Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 1, 1 January 1993 — State should make good on $112 million promise [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

State should make good on $112 million promise

Ed. note. The following is the text of the speech delivered by Clayton Hee, Chairman, Board of Trustees, at the investiture of the OHA Board December 4, 1992 at Kawaiaha 'o Church. by Clayton Hee Chairman Aloha e nā kūpuna, e nā mākua, a me nā mamo i kēia kakahiaka nui. It is my privilege today to thank you for joining us in this investiture of the Board

of Trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. We have eome together as family, friends, and representatives of the Hawaiian people. We share in the shaping and acceptance of our mutual obligations, resDonsibilities.

and duties to eaeh other and to the Hawaiian people. Earlier this week, eaeh trustee ascribed to the formal oath of office expected of all elected officials: to uphold the constitutions and laws of the United States and of the State of Hawai'i and to serve the people to the best of our ability. Today, eaeh trustee pledges and renews our bond and paramount duty to keep the trust of the Hawaiian people and to serve with eompassion, generosity, and a spirit of harmony. The two ceremonies eomplement and unify the twin sources of authority and accountability whieh eompel our actions and demand our loyalty-the eonūnuity of democratic election and Hawaiian tradition. Eaeh is incomplete without the other. Eaeh is only a half whieh becomes a completed whole of the rights and responsibilities whieh we must assume and assert as Hawaiians and as citizens of the State of Hawai'i. I am mindful that we are on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the single most important event that forever shaped the destiny of the Hawaiian people: the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. As we approach the centennial of the overthrow and mark a century of dishonor, Hawaiians and all the people of Hawai'i will experienee a time of critical uncertainty, anger, and grief. We all, citizens of Hawai'i and the Hawaiian people, must draw on our eommon strength and deep roots in Hawai'i to resist both a fear of or a laek of faith in our ability to truly do right by eaeh other. Where onee we prevailed as a proud people, me kekahi aupuni, a naūon unto ourselves, whose destiny was ours and only ours, today we find ourselves 100

years later in large part, isolated and disenfranchised in our own land-the result of the imposition of political and eeonomie systems foreign to us, nā kanaka. As we move forward into the second century since the illegal overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani, the challenges loom large; however, we are becoming better equipped to meet them. More importantly, I believe the basic instinct of the

entire eommuni-ty-Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian alike-to do what is fair and right, has been stirred and will prevail over those who would tum us into a divided people. In 1992, after 10 lone and grueling

years, the state Legislature has agreed that an iniūal payment of 5112 million owed for the use of our lands will be paid to the Hawaiian people as required by law. The state government agrees that there are more monies that will be paid. Qearly these funds are needed as the catalyst to allow us to shape our future. But while the $112 million has been promised, not a dime has been paid, regardless of the law. Again, nā kānaka, the people, wait; this time, it's the fault of the state govemment. Ironically, the failure to pay hurts everyone, Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian alike, for the law clearly states that so long as tbe monies owed are not paid, 10 percent interest on the $112 million will be charged. At a time when the interest rates at most major banks retum 3.5 percent on a savings account, it makes no sense to keep the Hawaiian people waiting. The state government should float a bond whose interest rate will likely be closer to 5 or 6 percent and pay us now. Instead, it has chosen to delay payment at a cost of 10 percent to all taxpayers, Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike. More importantly, it has in the process denied nā kānaka the funds to move forward. The trustees have already established a $10 million education foundation. The money is to eome from the $112 million owed to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. This foundation will be the cornerstone of what we believe to be the most significant means of improving our-selves-through education. This foundation will be the means by whieh Hawaiians mai nā pua a hiki i nā kūpuna, from the preschoolers to the kūpuna, will be afforded new and greater opportunities fashioned by our

