Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 11, 1 November 1989 — 'We have heard the voices of the people' [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'We have heard the voices of the people'

Blueprint meetings extended

By Ann L. Moore As a direct result of concerns voiced by the Native Hawaiian community, the board of trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has extended the informational hearing schedule for the Blueprint. Chairman of the OHA trustees, Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr., said "We have heard the voicesof the people and we are responding to their wishes. We are extending the informational meetings, in addition to community meetings, over the coming year."

At the meetings, information will be provided, questions answered and spoken or written testimony will be weleome. These meetings will be held well into 1990, trustees said. The chairman said trustees want to provide the native Hawaiian community with an opportunity to understand, discuss and comment on the OHA draft Blueprint for Native Hawaiian Entitlements. In addition, trustees decided to seek opportunities to meet with small groups of 10 or more, in informal settings, to get their feed-back on the Blueprint. "We are willing to go to coffee hours; to meet with any group that wants to hear from us," Kaulukukui said. "The trustees want to be sure the Blueprint reflects the wishes of all the Hawaiian community." Any club, group or organizations interested in such a presentation and informational meeting is asked to contact the Blueprint coordinator at the OHA office on O'ahu (946-2642) or any liaison office on the neighbor islands. Trusteesdecided to

look into arranging for Hawaiian-to-English translators to be available for people who would feel more comfortable sharing their mana'o in Hawaiian. Trustees learned of reactions by Native Hawaiians to the recently distributed draft Blueprint in a debriefing of OHA volunteer facilitators who conducted the informational meetings throughout the islands and on the mainland. The chairman attended the debriefing at the Honolulu office. Facilitators said several things were eommon to

every informational meeting: • An insistence by the people that this is a time for unity in the Hawaiian community and that various groups should set aside their differences, seek eommon ground and work together for the good of the people. • A feeling that the schedule for the adoption of a fina! Blueprint is too short. People told staffers they want more time for study of the draft, more informational meetings and earlier notice of the

meetings, before trustees take any action on a final Blueprint. In addition, some expressed the feeling the document should be translated into Hawaiian for those who are uncomfortable with complex documents in English. Richard Paglinawan, OHA administrator, and Jalna Keala, head of the OHA Government Affairs Division, reported on their visit to the mainland. They said mainland Hawaiians do not want to be left out of decisions and although theyhad toleave

the islands for eeonomie or professional reasons, they maintain their Hawaiian lifestyle and culture and are worried they may not be listened to when decisions are made. Mainland Hawaiians, Keala and Paglinawan said, are hungry for information. Both mentioned that many Operation 'Ohana volunteer registrars were signed up and many 'Ohana registrations were made. Some Hawaiians drove three or four continued on page 19

Hawai'i was represented in Belgium by this float in the commemorative parade for Father Damien held in September. Prince Albert of Belgium stood to applaud the fioat when it passed.

Participants reported perfect weather and great aloha from the Belgian people for the Hawai'i visitors.

Blueprint

/rom page 1 hours to attend a meeting and then faced the late night drive home. None left the meetings early, Keala said. "They are eager for information," she noted. Chairman Kaulukukui was advised, at the debriefing, that people are concerned that they are not getting enough information on the issues of self-government or "sovereignty," that people are not clear on the issue of blood quantum versus single definition, and about the provisions of the Hawaiian Homes Act and the ceded lands.

At the end of the debriefing, Kaulukukui said he would convey the information to the full board. The board's subsequent action (extending the time frame and the scope of meetings to include small groups) was a direct result of the community input obtained by the facilitators at the meetings.