Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 2, 1 March 1984 — from the Chairman's Desk [ARTICLE]

from the Chairman's Desk

(Editor's Note: Chairman Joseph Kealoha recently returned from Washington, D.C., where on Mar. 2! he testified before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs. A portion of that testimony appears helow.) Federal assistance to Hawaiians has been pieeemeal and sporadic. But we believe that Congress may help solve this problem by allowing equal access to federal programs available to other Native Americans, such as the lndians. According to research conducted by the Congressional Research Service, there are only a handful of statutes that specifically refer to "Native Hawaiians." On the other hand, there are numerous programs specifically for Indians, including those for vocational training, health care improvement, selfdetermination and education. Many of these programs would be equally valuable to Hawaiians. For example, among the findings of the NHEAP Report is that Hawaiian and Indian children experience similar problems. Therefore, one of the recommendations is to implement tutoring, counseling and cultural studiessimilarto those conducted underthe Indian Education Act. OH A urges Congress to include Native Hawaiians in the definition of Native Amenean for the purpose of allowing eligibility in all programs affected by such definition. We further urge Congress to earmark funds specifically for Hawaiians within these Native Amenean programs. Equal access to federal programs will greatly increase the resources available to address needs of Hawaiians. In summary, there are numerous problems and needs of the Hawaiians that should be addressed comprehensively. Although we strongly support Congress' various attempts at assisting Hawaiians, such as authorizing the Native Hawaiian Education Assessment Project, we believe that one important measure that needs to be taken is the inclusion of Hawaiians into programs that are available to other Native Americans. We believe this not only because our needs are great, but also because Hawaiians have the same trust relationship with the United States as other Native Americans. We also believe that when the Hawaiians do become eligible for all Native Amenean programs, that there should be increased funding so that Hawaiians are not taking from what is already available to other Native Hawaiians. I thank you for this opportunity to share with you information that will, hopefully, give you a good idea of who we are, what our problems are, how we believe you may help us and why we believe the federal government should recognize Native Hawaiians as Native Americans.

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By Joseph Kealoha OHA C'hairman, Maui Trustee