Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, 1 March 1982 — SURVEY TO AID NATIVE HAWAIIAN STUDY COMMISSION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SURVEY TO AID NATIVE HAWAIIAN STUDY COMMISSION

T M. he Office of Hawaiian Affairs eonducted a series of nineteen informational meetings throughout the state in late December and early January. The purpose of those meetings was to inform the Hawaiian community about the Native Hawaiian Study Commission, to encourage Hawaiians to testify at the statewide hearings whieh the Commission had scheduled for early January, and to inform and gain consensus from the Hawaiian community in support of OHA's position that the root cause of our problems as Hawaiians resulted from the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893; furthermore, that this wrongful act and the subsequent disenfranchisement of our people from their land has had a continuing effect on the Hawaiian people. As a result, Hawaiians continue to be economically, socially, politically, and culturally disadvantaged. The response of the Hawaiian people at our community meetings to this position, and the participation and testimony given at the NHSC hearings was excellent. Since that time, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been conducting further research and is currently in the process of preparing written testimony and recommendations whieh will be submitted to the Native Hawaiian Study Commission for its consideration in drafting its report of findings to Congress. In an effort to gather further mana'o from the Hawaiian people, OHA, in eo-

operation with Alu Like, ine., the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and the Council of Hawaiian Organizations (COHO) whose membership includes the A.L.O.H.A. Association, Hui Mālama Aina O Kahana, Hui Mālama Āina O Koolau, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, The Hawaiians, Friends of Kamehameha, and Kamehameha Alumni Association has developed a survey questionnaire whieh ean be found onpage 4 of this issue. We are asking every Hawaiian who receives the OHA newspaper to eomplete the survey and return it as soon as possib!e. The results of the survey will assist OHA in preparing its testimony for the Native Hawaiian Study Commission and in formulating future plans. To assist you in completing the questionnaire, we have included for your information and reference on page 3, two articles whieh are designed to provide basic facts and background information on topics whieh are directly related to the survey questions. In order to meet the Commission's timetable for the receipt of testimony, we would appreciate receiving the completed questionnaire by Apnl 26, 1982. This will allow sufficient time for compiling and analyzing the results. The findings and recommendations whieh the Native Hawaiian Study Commission presents to Congress will affect all Hawaiians. It is therefore critically important that we receive your mana'o.