash; the cash portion could be funded by the State general obligation bonds or time payments of cash. If elected, the issues discussed will become a priority; the Hawaiian people will become priority; and the future of our people will become a priority. I encourage all Hawaiians to step forward and be a part of the solution as we move ourselves toward a brighter future. Please help me help you. It has been a privilege to serve all of you for the last 10 years, and I look forward to at least another four years of working with and serving you. Mālama pono.