Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 6, 1 June 1988 — Puʻu Kala Much Bigger at Federal Level [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Puʻu Kala Much Bigger at Federal Level

OHA Chairman Gets Positive Vibes in Washington

By Marsha Erickson Special to Ka Wai Ola O OHA "The Office of Hawaiian Affairs needs to establish a more visible presence in Washington." So emphasized OHA Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. in an interview following a late April foray to the nation's capitol. Thoroughly briefed by OHA federal liaison officer Larry K. Kamakawiwo'ole, Keale explored fresh funding possibilities for native Hawaiians while he tracked pending measures and cemented vital ties with Hawaii's congressional delegation as well as the staff and leadership of various agencies. "We ean take a elue from history and the Western views," Keale noted, "by observing how the architects of the overthrow of the Monarchy astutely positioned themselves in the Capitol in the 1890s." From that vantage, they successfully countered supporters of the Hawaiian nation at the critical point in that highly charged period. "While we design long-range goals, we also need intermediate goals," the Kaua'i and Ni'ihau Trustee said. "The pu'u kala is mueh, mueh bigger" at the federal level for funds that ean impact native Hawaiians in such areas as education, heahh and eeonomie development. "Let's go get it," he urged. Keale is the first OHA chairman to visit Washington officially and would like to see other OHA Board members do likewise. "To me, OHA's absence in Washington at the Board level has been very noticeable." Selected OHA staff should also visit Washington, Keale contends, to form the invaluable personal links with corresponding staff people in D. C. who will assist in the advancement of Hawaiian projects and proposals. A courtesy eall to Hawaii's Henry K. Giugni, first Hawaiian Sergeant-at-Arms of the U. S. Senate, figured in the Chairman's visit, along with visits to the offices of Representatives Patricia Saiki and Daniel K. Akaka, and Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Spark M. Matsunaga. Keale praised Hawaii's delegation as being highly supportive and effective on OHA's behalf.

Keale sees increased emphasis on cooperation between OHA and other agencies as vital to achieving OHA's mission for the betterment of native Hawaiians at all leVels. "Some people see cooperation as diluting our power. Actually, it enhances it. There's a lot of work to do, and we need to build an 'army.' The bottom line is service to our people." A multi-pronged approach to federal funding is also recommended by Keale. "The typical Hawaiian kid," he joked, "makes one scholarship application and maybe doesn't get it. Other kids put in five applications and get three. It's time for us to search out all possibilities and pursue them." Keale visited the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) to explore new grant possibilities, not only for OHA, but for all Hawaiian agencies. "We haven't even scratched the

surface," he says. Keale believes one critical factor that needs to be considered in future legislation is a single definition of what it is to be Hawaiian. The Federal definition of a native American Indian stands at one quarter Indian parentage. In some cases, but not all, a native Hawaiian is defined at 50 percent koko, a figure arrived at in 1920 in the Hawaiian Homes Act. Delegate at the time, Pnnee Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole wanted l/32nd Hawaiian blood to qualify as a native; the powerful sugar lobby wanted 100 percent. The 50 percent eompromise has impacted many legal and legislative acts since 1920. Keale discussed this issue, as well as the Federal right of Hawaiians to sue, with Senator Inouye's staff. Inouye is considering holding hearings in Honolulu in late summer or early fall on the Hawaiian definition issue. Below follows a brief review of three recent proposals submitted by OHA for federal funding as prepared by Joe N. Pnnee, OHA's special counsel for development. 1. Substance Abuse Prevention Education Program — $124,600 (Drug-Free Schools and Community Program: Federal Activities Grants Program - CFDA Number 84.184B) 2. Program To Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect — $94,450 (Office of Human Development Services' Coordinated Discretionary Funds Program - Program Announcement No. HDS-88-2) 3. Satellite Minority Business Assistance System (SMBAS) — $62,400 (Minority Business Development Agency of U. S. Dept. of Commerce) In retrospect, Keale believes that his visit to Washington allowed him an opportunity to view Hawai'i as others see it — from outside looking in. This view gives him incentive to better understanding how he as chairman ean further continue to translate OHA's direction toward a stronger national effort.

Moses K. Keale Sr., right, chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees, pays a visit to Congressman Daniel K. Akaka's office in Washington, D. C., discussing a variety of topics.