Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 7, 1 July 1988 — Self-Determination, Single Definition [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Self-Determination, Single Definition

By Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i

In true democratic fashion, the Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have decided to go before you our voters at the next OHA eleetion in November and ask, "Should OHA benefits go to all Hawaiians, with a preferenee for those with 50 nercent or more Ha-

waiian blood?" We ask that you answer this question "yes or no". As an act of self-determination, you as Hawaiians will be able to help determine who our beneficiary class should be. We are referring only to lands and resources under OHA's jurisdiction and not the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). As it stands now, we in OHA have been able to give the limited resources we have been receiving thus far from the Ceded Land Trust to only the natives with 50 percent and more Hawaiian blood because of the precedent set by DHHL in the 1920's. If you our voters determine that all Hawaiians should benefit from OHA resources it is also important that included is that preference for Native Hawaiians (50 percent or more blood quantum). We must be honest and show compassion for the fact that the more Hawaiian blood one has, in many instances, the more eeonomie, health and social problems exist. If we as OHA Trustees are to better the conditions of the Hawaiian people it is imperative that we kokua where the need is greatest. I feel this is a primary OHA responsibility and an intimate part of Hawaiian values-sharing and helping those in need. We at OHA will be able to serve more of our people onee we arrive at a single definition. However, it should be understood that our resource base will be expanded as we serve more numbers of our people. Presently 39 percent of our Hawaiian population has 50 percent or more Hawaiian blood. There is good indication that in several generations there will be fewer and fewer of those natives with 50 percent and more blood. With the blood quantum unfortunately declining because of intermarriage, it is understandable we should extend our beneficiary class. Thusly, more of our people will be able to benefit from being

Statistics show we have an increase amongst the part Hawaiian population especially for the young. One-third of the Hawaiian population is between 5-19. In 1984 there were 26,500 young people between the ages of 18-23. Projects propose that by the year 2000 there will be an 18 percent increase in that same group of young Hawaiians that will be at job or college age. We must be able to help prepare these young Hawaiian people to have alternatives, education and viable opportunities, and job training so that they may attain a comfortable standard of living in their homeland. Right now and in the future, according to the Honolulu Advertiser and Greg Pai, First Hawaiian Bank economist, "there will be an abundance of service industry, minimum wage jobs such as maids, 7-11 clerks and McDonald's workers." We must begin to provide other viable alternatives for our youth through our native entitlements, including the ceded land package that we are now working on with the Governor's staff in preparation for the next legislative session. We will need your kokua and that of your ohana not only to help determine whether all Hawaiians should benefit from OHA programs and resources, but we must also vote for good, eleu, eapahle and caring trustees and legislators who will truly serve you our people and help to rectify Hawaiians' needs and problems. We also ask you to encourage those Hawaiians who are not registered to vote for OHA to please do so, for this is an opportunity we must not let escape us; eaeh vote helps decide who benefits from Hawaiian resources. With your vote you become a part of that process of self-determination. The Trustees and our OHA staff are in the process of meeting with different Hawaiian groups, organizations, service agencies and community entities statewide to explain not only the single definition but to get their input relating to OHA's Master Plan as part of what we will be taking to the Legislature as an aspect of our Ceded Land package. We will also be holding community meetings on the neighbor islands, so watch for announcements and bring your ohana. As mentioned earlier we will need your kokua to help elect legis!ators that will help the Hawaiians and there is also a need for you to help lobby our legislators in order to obtain a just and fair settlement. What non-natives must realize is that when justice comes back to the native people, there will be mueh more aloha in these islands. Malama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka nnnn