Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 4, 1 April 1990 — Update on I Luna A'e initiatives [ARTICLE]

Update on I Luna A'e initiatives

i — — — — — — Aloha to our beneficiaries and to all who are interested in the progress being made toward achieving self-determination and self-sufficiency for Hawaiians. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has launched a series of major initiatives under the overall title of "I Luna A'e" . . . moving onward and upward. The plan describes OHA's vision for the future of the Hawaiian people. Its components are dependent on and draw sustenance from eaeh other. Here is an I Luna A'e update as of mid-March 1990.

Operation Ea OHA's approach to federal entitlements through the "Blueprint for Native Hawaiian Entitlements. " This is a plan whieh calls for the return of ceded lands still held by the federal government, reparations for the seizure of these lands and other claims; including water rights, beach and trail aecess, fishing, hunting and gathering rights, religious practices and access to historic and cultural sites; plus self-determination and self-governance. The draft blueprint was made public on Sept. 2, 1989 after 18 months of research, study and deliberation. OHA immediately launched a series of informational meetings and trustee hearings to solicit comment and input from its beneficiaries. Meetings were held on all major islandsand on the mainland in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Washington, D.C. At this point, transcription of the hundreds of individual testimonies has been completed. Appropriate changes resulting from the public testimony will be incorporated into the Blueprint. The final draft will serve as a basis for federal legislation. Operation Ho'okuleana The resolution of entitlements due native Hawaiians and Hawaiians under the State Constitution and Chapter 10 of the Hawai'i Revised Statutes. On Feb. 8 OHA and Gov. John Waihee, after more than two years of negotiations, jointly announced an agreement clarifying the formula for calculating ineome due OHA for Native Hawaiians under provisions of Chapter 10 of the Hawai'i Revised Statutes. Both OHA Chairman Kaulukukui and Gov. Waihee, in their historic joint announcement, stressed that the agreement is in no way a settlement of OHA's claims against the federal government resulting from the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1893 and the subsequent taking of some 1.8 million acres of crown, government and public land. The proposed agreement, now under consideration by the legislature, clarifies past-due entitlements back to 1980 and establishes a process for future payments for native Hawaiians, those with 50 percent or more Hawaiian blood. Fublished estimates of past-due entitlements exceed $100 million. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the state govemment will continue negotiations to provide for those beneficiaries of the trust who are "Hawaiian" (less than 50 percent Hawaiian blood). It is anticipated that agreement on such a proposal will be reached before next year's session of the legislature. The bill now being considered by the legislature (H.B. 2896, H.D. 3) was reported out favorably and without amendment by the House Committee on Eeonomie Development and Hawaiian Affairs. The House Finance Committee also issued a favorable report and amended the measure to provide that OHA file an expenditure report to the legislature and the governor. OHA has produced and begun to air a half-hour videotape entitled "A Promise inTrust,"whichexplains the entitlements agreement and its legal, moral and financial implications. Copies of the videotape are available for viewing through all OHA offices. Operation 'Ohana A project to enroll all persons of Hawaiian an-

