Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 9, 1 September 1986 — Mai Wakinekona [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mai Wakinekona

By Larry Kamakawiwo'ole Federal Liaison Officer

Carol Ford and 1 take this opportunity to express our gratituae for the privilege of serving the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees, administration and staff as its representatives in Washington, D.C. OHA set a historical precedent on May 1, 1986 by appointing two persons

as its representatives in Washington. In Hawai'i's history, the earliest parallel to that occurred in 1795 when Kamehameha I appointed governors to represent him on several of the neighbor islands. The focus of my presentation in this month's report is four-fold: (1) a brief description of Capitol Hiil and Washington; (2) a description of what 1 do in Washington; (3) the relationship among the federal government, the native Hawaiian people and OHA; and (4) why it is important "and necessary for OHA to have representatives in Washington.

Washington is an important and powerful city because of what and who reside there: it is the seat of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government. In addition, it is a transient city for many people employed by the federal government because one's tenure in Washington may depend upon e!ection results. It is a city in whieh one is or becomes

status conscious. i.e., one is ranked according to what one does. For example, upon introduction the first thing that one wants to know is your status: what position do you hold and what ean one get from you.

Historical Precedent Set

My work in Washington includes (1) monitoring legislation whieh affects native Hawaiians; (2) working with congressional staff members who are responsible for native Hawaiian legislation or provisions; (3) meeting with staff members of committees and subcommittees to see whether native Hawaiian legislation or provisions have been kept intact, amended, or deleted; and (4) providing information from OHA to persons in the legislative process and receiving information from them whieh may affect native Hawaiian legislation or provisions.

Although the full extent of the trust obligation owed by the United States to native Hawaiians and the manner of its fulfillment have not yet been defined by Congress, the federal government since 1920 has acted in recognition of a trust obligation to native Hawaiians by legislating specificaily for the benefits of native Hawaiians through the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. In addition to legislating specifically for the benefits of native Hawaiians. Congress has on occasion listed

nahve Hawanans with other native Americans to assure that certam services are available. For example, the Community Services Act of 1974 authorized the federal Department of Health. Education and Welfare to assist native Hawaiians through its Office of Native American Programs (Administration for Native Americans in the Department ofHealthandHumanServicessince 1980). Thus, there is no reason to doubt that Congress has

power to legislate specifically for the benefit of native Hawaiians. Furthermore, Congress ean also fu!fill its trust obiigations to native Hawaiians by delegating duties to the state of Hawai'i, whieh it did in 1959 by specifically deiegating the administration of the Hawaiian Homes program to the state government. The relationship between the federal government and OHA is expressed in chapter 10 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Under §10-6, the general duties of the board of trustees include the following:

1. To maintain an inventory of federal . . . programs and services for Hawaiians and native Hawaiians and act as a clearinghouse and referral agency; 2. To advise and inform federal . . . officials about native Hawaiian and Hawaiian programs, and coordinate federal . . . activities relating to native Hawaiians and Hawaiians; 3. To act as a clearinghouse for applications for federal . . . assistance to carry out native Hawaiian or Hawaiian programs or projects; and 4. To apply for, accept and administer any federal funds made available or allotted under any federal act for native Hawaiians or Hawaiians.

Likewise, the relationship between the federal government and OHA is expressed in the bylaws or the OHA board of trustees. Due to the foregoing reasons it is important and necessary for OHA to have representatives in Washington. Moreover. for people in Washington who support native Hawaiians and yet know very little about them, Carol Ford and I provide them with the personai contact and information whieh they need to assist our native Hawaiian people.