Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 1, 1 January 1986 — Resolution 85-21 Stirs Hot Debate [ARTICLE]

Resolution 85-21 Stirs Hot Debate

Management Audit of Trust Funds Requested

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA A resolution requesting the Board of T rustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to conduct and to publish a management audit of trust funds received and expended by OHA since 1981 was among 26 acted upon during the 26th annual eonvention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in November on Maui. Of the 26 resolutions, 20 were passed (seven in amended forms), three were filed, one was deferred, one tabled and another was rejected. There was heavy debate over Resolution 85-21 that in the end it had been amended quite extensively to become almost a totally new resolution. Trustee Moses Keale, chairman of the budget and finance committee, and OHA Administrative Services Officer Martin Wilson were on hand to give full details to the legislative committee regarding OHA's audit mechanism. However, amendments to the original resolution offered by former Big Island Trustee Piilani C. Desha and seconded by Winona Rubin were adopted. A minority report to kill the amended resolution was filed by Annelle Amaral but wsis defeated on the convention floor. Four other resolutions involving OHA were also offered and passed, including Resolution 85-25 supporting 1987 as "The Year of The Hawaiian." Resolution 85-21 further stipulates "that such an audit be conducted by an independent, qualified firm in "plain language" to reflect by whom and for what specific purpose funds were expended and be published for availability to its beneficiaries on an annual basis." The resolution was submitted by the Oahu Council. Three other resolutions dealing with OHA and passed at the convention were: 85-12 — Urging OHA to pursue a review of the will and trust of Queen Emma relative to the Queen's Medical Center

and Saint Andrew's Priory. 85- 16 — Commending OHA for creating opp>ortunities for Hawaiians to fully participate in society; promoting selfdetermination and self-sufficiency of Hawaiians; enhancing and perpetuating the Hawaiian culture; and encouraging the full participation of the Hawaiian community in the political decision-making process. 85-26 — Supporting OHA in obtaining an audit of ceded land trust funds from certain departments of state government. Another resolution whieh went through long and hard debate was 85-1 whieh sought the establishment of a district eouneil for the three California clubs. It was rejected in the final voting. The status of other resolutions follow: PASSED 85-3 — Urging the University of Hawaii to provide equal access and opportunity for all native Hawaiian and part Hawaiian students, residents and non-residents. (Amended). 85-3 — Opposing any legislation for a "State Water Code" or "State Water Authority" whieh does not include an explicit provision for and protection of "Native Hawaiian Rights." 85-4 — Urging the chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources to take expeditious action in implemeneting the recommendations of the Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park Advisory Committee. 85-5 — Recognition and support of Opukahaia Foundation. (Amended). 85-6 — Urging an accurate inventory of original records of the native people of the is!ands of Hawaii and other appropriate action to centralize, preserve and make said records accessible and available for genealogical verification and other research. (Amended). 85-10 — Urging the state legislature to adopt a constitutional amendment providing for a single definition of native

Hawaiian and Hawaiian for all purposes except the Hawaiian Homes compact. (Amended). 85-11 — Recommend support of U.S. Senate Bill 121 and to commend its originators. 85-13 — Encourage members to participate in the 3-M Company and the Museum of American Folk Art in New York. 85-14 — Commending the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. 85-15 — Commending those involved and responsible for the Native Hawaiian Vocational Education Plan. (Amended). 85-17 — A recommendation to the State of Hawaii to provide the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum with annual financial support. 85-18 — Urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to do a complete study and review of Pohaku Lanai with the intention of including it on the list of Hawaii Historic places. 85-19 — Relating to the high cost of conventions and fundraising as a means of offsetting the high cost of conven tions. 85-20 — Relating to the preservation of Hawaiian plaee names. 85-23 — Recognizing the Hawaiian Inter-Club Council of Southern California. TABLED 85-7 — Urging OHA to conduct a study of improper and incorrect usage of Hawaiian plaee names. DEFERRED 85-24 — Encouraging Hawaiians to take an active role in the development plans for the islands and expressing support for Ikekai at Queen's Beach. Resolutions 85-8, 85-9 and 85-22 dealt with the by laws of the association and were filed.