own people, to be educated and to serve. The trustees will shortly dehberate the merits of allocating $20 million to a revolving loan fund to enable the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to provide more and better housing. I propose that OHA link arms with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to establish greater loan capability to rebuild and renovate homes on Hawaiian Home Lands: homes that are substandard, that house more than one family, that house more than one generation. Under present policy, Hawaiians ean only borrow up to $15,000 to fix their homes. This program will lift this ceiling. I am recommending this revolving loan program for housing renovation be $10 milhon. I also propose the trustees designate an additional $10 milUon revolving loan program for our people. In too many cases, we have found that while our people are able to make the monthly payments for a new home, they eannol afford the down payment necessary. This loan program wiU provide the means to make that down payment. The entire $20 million required for both programs will be fully guaranteed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Both loan programs ean and should be administered by a private lending institution, and be exempt from the policies that hamstring the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. For example, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is currently obligated to offer homesteads to anyone, regardless of whether they already own another home in fee. This proposed program will not afford that same privilege. Anyone who already owns land in fee in Hawai'i would be ineligible under this proposal. Some may say this is unfair to them. I say the homeless should be given first priority. There is another aspect to these proposed programs: priority for the jobs generated by renovating houses and building homes will be given to Hawaiian businesses. Under this proposal, those Hawaiian businesses who meet the criteria established by trade or industry organizations, such as contracting and licensing boards, will have priority in building and renovating these homes for Hawaiians. This link between Hawaiians in need of housing and Hawaiian businesses providing the housing is an example of the kinds of programs OHA should be implementing. But more, mueh more, needs to be done. I chaUenge the state Legislature to meet, or beat, the

$20 million proposed. By doing so, they will dramatically send a message during the centennial of the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian nation, that the state Legislature is not content to eontinue long-standing neglect of the Hawaiian people, and is truly committed to assist the Hawaiian people in rebuilding their lives by providing badly needed housing. In order to address all the needs of our people, OHA needs to, and hopefully will, establish a bond rating in order to fmance our projects. Through the assistance of friends of OHA in the business community, firms such as Goldman Sachs, internationally recognized investment bankers doing business with the state government and private firms throughout Hawai'i, is seriously interested in assisting our mission. Now let me address the issue of sovereignty for the Hawaiian people. The trustees wUl continue to encourage the government to re-establish Hawaiian sovereignty. In February 1992, OHA proposed its view of sovereignty to Sen. Daniel Inouye. The issue of sovereignty wUl require that eaeh of us, Hawaiian and non-Hawanan alike, act in eonscience, not necessarily in eoneen. It wiU require that eaeh of us, Hawaiians and nonHawaiians alike, extend respect to eaeh other, not that we necessarily all agree. And it will require understanding and eooperation at the federal level. Under our proposal, an 'aha 'elele hana kumu kānāwai, a constitutional convention, is to be convened. Delegates shall be elected by Hawaiians by ahupua'a, traditional districts established long ago by our people. The delegates to the 'aha 'elele hana kumu kānāwai shall determine the fabric of our sovereignty. Only their creativity will limit Uie boundaries of ko kākou aupuni. Hawaiians elected by Hawaiians will have the right to determine our future as Hawaiians. Developed by our people, this palapala will be taken back into our communities for discussion. The convention will reconvene after statewide input and will deliberate on the comments, suggestions, and criticism of the new Hawaiian constitution. After those deliberations, where I expect that amendments will be offered to the new Hawaiian constitution, our people will vote on their vision of sovereignty. Only then, with the approval of our people, shall the re-estab-lished aupuni be constructed. OHA will not decide our future. The people will through electing

their delegate, through discussing the new Hawaiian eonstitution in the communities, and finally through affirmation by the vote of the people. I look forward to a time when Hawaiian people will onee again have greater control over our resources. I look forward to a time when the Hawaiian people will have the ability to control our futures; a time when Hawaiians of all ages ean choose the education they want, enabling them to compete and succeed after a century of education, not of our own choosing and not always available. I look forward to a time where our future and its successes or failures are ours alone. Then and only then shall the Hawaiian people have accomplished the first steps toward self-determi-nation. I know that eaeh of the eoncerns I have addressed today will affect and strain the relationships whieh define and maintain our community. As we move together along this journey, I ask you to recall and reaffirm the belief in aloha-the shared breath of greeting, affection and care; in 'ohana-the bond among living generations, the ancestors and the unborn; and in ha'aheo-a pride without prejudice. Investing and trusting in eaeh other as part of community are what we have truly affirmed today. We do not have to be fearful or lacking in faith: our traditions as citizens of Hawai'i and as Hawaiians will sustain and join us together. This journey will not be easy. It cannot be accomplished without the help, assistance, and support of all of us. The success of our path will be measured by our ability to link arms not only with ourselves but with everyone - Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians, with federal, state, and county govemments. I look forward to the time where we will play a more significant and critical role in shaping the larger community. Eia nō ko'u mana'o i kēia lā. E alu like pū mai kākou, e pūlama pū mai kākou, e aloha pū mai kākou no ka lanakila a me ka ha'aheo no ko kākou aupuni.