Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 3, 1 March 1985 — OHA Involvement [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Involvement

By Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr. T rustee-at-Large

During a recent criminal justice worksbop at the Ala Moana Ameneana Hotel, former Family Court Judge Barry Rubin suggested that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs should take under its wings those Hawaiians and part Hawaiian youths who run afoul of the law. His suaaestion was that

OHA should step in and try to work with these kids before the court system gets hold of them. As chairman of the OHA Human Resources Committee under whieh the crime eomfind some merit in his suggestion. Judge Rubin, who now heads the state public defender's office, envisions OHA involving the youths in some culture typ>e of project. His suggestion includes ho'oponopono within an ohana type atmosphere to ascertain where the youths went wrong, why and family background, including home life and education. If you've been reading the daily newspapers, you probably eame across a report that OHA was vying to be owner of the old Agee house deep in Manoa valley. The enme committee visited the plaee Feb. 13 and members eame away impressed at its possibilities. We fee! this is where OHA ean carry out Judge Rubin's suggestion. Working with youths would be only one type of project OHA would be involved in at the Agee plaee. I'm sure there will be many other programs that ean be carried out there. The committee — Kayo Chung, Winona Rubin, Abe Kapana, Ralph Aona, Rev. Abraham Akaka, John Sharpe and Elaine Mullaney — are also warm on Judge Rubin's suggestion. They agree with the idea and feel it is workable. Many of our beneficiaries probably don't know this but OHA has been very mueh involved with youths in another phase of the crime committee called street law diversionary program. In this program, OHA works with Family Court and together with the Council on Legal Education for Youth they jointly initiate a Iaw-related education program. Juveniles are referred to Family Court for a misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor or a violation other than third degree assault and second degree negligent homicide. Diverted Hawaiian juveniles, who numbered 37 percent of the 666 juveniles referred to family court in 1983, are required to attend 24 hours of class scheduled on Saturdays or after school. The practical law curriculum includes school laws, juvenile law, criminal law, drug laws and other areas of the law whieh focus on citizen rights and responsibilities. The program also interjects Hawaiian culture and customs, the pride of being Hawaiian and respecting others. lnstructions also include fīeld trips to appropriate sites and extensive use of community resources and speakers. Examples are the Honolulu Poliee Department ride-a!ongs and courtroom visitations. These are only two areas where OHA has been and is involved in youth work involving Hawaiians. We are continuing our efforts in working with the courts, agencies and proper officia!s and hopefully we ean curb or cure the ills whieh plague our troubled youths of today. The Agee house stands to serve as one of our solutions and we eall on you to support our programs.