Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 2014 — EMPOWEK YOUR VOICE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EMPOWEK YOUR VOICE

URBAN HONOLULU CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1 / U.S. HOUSE

DJOU, CHARLES REPUBLICAN

Q1. I support recognition of a Native Hawaiian government,but such recognitionshouldonly eome through an act of Con-

gress and a vote of the people in Hawai'i. Enactment of such recognition by an administrative rule undermines democracy, cheapens Native Hawaiian recognition and makes any such act reversible at any time. Q2. I support improving access to guality health care for Native Hawaiians. When I served in Congress in 2010, I co-sponsored (along with Rep. Mazie Hirono) the Native Hawaiian Health Care lmprovement Reauthorization Act, whieh was designed to support the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians. The most effective means of assuring adeguate funding for Native Hawaiian programs is with a bipartisan Hawai'i congressional delegation. Congresswoman Pat Saiki, a Republican, convinced President George H.W. Bush to end the bombing of Kaho'olawe. I will bring a similar approach to ensure sufficient funding of Native Hawaiian programs and to ensure that the concerns of Native Hawaiians are heard by the House majority. If elected, I will never forget that I work for the people of Hawai'i.

TAKAI, MARK DEMOCRAT

Q1. I woulel like to applaud thecommitment to an open dialogue from all sides. I truly believethatthe Native Hawai-

ian people need to decide as a community how they wish to move forward. The role of our federal delegation is to facilitate the best conversation between the U.S. Government and the Hawaiian people. My role as Congressman will be to then implement whatever eonsensus is reached as efficiently and effectively as possible. Until they reach this consensus, I will continue to strongly support programs and initiatives that benefit Native Hawaiians if elected to Congress. Q2. The barriers to guality health care for Native Hawaiians primarily exist due to laek of adeguate funding for healthcare centers and health services. At the federal level, I will fight to obtain the funding that is needed in order to address these issues of guality care for Native Hawaiians. Tied into this is the fact that many Native Hawaiians serve in our military and are thus in the V.A. system. I have been a strong proponent for our veterans in the state Legislature, I was outraged when I found out about the issues plaguing the V.A. I have been working diligently to help rectify the situation for our veterans. The V.A. Reform Bill's passage was the first step in providing guality health care for our Native Hawaiian veterans and I would continue to support legislation like this in Congress.

RURAL Q'AHU-NEIGHBOR ISLANDS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2 / U.S. HOUSE

CROWLEY, KAWIKA REPUBLICAN

Q1. The American government was complicit in ' the illegal overthrow of a sitting Queen ' whose sover-

eign nation was in existence for nearly 75 years with treaties with nations across the globe. Today, the American government needs to right the wrong by mandating a portion of land back to the Hawaiian people and their elected leaders, thereby creating a nation-within-a-nation status...read my powerful section on "Sovereignty" on my website, Kawika4Congress.com...it will fully answer the above guestion as well. Q2. Did not know there were any barriers.

GABBARD, TULSI * DEMOCRAT

Q1. Native Hawaiians, as indigenous people, have waited too long for the federal recognition they deserve.

I recently joined Hawai'i's congressional delegation to support federal action that will facilitate the re-establishment of a government-to-government relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiian community. I will continue to work with our community leaders to determine the best path forward for Native Hawaiians to achieve self-determination. I will also continue the fight to protect the critical programs that serve our Native Hawaiian community. Q2. I will support federal funding for Native Hawaiian health systems so that successful programs whieh serve the community may continue, and also initiate innovative ideas to reduce health disparities and strengthen community outcomes in a culturally sensitive way. I will work with our Community Health Centers to ensure they have the resources they need to serve their patient population, many of whom are Native Hawaiian. Replicating and expanding the implementation of School-Based Community Health Centers like the one in Kahuku is another way to ensure that our keiki are able to receive basic health care, highlighting the importance of a healthy lifestyle for our next generation. Advocating for creative avenues for affordable health care will not only increase access to care but also help reduce some of the health disparities facing Native Hawaiians today.

KENT, JOSEPH LIBERTARIAN

Q1. I don't believethat the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is the same thing as the Native Hawaiian eommunity. From

what I understand, the Native Hawaiian community did not approve of the Department of the lnterior giving a special government status to OHA. All people have the same rights not to be aggressed against by any government entity. Q2. The best way to serve the health-care needs of everyone, whether they are Hawaiian or not, is to provide a health-care market. Creating a Veterans Affairs Hospital for Hawaiians will not provide competition, but will bring all the problems that we're already seeing in the VA healthcare system.