Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 12, 1 December 1991 — Solomon recounts progress in 1991 [ARTICLE]

Solomon recounts progress in 1991

by Ann L. Moore "With the kupuna and the makua standing with us, we will prevail," Sen. Malama Solomon, majority floor leader of the state senate's 16th legislature, told attendees at the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in Waikoloa on Nov. 8. Sen. Solomon addressed the HCC convention concerning highlights- of the accomplishments of the state legislature for Native Hawaiians. • Education: acceleration of the Kupuna and Hawaiian studies programs and establishment of Hawaiian Studies Centers at every university campus; establishment of the Hawaiian Language Immesion programs through out the state's public schools (grades K-5.) • Hawaiian Homes: $23 million was appropriated from general funds; legislation was ipassed allowing elderly housing and multi-family residences on Home Lands; land awards were

accelerated; the federal government's trust obligation towards the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands was passed. • Judiciary: the right to sue legislation removed the state's immunity to allow Hawaiians, as individuals and as a class, to sue for claims; legislation allows unclaimed kuleana lands to be placed with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) until families are located; the adverse possession law was redefined to insure public notice. • Health: a Department of Hawaiian Health office was established within the state Department of Health; programs and studiesfunded pertaining to the foods and diet of the Hawaiians; maternal and infant care programs started in Waimanalo and Hilo to provide pre-natal care, medical, social, nutritional and health education services. • Tourism: Recreation and Historic sites: The historic sites law was strengthened; four major recreation areas were identified and added — Makena La Perouse Park, nine-mile Mahaiula, Makalawena and Awake'e, and Lalamilo Ahupua'a Wilderness Park; work continued towards purchase of Waipi'o Valley floor and preservation of its rim; proceeded with

strengthening laws protecting the Na Alahele trails to protect gathering rights in forest areas along the coastal regions; disallowed jet skis in Hawaiian waters; pressed for training in Hawaiian values in hotel management so visitors will experience aloha. In addition, the legislature established that students must take an Hawaiian studies course as part of the tourist industry management degree program at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo to graduate; Bishop Museum, with the world's largest collection of Hawaiian artifacts, is now the official state museum and is funded by legislative appropriation; established the Bishop Museum Research Institute to improve communication between the museum and UH and coordinate Hawaiian academic studies such as archeology and identification and preservation of Hawaiian plants and species; and established an Hawaiian Bird Sanctuary at the old Olinda preservation site to preserve and perpetuate Hawaii's native birds. • Culture and the arts: established an Islands Burial Council to protect the iwi o Hawai'i, worked with landowners to preserve and protect the Honokahua burial site on Maui; funded Hawaiian festivals including Kamehameha Day and Aloha Festival activities. Sen. Solomon said Hawaiians ean "look to the 'opio to take us into the future." She concluded her remarks by saying: "Let there be no mistake. The record isclear. We are in control of our destiny today as we have been in the past and will be in the future. We are Hawai'i. Our opportunities are here, our future is here! Let us make it happein."