Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 6, 1 June 1985 — Ke Kanawai Mamalahoa Support Reaffirmed [ARTICLE]

Ke Kanawai Mamalahoa Support Reaffirmed

Action Taken on Land Exchange, Beach Residents

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs at its May 9 board meeting approved a letter asking the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to disapprove a proposed land exchange between the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and other State agencies. According to the letter, the Board opposes the exchange for three primary reasons: 1. "The exchange, if approved by the Department of the Interior, will result in a loss of approximately $53,000 in annuai revenues to OHA." 2. "The DHHL will be exchanging 204.8 acres of valuable airport land (at Hilo, Waimea & Molokai Airports) for 13.8 acres of industrial land (at Shafter Flats on Oahu)." 3. "The exchange is not being made for native Hawaiian settlement on DHHL lands, but rather for increased ineome to DHHL."

Further, the letter states, "the land exchange conflicts with the findings and recommendations of the Federal-State Task Force on the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act" eoncerning the manner in whieh Iand exchanges should be handled. The Board also voted to: • Establish a liaison between OHA and the Hawaii Congressional delegation for purposes of monitoring DOI's actions. • Request a meeting with the Governor to discuss the land exchange. • Ask eaeh T rustee to consider allocating a portion of his or her Community Organization Plan (COP) funds to "support a statewide ad hoe community committee on the airport land exchange to inform beneficiaries (about the exchange)." In a separate action , T rustees reaffirmed its support of Ke

Kanawai Mamalahoa, The Law of the Splintered Paddle, an ancient edict pronounced by Kamehameha I. According to Mary Kawena Pukui's book, 'Olelo No'eau, the law is translated: "Let the old men, the old women and the children go and sleep on the wayside; let them not be molested." This precept is reaffirmed in Article IX, Section 10 of the State Constitution, whieh says in part, "The Law of the Splintered Paddle . . . shall be a unique and living symbol of the State's eoneem for public safety." The Board also supported a moratorium on evictions of the homeless people living on Hawaii's beaches. Chairman Joseph Kealoha appointed an ad hoe committee headed by Trustee Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr. to work with the people living on the beaches, the City and other agencies in an effort to identify possible solutions to the plight of the homeless.