Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 11, 1 November 1988 — OHA Trustees Must Malama Our Islands And People [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Trustees Must Malama Our Islands And People

By Moanikeala Akaka, Trustee, Island of Hawaii

Aloha mai. When I was first elected Hawai'i Island Trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs four years ago, I told you that I would work hard to take care of our 'aina and people. I have endeavored to do just that. I attended all of our OHA Board and eom-

munity meetings, most committee meetings, while also going to meetings and hearings on the Big lsland as well as throughout our Hawaiian isles when asked to by you, my constituents. I have learned firsthand about our peoples' needs and problems; and my understanding has grown. I have had to hitchhike over 150 miles between Hilo and Ka'u for community meetings and to Kona and back to attend a Board meeting. No Trustee should be subjected to such potential danger in order to serve you our people. However, I'm happy to say that through a change in Board policy, transportation is now available for OHA business. As Trustees, it is also our resjx>nsibility to be advocates for our people and 'aina whieh means we must, when necessary, speak out about the very real injustices and wrongdoings that are being perpetuated against us Hawaiians and our islands. Our traditional value system is Aloha 'Aina, "to lovp and protect the 'aina." I have been moved to take a position on sometimes controversial issues. This too is what OHA is about. This coming general election, Hawai'i County voters will have the opportunity through the initiative process to vote for the saving of Hapuna Beach from the Japanese Seibu Corporation resort complex proposal. O'ahu voters will also, because of the democratic initiative process, have an opportunity to vote to save Sandy Beach from a Bishop Estate-Kaiser development. The Programs Committee whieh I now chair took a position to defend Sandy Beach, one of the few remaining open coastal areas on O'ahu.

Aloha 'Aina means to stand up for our unique 'aina before it's too late, as in the mele written by Leo Anderson Akana and sung and performed by the Peter Moon Band. I have also worked to save Makalawena on the Big Island from Bishop Estate resort development. Fortunately, state planners are stepping in where the county has run awry to control resort development in West Hawai'i. The infrastructure cost alone for those resorts already approved will be a horrendous burden on the taxpayers of this county and state. Within 60 days after the November general eleehon, OHA will hold another series of statewide community forums focusing on the ceded lands package we intend to present during the next legislative session. As you may know, the OHA Ad Hoe Committee on Ceded Land Entitlements and the Governor's team have been meeting to develop such a package. We want to hear from you on this crucial matter — your input will certainly be welcomed. We will keep you informed of the schedule for those forums and hope you ean attend one in or near your community. Last year when the Honolulu Star-Bulletin did a five-part series on the Kamehameha Schools and Bishop Estate trustees, a reporter called and asked what I thought of the Bishop Estate trustees. Being an elected non-salaried Trustee I replied, "lt's appalling how large a salary the Bishop Estate trustees received and that tbey should be educating more Hawaiian young people withthose monies." At that time, the Trustees made $328,000 for the year. This year, however, they have eaeh made $800,000 includingcommissions — halfa million dollars more than they received the year before. How many of you out there have increased your salary by half a million dolIars last year? Only 15 boys and 15 girls are allowed into Kamehameha Schools from Hawai'i island for the 7th grade, whieh is the largest entry level for new students. Kaua'i has 7 boys and 7 girls allowed to enter for that same grade level. Three years ago at a meeting I had requested with the Bishop Estate trustees, I pointed out the need for Kamehameha satellite schools on eaeh of our major Hawaiian islands. These may be some of the reasons why Bishop Estate trustees and Kamehameha Schools have encouraged their employee, ex-legislator

Robert Lindsey, to run against me for Hawai'i island trustee. What is ironic is that I am a descendant of Abner Paki, father of Bernice Pauahi Bishop. lf Pauahi knew what her trustees were doing in her name she would probably turn in her grave. The OHA trustee eleehon is a non-partisan one. Yet, a United States democratic senator and eongressman are stepping in and endorsing OHA eandidates. The congressional delegation will only endorse those who will help pacify our people. For too long we Hawaiians have elected people including Hawaiians who end up forgetting us onee they get into office. We must remember OHA has a different calling as advocates with responsibility due to circumstances peculiar to Hawaiian history. We are not mandated and should not seek to mimie State and Federal legislatures. Ours is to create innovative answers with respect to fulfilling the needs of our Hawaiian people. I take my job and responsibilities very seriously and have been forced from time to time to take a strong stand for justice. 1 have been honored to serve the Hawaiian people these past four years through OHA (in spite of the obstacles whieh had to be dealt with). I am confident OHA ean become a vehicle for uplifting the Hawaiian people, land and culture. However, we must maka'ala. There are those amongst us who would unwittingly give away our Hawaiian future as our past was stolen from us. Don't be taken by ads and endorsements by members of our congressional delegation. And by the way, what plaee does a non-Hawaiian United States senator have in our own Hawaiian eleehon? I have just received a letter from the State Ethics Commission dated September 28, 1988 whieh reads, "the use of State officials or legislators for campaign endorsements violates 'fair treatment' section of State Ethics code Chapter 84, Hawai'i Revised Statutes." This Fair Treatment Act should definitely extend to our state-elected congressional leaders. My stand is and will continue to be a strong one for the integrity of our 'aina, people, and culture. Onipa'a for Hawaiian justice. Malama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono.

XWistees ' Views

(This eolumn is open to all OHA Trustees as a uehiele for them to express their mana'o. Opinions expressed are those of the individual Trustees and do not necessarily represent the official position of the OHA Board of Trustees.)