Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 8, 1 August 1991 — Hui ʻImi members track recommendations [ARTICLE]

Hui ʻImi members track recommendations

by Gail Chun Ka Wai Ola O OHA intern While the Hui 'Imi Task Force of key Hawaiian service agencies has fulfilled its five tasks, the members of the group hardly think their work is done. "Hui 'lmi is just the prodding organization," says Tommy Kaulukukui, chairman of the Hui 'Imi Task Force. "The group will still meet and stay together to follow up on their recommendations." After researching and interviewing people in the community, task force members found Hawaiians concerned about issues ranging from housing to health. Created in 1989 through a state Senate resolution, the five tasks given to Hui 'Imi were: 1) An inventory of current services and programs being provided. 2) An assessment of the use and accessibility of current services and programs to Native Hawaiians and Hawaiians. 3) An analysis of the quality of coordination of existing services and programs. 4) An identification of critical needs and requirements that need to be addressed through future services and programs. 5) Recommendations on improving accessibility, the quality of coordination, and the provision of future services and programs for currently unmet needs. The results of their two-year efforts are contained in a two-volume report, the first

addressing tasks one through four, and the second addressing task five. The second volume was finished in January 1991 and both volumes were then submitted to the state Legislature. Extensive personal interviews, and group and community meetings are some of the methods Hui 'Imi used to collect data from 656 users of service programs and 317 service providers throughout the state. Theoretically, the 20-member Hui 'Imi Task Force could paek up and eall an end to the project. After all, according to the Senate resolution, their job is done. But they're not. Kaulukukui says the group plans to follow up on their recommendations and see if they are being implemented. "There will also be a follow up to the recommendations for the 1992 legislature," he adds. "According to the report, housing, education, and health were some of the main concerns. There were also a lot of people who talked about legal services, because people don't know where to go when they need help, especially the older Hawaiians. "We have the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. (NHLC), but theyfocus mainly on land. Hawaiians have other problems, and want help with other issues," he says. Regarding health services, Kaulukukui says those that were interviewed said they need a card, or some equivalent to one, related to health

benefits. Kaulukukui uses the example of his own medical card from Straub Hospital. "No matter what kind of treatment or service I get, I present my card and pay only $5." The idea is that every Hawaiian would be issued a card entitling them to health care. "This is the kind of thing Hui 'Imi is working for," he says. "We want to eome and meet the people, and see some of our recommendations being done." A positive side effect of the Hui 'Imi Task Force Droject is that the organizations involved are now familiar with one another, promoting future cooperation, according to the report. These organizations, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Alu Like, ine., and Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, are also considered the key agencies that will meet the needs of the Hawaiian people as outlined in the report. This idea is stated in the concluding remarks of Volume II of the report: "It is our belief that the Hawaiian community must now assume a more committed leadership in improving the quality of life for themselves and all the people of Hawai'i. The Hawaiian community must carry the culture into these contemporary times with the recognition that our heritage nurtures an enduring pride in what we are and what we ean become." However, Kaulukukui says, "A lot of work needs to oe done. I don't think Hawaiian needs are being met yet."