Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 1, 1 January 1992 — Our Readers Write [ARTICLE]

Our Readers Write

To thc Editor I was very disappointed with Ms. Mililani Trask's letter to the editor whieh appeared in the November 1991 issue of the Ka Wai Ola O OHA. Again, I am compelIed to correct the misstatements presented regarding the Kalapana relocation housing effort. The Relocation Housing Committee of the Kalapana Task Force is charged with the responsibility of developing viable solutions to meet the long-term housing needs of all displaced families — Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike. The Committee is not opposed to the Kalapana 'ohana's plan to preserve their cultural lifestyle and fishing entitlements by relocating to Kikala Keokea. Such a plan represents a relocation housing cilternative and, more importantly, a eultural preservation opportunity for Kalapana Hawaiians. Ms. Trask noted that the housing "proposal... recommended to the Task Force by Conant... did not recommend any plan to address the needs of the 51 Kalapana Hawēiiian families ." Our original October 1990 plan would have made state land available for the development of a relocation subdivision for all displacees. While that plan is no longer viable because of budget constraints, it was in keeping with our mandate

included a budget request for $2 million to assist to help all displacees. Ms. Trask also noted that "Senator Levin and Conant did not tell the legislators about the... $2 million they had already secured through the budget process and from the governor's budget." This is incorrect. The governor's message Kalapana displacees. Due to budget constraints, only $1 million was appropriated during the 1991 session. Ms. Trask goes on to say that "Levin and Conant redrafted Bill 1434 and supported their version of the bill, H.B. 865, whieh was eventually passed into law." For the record, there were two concurrent bills introduced during the 1991 legislative session. S.B. 1434 would have benefitted only Kalapana Hawaiians and H.B. 865 benefits all Kalapana displacees. I supported H.B. 865 because it makes low-interest loans available for all families. H.B. 865 is consistent with the mandate given my committee — to assist all displacees. Ms. Trask also stated that "in the course of lobbying for H.B. 865, Conant sought a means to exclude the Kalapana 'ohana and all families who had relocated to zone 1 and 2 areas, by including language to justify withholding financing to the Kikala Keokea area." This is not so. H.B. 865 appropriated $1.75 million to the HFDC for the provision of low interest rate loans to assist families to rebuild their homes in "areas of lesser volcanic risk." The bi!l directs the HFDC to adopt rules to implement the program. In drafting these rules, one of the more eontroversial issues was how to define "areas of lesser volcanic risk." In the absence of any other standard, the HFDC looked to the volcanic hazard zones determined by the U.S. Geological Survey as the baseline for determining "areas of lesser volcanic risk." Our draft rules identified areas located in volcanic hazard zones 3 and higher as areas acceptable for loan-making purposes. At the Oct. 14 public hearing on the draft rules, we received testimony, from Ms. Trask, Sen. Levin, OHA Trustees Akaka Kaulukukui,

Harry Kim, and Kalapana residents, that more flexibility is needed. We therefore revised the administrative rules to provide for more flexibility. To identify areas where loans will be made, the HFDC will consult with an ad hoe committee comprised of various federal, state and county agencies including the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, county planning department, and state and county civil defense. Subject to the approval of the ad hoe committee, families rebuilding in areas such as Kikala Keokea may be eligible to receive low interest loans. To my understanding, Sen. Levin has been very supportive of programs to assist the Kalapana Hawaiians. As previously stated, the Relocation Housing Committee of the Kalapana Task Force has also embraced the unique opportunity for Kalapana Hawaiians to recreate a Hawaiian village at Kikala Keokea. Our funds and other resources are limited. We ean aeeomplish mueh more if we work together. Joseph K. Conant, Executive Director Housing Finance and Development Corporation and Chair, Kalapana Task Force, Relocation Housing Committee