Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 5, 1 May 1989 — OHA Master Plan Sets Priorities For Agency [ARTICLE]

OHA Master Plan Sets Priorities For Agency

TTie Office of Hawaiian Affairs published its revised master plan in late 1988. It contains amended goals, objectives and policies to guide the agency in its overall mission of bettering the conditions of the Hawaiian people. Ka Wai Ola O OHA is publishing major portions of the plan in several installments. In this fifth and final part, we publish the prioritized objectives of the OHA Master Plan. "The OHA Master Plan," Part V, Last of a Series Priorities The members of the Board of Trustees of OHA recognize that OHA's mandate covers a broad area and that the needs of the Hawaiian people are very great. The Board would like to support a diverse range of programs and activities that will meet the needs of Hawaiians, but realizes that current resources make it impossible for OHA to adequately address all areas of need. In order to achieve meaningful impact in any area, priorities were developed. If priorities were not established, OHA would only be able to provide token support to a larger number of areas, thus having a significantly small impact. A laek of priorities would also result in only the appearance of attention to the need rather than effectively addressing it, thus leading to frustration on the part of the Hawaiian people and the perception that OHA is not accomplishing meaningful results. Therefore, the OHA Board of Trustees has grouped the preceding objectives into four categories according to intensity of focus. The four categories and their associated objectives in order of priority follow. The objectives deemed to be most urgent are those whieh will build OHA's pool of resources to meet the needs of the Hawaiian people. These include: Objective 4.3 To clarify, preserve, protect, and obtain full entitlement and benefits of all Hawaiians. Objective 4.7 To pursue a single definition of Native Hawaiian without reference to a blood quantum, and to provide appropriate protections to guarantee the rights and privileges of current Hawaiian Homes beneficiaries. Objective 4.1 To address the issue of Hawaiian

reparations so that within 10 years, the United States Congress acts affirmatively on reparations legislation. Objective 4.6 To receive OHA's full entitlements and generate its own revenues so that OH A will be fully self-sufficient. Objective 3.3 To establish and implement a mechanism to empower Na Po'e Hawai'i to participate in the social, cultural, eeonomie, and poliheal systems within 10 years. Those objectives whieh encourage full participation in society are the next most urgent. These include: Objective 3.1 To stimulate and assist Hawaiians to participate in government so that in 10 years, the Hawaiian people will have recognized influence at all levels of government. Objective 3.2 To keep all levels of govemment informed of Hawaiian community needs and concerns so that in 10 years, OHA is the recognized representative of the Hawaiian people. Objective 4.2 To establish and maintain clearinghouse functions, including but not limited to those as defined in Chapter 10 so that in 10 years, OHA is recognized as the primary clearinghouse for Hawaiian matters. Objective 4.4 To maintain a positive image for OHA, thus reflecting a positive image of the Hawaiian community so that in 10 years, a majority of the populahon in Hawai'i perceives OHA in apositive light. The third category in order of urgency includes these objectives whieh impact on other programs and agencies in meeting the needs of the Hawaiian people, and will generate activities that are ongoing. This includes: Objective 2.1 To promote and assist fulfillment of basic physical and mental health needs of Hawaiians so that in 10 years, the percentage of Hawaiians who seek and do not receive health care is reduced from 18% to 10%. Objective 2.2 To promote opportunities for Hawaiians to obtain safe, sanitary, and livable housing in environments that accommodate the needs and desires of families and individuals so that in 10 years, the percentage of Hawaiians who seek and do not receive housing services is reduced from 25% to 15%. Objective 2.3 To assist in improving social condi-

tions of Hawaiians by addressing issues such as poverty, alienation, crime, and physical and substance abuse so that in 10 years, the share of Hawaiians in those undesirable social conditions decreases. Objective 2.4 To assure provision of a variety of educational opportunities to enable individuals to fulfill their needs, responsibilities, and aspirations so that in 10 years, Hawaiians are half-way to achieving parity in educational attainment. Objective 2.5 To assure opportunities for eeonomie self-sufficiency and ehoiee in the manner of providing for self and family. The fourth category consists ofthose objectives whieh enhanee Hawaiian culture aOd values and generate activities that are on-going: Objective 1.1 To provide a comprehensive range of activities within 10 years, whieh will promote, finance, and stimulate Hawaiian art and culture. Objective 1.2 To promote and maintain Hawaiian as a living language and literature so that in 10 years, 100% more than the current minimum estimate of 2,000 Hawaiians who are native speakers speak and read their mother tongue. Objective 1.3 To support and assist individuals, agencies, organizations, andcommissionsresponsible for Hawaiian events and ceremonies. Objective 1.4 To assist and encourage the eonservation and culturally responsive management of historic and culturally significant Hawaiian sites and natural resources to prevent further destruction. Objective 1.5 To develop, advocate, and support a greater understanding of traditional and contemporary Hawaiian religious practices and rites, and protocol so that in 10 years, information on these is widely available. Objective 1.6 To advocate and support the traditional uses of land and associated rights such as water and gathering rights. Objective 1.7 To encourage Hawaiian scholars to write and publish documents on Hawaiian history based on a full understanding of basic Hawaiian values and culture. Objective 4.5 To support and cooperate with other native peoples in the United States and throughout the wor!d to achieve respective goals so that in 10 years, reciprocal assistance is initiated on a number of native issues.