Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 6, 1 June 2015 — Marginalized voices share common thread [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Marginalized voices share common thread

Aloha mai from Kaua'i and Ni'ihau! I would first like to thank our beneficiaries who attended the Community and Board of Trustees meetings held on Kaua'i last month! They both went smoothly and it was great to hear the mana'o of our eommunity being shared with the rest of the Trustees and staff, who don't often get the opportunity to enaaae

our neighbor island beneficiaries directly. Mueh Mahalo to Hui Maka'āinana O Makana for hosting us and for the nā mea'ai 'ono! Many topics of interest and valid concems were raised at the meetings, in addition to other numerous issues that are brought to my attention on a regular basis by our beneficiaries. First, the proposed expansion of the Humphaek Whale Sanctuary here on Kaua'i. There are a number of people on both sides of this issue raising sound points for and against the expansion. I am conducting fact-finding on the matter in order to better answer questions that have been brought to my attention, such as the specifics of the project, and I am optimistic that ultimately we ean eome to a conclusion as a eommunity. I believe it is important to further inquire about the impacts of this effort and whether it has longterm benefits for Kaua'i, our loeal communities and shorelines, and moreover how it may impact the other islands as well. Other recurring issues being presented to me are the TMT and Mauna a Wākea, the Ho'opili and Koa Ridge projects (both large housing developments on productive agricultural lands) on O'ahu and their pending lawsuits, and the Hā'ena Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area rules (whieh, if signed by the governor, would establish resource protections to specifically perpetuate place-based traditional and customary Native Hawaiian fishing practices.) I mention these all at onee because there

is a VERY Common Thread here . . . and that is "Resource Management." OHA has long been an advocate for the protection of land and natural resources and the rights of our beneficiaries, however it seems that many related issues are coming to a head simultaneously. This is alarming ! I find it alarming because you have the examples mentioned above in whieh small

pockets of organizations and community members have participated in the process throughout eaeh of these projects. In the case of TMT, the Ho'opili and Koa Ridge projects, many of our beneficiaries have been opposed to the projects. In the case of Hā'ena that community has been working through the procedures for 20 years trying to get rules approved. In all instances our communities have participated as instructed, have been patient and yet have been stalled in their efforts at some point. In the case of the development projects, the concerns raised fell on deaf ears. In Hā'ena, a 20-year process of rulemaking is now sitting on the Governor's desk awaiting approval for nearly nine months. What are we doing wrong? Why is this process that is supposed to work for the protection of our resources doing the exact opposite? I believe it is time that WE at OHA along with ALL of our community begin to ask very real questions about why the voices of the people are marginalized in these processes? I believe we will find the answer to that question in eaeh of our voices. As a start, and as all of these issues very rapidly pile up, it is time that we as a Lāhui raise our voices and seek change and solutions in a very large and organized fashion. I believe it is starting to happen, so stay maka'ala and be ready when you hear the pū ! Mahalo! ■

Dan Ahuna

VicE Chair, TrustEE, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau