Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 36, Number 8, 1 Malaki 2019 — Hawaiian Caucus Week [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian Caucus Week

EA GOVERNANCE

The Hawai'i State Legislature's Native Hawaiian Caucus Co-Chairs, Senator Jarrett Keohokalole and Representative Daniel Holt, along with 43 of their colleagues, sponsored Hawaiian Caucus Week February 4-8. They began the week by honoring community leaders that have contributed to the advancement of Native Hawaiians. Honorees included the students in the 'A'ali'i program at Nānākuli High and Intermediate School, the CEO of CNHA Joseph Kūhiō Lewis, Kūpuna Ululani Beirne, the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai'i and the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu. The weeklong festivities culminated with Hawaiian Caucus day with over 200 students an 50 Native Hawaiian serving organizations gathered to educate lawmakers and the public about Native Hawaiian issues. It was also a day to celebrate the birthday of Princess Ruth Ke'elikōlani, Mahina 'Ōlelo Hawai'i and the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu's 100 years of service as the oldest Hawaiian community-based grass roots organization. Hawaiian Caucus day ended with the Governor proclaiming 2019 as the "Year of Indigenous Languages" following the United Nations General Assembly declaration. ■ -Ka Wai Ola Staff

Clockwise from lop right: Highlights from Hawaiian Caucus Week. Above: At the close of the week, 'Olelo Hawai'i educators and advocates stood wilh memhers of the legislature as Gov. David lge proclaimed 2019 as the "Year of lndigenous Languages."- Photos: Courtesy of the Onke of the Gomnor