Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 12, 1 December 2012 — VOICES OF UNITY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

VOICES OF UNITY

Anyone who questions Native Hawaiians' ability to run their own government had only to witness the Association of Hawaiian Civic Club's 53rd annual Convention to know better. Held in Washington, D.C., the AOHCC convention bore witness that Hawaiians are "ready, willing, able and qualified" to take the reins of self-governance. The feeling of empowerment reverberated throughout the weeklong convention, Oct. 14-21, in speeches, song and drama, on the convention floor and at a stirring display on the National Mall. Former Gov. John Waihe'e, addressing the delegation as "the heirs of Prince Kūhiō," founder of the Hawaiian civic clubs, underscored the patriotic mood in his keynote address on Hawai'i's unrelinquished sovereignty. "All of us know that Prince Kūhiō was a delegate to the United States Congress," said Waihe'e. "What some of us may forget was that being a delegate to the United States Congress was not his first ehoiee. His first ehoiee was to restore the Hawaiian government." AOHCC Pelekikena (president) Soulee Stroud, in a post-convention interview, remarked on the parallel between the clubs, where convention delegates are allocated based on total membership, and the U.S.

House of Representatives. "The model of representation, I think, is an important model to look toward in this future formation of this governing entity," said Stroud, the first AOHCC president from the Mainland Council. "I believe that our membership is ready, willing, able and qualified to step into those positions representing their communities, their districts, however the apportionment is formulated." OHA Chief Executive Officer Kamana'opono Crabbe, speaking on kūkulu hou (rebuilding) and "re-establishing ourselves as kānaka," was impassioned. "We are the indigenous people of Hawai'i, to our birth sands, our homeland, and we all must understand that. "I think that's very important not only because it connects us, but we have gone through so mueh political, social, cultural changes in Hawai'i that other people begin to own Hawai'i as their own, and we do not step up and say, 'No, this is our homeland.' And onee we begin to change and adopt that mindset, we no longer are passive, we've heeome active with the process of political engagement." Dee Jay Mailer, Kamehameha Schools CEO, delighted the delegates with a sneak peak at a "mash-up" music video of Hawai- SEE V0IGES ON PAGE 12

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A REP0RT FR0M THE ASS0CIATI0N 0F HĀWĀIIĀN CIVIC CLURS C0NVENTI0N IN WASHINGT0N, D.C. Stories and photos by Mary Aliee Milham

OHA Ka Pouhana Kamana'opono Crabbe, fourth from left, and his executive manager, Kealoha Fox, sixth from left, greetAssociation of Hawaiian Civic Club leadership atthe convention.

V0ICES

Continued from page 5 ian musieians singing Liko Martin's ieonie anthem" 'Onipa'a Kākou" (All Hawai'i Stand Together), along with "haole brownies" made lfom serateh by the hotel kitehen, and coffee grown on a KS graduates' farm OHA trustees did the honors of presenting Kukui Lama Kū awards to inspirational kūpuna: Ululani Keli'ikoa Sherlock, Henry Halenani Gomes (posthumously), Marilyn Leimomi Khan, Victor Kaiwi Pang, Anthia Oi Lan Ho Austin, Nathan Napoka and Rogerlyn Ihiihinuilauakeai'iwahineokamau na Lauwaeomaka Kaneali'i Wakinekona. In action on the convention floor, 58 resolutions were debated, 48 of whieh were adopted or adopted as amended, including 12-7, urging the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to begin the process of establishing a Ananeial plan for underwriting the

cost of Hawaiian Nation building, and 12-22, calling for recognition of Hawaiian nationals as an authentic population residing lawfully in the Hawaiian Islands. Other demonstrations of patriotism included the Kū'ē name sign display, visited by hundreds of tourists and delegates, and "Ali'i Diplomatic Missions Tours" of historic sites where Hawaiian ali'i lodged and worked while negotiating treaties and defending Hawaiian rights. Perhaps the most popular activity was the 'Aha Mele sing-along featuring an all-star band led by Aaron Mahi, former longtime bandleader of the Royal Hawaiian Band, and beloved mele, especially mele lāhui (patriotic songs), including "Nā Ali'i," "Oli Aloha No Lili'uokalani," "He Mele Lāhui Hawai'i," "Le ahi Daimana Hila," "Ka Na'i Aupuni, "Kaulana Nā Pua" and "Aloha Kalaniana'ole." Toni Lee, a past president of the association, said the 'Aha Mele was what the early civic club organizers had always hoped.

"We couldn't have asked for more or even better musicians," said Lee. Kanikapila, whieh happened nightly in a section of hotel lobby that expanded and grew as the week went on, were heartily enjoyed by delegates as well as hotel guests of the JW Marriott, the site of the convention. Another popular activity was paddling on the Potomac, outrigger-canoe tours sponsored by Papa Ola LAkahi and led by expert paddlers lf om Ānuenue Canoe Club of Waikīkl. The association delegates also elected their executive board for 20 1 32014. Soulee Stroud, Hui Hawai'i O Utah, was re-elected as president. Annelle Amaral, 'Ahahui Slwila O Hawai'i O Kapolei, wasre-electedfiBt vice president. Lui Hokoana, Central Maui, was elected second vice president, and Paul Richards, Waimānalo, was elected treasurer. ■

Mary Aliee Kaiuīani Miīham, a Portland, Oregon-based freelance joumalist, is a former newspaper reporter and columnist from California's Central Coast.

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