Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 10, 1 October 1989 — Trustees hold hearings on OHA Blueprint [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Trustees hold hearings on OHA Blueprint

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) will seek federal restitution due to Hawaiians because of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 and the illegal annexation of Hawai'i in 1898. The draft plan calls for return of federal lands, state ceded lands and Hawaiian Homelands; restitution for the seizure of these lands; self-determi-nahon and self-governance for Native Hawaiians. Entitled "A Blueprint for Native Hawaiian Entitlements," the draft plan was developed by a committee of the OHA Board of Trustees and made public at a news conference Sept. 2. The trustees also announced a series of informahonal meetings and formal hearings to obtain feedback from Native Hawaiians regarding the Blueprint's contents. OHA Chairman Thomas Kaulukukui Sr., said the Blueprint is one of the most important documents ever published regarding the future of the Hawaiian people. This draft document is the starting point for a course of action to redress breaches of trust eommitted against Native Hawaiians by the federal govemment many years ago, Kaulukukui said. The document . . . "starts the long journey to Washington, D.C., and congressionalactiontorestore to the Hawaiian people self-determination, Lands ar»d resources whieh were taken from us in 1893, and whieh are still denied us." Kaulukukui said the informational meetings and heanngs are intended to inform Native Hawaiians about the plan, and to hear their concems and recommendations. The final Blueprint, expected early next year, will serve as the basis for federal iegislation providing for redress and restitution. "I want to state very clearly that we are asking only that the lands and assets whieh have always been held in trust for the Hawaiian people be placed directly under their jurisdiction," Kaulukukui said.

"Our Blueprint will not affect privately held land, nor will it impact adversely on the rights of nonHawaiians. We are seeking only self-determi-nation for our people."

He said, "We are deeply grateful for the aloha and goodwill for countless non-Hawaiians who have pledged their support for our cause. And 1 Blueprint, continue page 16

Tne cnoir of Kawaiahao Church joined in the 1 51 st birthday anniversary celebration for Queen Lili'uokalani heid at lolani Palaee. (Story on page 12) (Phoio by Ann L. Moore)

Publication of the OHA Blueprint was announced by Chairman of the Board of Trustees Thomas Kaulukukui Sr. at a press conference held at the Office of Hawaiian

Affairs with all members of the board present. Also pictured are Trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto (left) and Trustee Rodney Kealiimahiai Burgess III. (Phoio by Ed Miehelman)

Blueprint from page 1

urge all Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians tostudy the Blueprint and understand the true nature of our entitlements." Trustee Rodney Burgess, co-chairman of the committee that drafted the Blueprint, said the necessity for federal restitution to Native Hawaiians (anyone who is descended from the indigenous people of Hawai'i) stems from the key role the U.S. played in the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i in 1893. He said the U.S. government illegally received title to 1.75 million acres of former public, crown and government lands when it unilaterally annexed Hawai'i in 1898. As a result, OHA is demanding the foilowing: • The U.S. must return the "ceded" lands it still holds, and must pay for the "free" use of these lands since 1898. • The U.S. must recognize Native Hawaiian claims to those former public lands it transferred, or ceded, to the state government at statehood in 1959, and should support the return of part or all of these lands as well. • Lands and other restitution would be turned over to a Native Hawaiian selfgoverning entity to be formed by the Hawaiian people.

OHA has sent copies of the Blueprint to OHAvoter households and other individuals and organizations. Additional copies may be obtained from any OHA office. OHA Trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto, co-chair of the drafting committee, said OHA has scheduled a total of 19 informational meetings. Other meetings are being organized with Native Hawaiian groups on the U.S. mainland. DeSoto said formal hearings on the Blueprint are set for Oct. 16 and 17 in Hawai'i, and Oct. 20 and 23 on the mainland. The schedule is as follows: Monday, Oct. 16 — Kaua'i: County Council Chambers, Lihue. Moloka'i: Kaunakakai School Cafeteria, Kaunakakai. Hawai'i: Hawai'i County Council Room, Hilo; Kealakehe Elem. School Cafeteria, Kailua-Kona. Tuesday, Oct. 17 — Lana'i: Lana'i School Library, Lana'i City. O'ahu: State Capitol Auditorium, Honolulu. Maui: County Council Chambers, Wailuku. Friday, Oct. 20 — Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles — locations to be announced. Monday, Oct. 23 — Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C. area, Seattle — locations tobe announced. All meetings will be held from 6 to 10 p.m.