Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 4, 1 April 2014 — A call for unity at nation-building summit [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A call for unity at nation-building summit

By Harold Nedd Hawaiian leaders pressed their eall for unity at a statewide summit designed to adopt an ambitious set of goals to provide a jolt of energy to Hawaiian nation building. Called Kāmau a Ea, the two-day summit brought together about 70 leading thinkers on Hawaiian sovereignty for lively discussions around such topics as establishing a nation under the state of Hawai'i, working to achieve recognition as a nation within the United States, and seeking to restore a Hawaiian nahon that onee stood independently among an international family of nations. In work sessions at the summit, leading voices made strong and impassioned pleas supporting the need to remedy harm caused by the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, including the seizure of 1.8 million acres of lands that belonged to the Hawaiian Kingdom government and Queen Lili'uokalani. The summit was the third in a series organized by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and followed the

agency 's puhlie announcement about facilitating a process that empowers its beneficiaries to participate in building a governing entity. "There is a strong feeling that now is the time to move forward unified to achieve all paths of recognition at the state, federal and international levels, and a confidence in OHA's role to facilitate the process," said Davianna McGregor, a professor of ethnic studies at the University of Hawai'i who facilitated one of mulhple group discussions at the summit. Miehelle Ka'uhane, president and CEO of the nonprofit Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, was not bashful about her excitement over the summit. "It was perhaps the most productive dialogue from all the positions on self-governance that I've participated in ever." Others like Skippy Ioane, a selfdescribed fisherman, meehanie and community organizer from Hawai'i Island, called the summit encouraging. "The fact that we were all together in one plaee was historic. I feel hopeful." For Umi Sexton, a musician and well-known Hawaiian activist, OHA's promise to remain objective was a key factor in his decision to

participate. "In the past, OHA has failed us as a people on this issue," said Sexton, who gave a favorable report on the group discussion he facilitatedduring the summit. "This time I would like for OHA to remain unattached and allow us as people to lead this process." Dennis Ragsdale, a Hawaiian activist who is the self-described advocate general for the Kingdom of Hawai'i and the Order of Kamehameha I, echoed that sentiment. "We attended to make sure the reinstatement process is done correctly," Ragsdale said. "If not, we will formally object to any defective and flawed process." In his remarks that opened the summit, Kamana'opono Crabbe, Ka Pouhana, chief executive officer, at OHA, acknowledged that most of the agency's efforts in the past have gone into supporting federal recognition. Looking ahead, OHA is prepared to put additional efforts into exploring options for forwarding international claims, including organizing a symposium that would feature the insights of recommended leaders in that particular field.

"What makes this different from past OHA efforts is our commitment to stay neutral during the entire process," Crabbe said. Rupert Rowe, retired fire fighter and self-described po'o of a heiau and ancient Hawaiian village project in Po'ipū called Kāneiolouma, took comfort in this approach. "I believe OHA has taken a better position by letting the people lead this process," said Rowe, who participated in the summit. OHA's approach has also won critical support for the process from such high-profile figures in the Hawaiian sovereignty movement as Bumpy Kanahele, known as the head of state for the Nation of Hawai'i, and Walter Ritte, a Hawaiian activist on Moloka'i since the 1960s. "I hope everybody (will) take this process and own it," Kanahele said. "My participation in this process is about saving our natural resources," Ritte said. "If Hawaiians aren't in control of Hawai'i, we will lose all of our resources."

In an interview, state Rep. Faye Hanohano, who actively participated in group discussions during the summit, made her view clear: "I'm glad OHA is taking this initiative to give us an opportunity to discuss our views." Lei Klhoi, who has been active in the Native Hawaiian community for more than 25 years and facilitated group discussions during the summit, described her experience as a real eye-opener. ' 'I learned a lot from the individuals who were in my group," Klhoi said. "I got good perspective on implementing and restoring the nation." Other participants expressed appreciation for the summit's ability to put Hawaiian leaders face to face with eaeh other to help mend the famously fractious relationships caused by statehood in 1959. "There is only one thing we all ean do," said Nelson Armitage, a general contractor and Hawaiian community leader on Maui, "and that is the right thing." A

^ EA www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org GOVERNANCE NATiVE HAWAiiAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

OHA Ka Pouhana, CE0 Kamana'opono Crabbe opened the Kōmau a Ea Summit on Hawaiian Governance, where an array of Hawaiian leaders participated in the discussion on March 1 4 and 1 5. - Photos: OHA Communications