cestry, wherever they may be, in a eommon allianee. On July 27, 1989, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs launched Operation 'Ohana a worldwide enrollment program for all persons of Hawaiian ancestry. Gov. Waihee became one of the first Hawaiians to enroll. The program will provide badly needed demographic data on Hawaiians, establishing a database of information needed to determine possible future benefits including state and federal programs. Official Hawaiian membership status will be documented through a card to qualify the carrier for special benefits such as group insurance and group discounts on selected retail purchases and services. On March 1, preliminary data on over 5,000 individuals of Hawaiian ancestry had been eompiled. Additional funds are being sought for Operation 'Ohana from several sources. OHA has submitted a supplemental budget request to the 1990 state legislature for Operation 'Ohana. It asks approximately $188,000 to fund three support positions: assistant project coordinator , volunteer service director and data entry clerk. In addition, OHA has submitted an applieahon to the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) in Washington requesting funding over the next three years. The nearly $1 million request would provide funding for Phase 2 (genealogy and survey) and Phase 3 (development of a benefits package). Operation Ka Po'e A single definition plebiscite defining "Native Hawaiian," mandated by the state legislature. As directed by the 1989 legislature, OHA eonducted a second plebiscite among Hawaiians to determine their preference on the issue of blood quantum as it relates to the OHA definition of Hawaiian and native Hawaiian. OHA Chairman Thomas Kaulukukui, in the plebiscite report to the state legislature, said: "The present blood quantum definition, dividing those of us who have 50 percent or more Hawaiian blood from those who do not, was imposed on us by nonHawaiians in 1920. The concept is foreign to us. We are one people, and we have suffered under this artificial distinction. The plebiscite asks whether we should eliminate the two-tier definition for OHA trusts and entitlements." Of the 60,629 ballots delivered to registered OHA voters, a total of 24,408 were mailed back, a return of 42.25 percent. Of those voting, 79.33 percent favored a single definition. Opposed were 20.66 percent. These results were forwarded to the legislature. However, the Senate Committee on Judiciary raised questions relating to the legal implications and possible consequences of the proposed amendments to the ceded land settlement in future negotiations. As a result, OHA Chairman Kaulukukui requested that the bill be held in committee. Kaulukukui said, "Until an Hawaiian entitlement (relating to those with less than 50 percent Hawaiian blood) is identified and assured, OHA has decided that the best course at this time is to eonhnue to research issues and questions whieh have been raised by legislators and others. Onee completed, final language implementing the will of our people to be one nation will be submitted to the legislature." The Office of Hawaiian Affairs anticipates re-

introducing a bill in the next session of the legislature. Operation Malama Mau OHA's Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Task Force, working to preserve sites ofcultural, religious or historic ualue to Native Hawaiians at state, county and federal levels. On the state level, the task force has filed an interim report complying with the 1989 legislature's request for a study of ways for the state to better respond to the discovery of important historical sites within the state. The interim report clearly identifies areas where state laws should be changed in the interests of giving Hawaiian sites greater and stronger protection. The legislature currently is ronsidering legislation addressing the culturally sensitive issue of the treatment of native burials and recognizing OHA's role in representing Hawaiian interests in this area. On the county level, OHA has been involved in the adoption by the City and County of Honolulu of an historic preservation ordinance. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs also recently entered into preliminary negotiations with the City and County Parks Department on an intragovernmental agreement transferring administration and management of cultural and archaeological resources at Kualoa Park. On the federal level, the task force has been in touch with the Smithsonian Institution negotiating for the return of hundreds of ancient Hawaiian remains held by the Smithsonian, some for more than 100 years. Operation Hui 'Imi A task force to coordinate the planning of services to Hawaiians. Senate Concurrent Resolution 106, S.D. 1, adopted during the 1989 legislative session, provides for the creation of a Task Force for Hawaiian Services to make recommendations for the better coordination of services for Native Hawaiians. The task force is comprised of representatives of a diverse cross-section of the community including state, federal and private organizations and groups. As specified in the resolution, an interim report has been filed with the 1990 legislature. This report contains findings and recommendations related to eight specific issues: 1. Social services for the elderly; 2. Educational services for Hawaiian and native Hawaiian youths; 3. Special needs of the "at risk" categories; 4. Medical needs of Hawaiians and native Hawaiians; 5. Legal assistance and dissemination of legal services available to Hawaiians and native Hawaiians; 6. Special needs of Hawaiians and native Hawaiians who live in rural or outlying areas; 7. Employment problems and requirements of Hawaiians and native Hawaiians; 8. Services related to cultural heritage and traditional customs, language and religion. The task force will submit a final report before the convening of the 1991 legislative session whieh will provide a more comprehensive perspective and analysis. This will include: 1. An inventory of current services and programs being provided including, if applicable, the authorization establishing them, e.g. federal or state law or private charter; 2. An assessment of how mueh Hawaiians and native Hawaiians use current services and programs, and how easy they are to get to; 3. An analysis of how well existing services and programs are coordinated; 4. An identification of what services and programs are needed in future to meet critical needs and requirements; 5. Recommendations to improve accessibility, coordination and to provide services and proqrams in future for needs not being met now.