Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 2, 1 February 1992 — What next? [ARTICLE]

What next?

Broken Trust

by Ann L Moore In December, the Hawaii advisory committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights published its report entitled "Broken Trust." In it was detailed the failure of the federal government to protect the civil rights of Native Hawaiians. The publication was heralded with a public announcement heav% covered by media. What is happening now that the report has been sent to the U.S. commission?

To find the answer to that question, Ka Wai Ola O OHA contacted the western regional director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, John Foster Dulles II at the commission office in Los Angeles. The report, Dulles said, has gone to the Department of Justice and to the Secretary of the Interior, the senators and Congress-members representing Hawai'i in the U.S. Congress. "It is my understanding," Dulles said, "the report will be considered by those parties and hearings will be scheduled.

"We are optimistic that positive action will be taken, as there is quite a lot of momentum to correct the situation." Dulles said the Commission on Civil Rights will try to help the federal government to meet its obligations to Native Hawaiians, and will make recommendations to aid the federal government toward that end. "The commission has voted to support the report and has advocated its recommendations for repair of the trust. Justice and Interior have been asked to respond to the chairman of the Commission on Civil Rights, Arthur Fletcher," Dulles said.

To that end, Dulles said, Fletcher has written to the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Interior and has given the Hawai'i Congressional delegation its support. At this time, Dulles said he could report there is a lot of activity concerning the "Broken Trust" report but he could not report any results. Dulles indicated that the Commission on Civil Rights intends to pursue the matter and positive results are expected. For a free copy of the report, write to the Commission on Civil Rights, 3660 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 810, Los Angeles, Calif. 90010.