Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 3, 1 Malaki 2011 — LEGISLATIVE LIAISON'S REPORT: Native Hawaiians seek clarification on who are the indigenous people of these lands [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LEGISLATIVE LIAISON'S REPORT: Native Hawaiians seek clarification on who are the indigenous people of these lands

no 'ai kakou ... I would like to thank OHA's

Beneficiary i Advocacy and VEmpowerment

Committee Chair, Trustee John Waihe'e, for appointing me as one of two "Legislative Liaisons" for the 201 1 session. My primary duty is to gather information regarding legislative activities and other matters that may impact OHA and the Hawaiian Community. I look forward to putting my many years of lobbying experience

and strong relationships with legislators to good use. Two of the most important issues that I am working on are (1) Establishing State recognition for Native Hawaiians; and (2) Resolving the past-due ceded land payments from the State. STATE REC0GNITI0N The State Legislature has supported the reorganization of a Native Hawaiian governing entity in the 2000 and 2001 sessions by adopting two resolutions. The State has also recognized the likelihood of a reorganized Native Hawaiian governing entity by providing for the transfer of the island of Kahoolawe and its waters to the sovereign Native Hawaiian entity upon its recognition by the United States and the State of Hawaii (HRS, § 6K-9). Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), introduced by Senator Malama Solomon, suggests that one way for Hawaiians to succeed is to establish Native Corporations similar to those created for Native Alaskans. SB 1520, introduced by Senator Clayton Hee, establishes procedures for state recognition of a first-nation govemment similar to what is described in the Akaka bill, but at the state level. OHA supports the intent of these efforts and we have offered our suggested amendments to both Senators for consideration. I urge all those who support this effort to also submit their comments and suggestions to both Senator Hee's and Senator Solomon's offices. I also ask that everyone who is able to attend the Senate committee hearings on

both bills appear in person to testify or at the very least submit writ-

ten testimony to share their mana'o. PAST-DUE CEDED LANDS SETTLEMENT SB 984, part of the OHA Package of bills, seeks to have the State resolve its long overdue debt to OHA resulting from Puhlie Land Trust revenues unpaid from Nov. 7, 1978, to July 1,2010. If enacted, SB 984 will establish the debt at $200 mil-

lion minimally and provide for annual payments of at least $30 million beginning July 1, 2015, until the debt is paid. SB 984 would also require the State to pay interest to OHA beginning July 1, 2010. Instead of cash payments, the State Executive Branch could also substitute land (having the fair-market value of the cash for whieh the land is being substituted) for all or any part of the cash payments. The transfer of land could start as soon as July 1, 20 1 1, with OHA's approval. Senator Hee's 2009 legislation, SB 995, would have given OHA the right to choose from the following properties, among several others: (1) Kaka'ako Makai; (2) Kahana Valley and Beach Park; (3) La Mariana and Pier 60; (4) Heeia meadowlands; (5) Mauna Kea: Mauna Kea Scientific Reserve; (6) Waikiki Yacht Club; (7) Ala Wai Boat Harbor Complex; and (8) Kalaeloa Makai Even a few of these properties could generate all of the revenue OHA needs to operate indefinitely and would give our future nation the concrete assets it needs to serve the Hawaiian populahon. Aloha Ke Akua. ■ Interested in Hawaiian issues and OHA ? Please visit my web site at www. rowenaakana.org for more information or email me at rowenaa@oha.org.

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