Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 5, 1 May 1993 — Sovereignty begins in the naʻau [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Sovereignty begins in the naʻau

by the Rev. Moses K. Keale, Sr. Trustee, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau "There is herehy established an Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs shall hold title to all the real and personal property now or hereafter set aside or conveyed to it whieh shall be held in trust for the native Hawaiians and Hawaiians." (Hawai'i State Constitution, XII §5). These historic words marked the state's first step toward recognizing the precious human resource called the native Hawaiian, the indigenous people of these islands and their host culture. In Febmary 1991, I addressed the Aboriginal Peoples Institute's International Sovereignty Institute in a workshop in Califomia. In trying to capture OHA's essence, I told the participants -sovereign people and those

wishing sovereign recognition -that OHA is an independent entity, devoted solely to the interests of Hawaiians. Hawaiians may suffer the worst statistics for heahh, education, and imprisonment, I said, but

they also serve in key places: governor and U.S. senator, helping in the effort to resolve claims and achieve self-determination. I told them we had a clear vision of the road to restored sovereignty but had rnmp tr\ l#»arn frr\m

their experiences as well as share ours, and to ask their help in making Hawaiian aspirations a reality. I noted that Hawaiians believed in three elements of successful govemment: A Land Base. Two public land trusts comprise the Hawaiian land base. The Hawaiian home lands trustconsists of approximately 188,000 acres set aside

for homesteading in 1921-largely through the efforts of our beloved Prince Kūhiō, our delegate to Congress for 20 years. The trust has not always been used appropriately, but a new urgency and spirit have been infused in recent

years with a new commission led by Hawaiians of great talent and determination. The second is the ceded land trust, lands illegally given to the U.S. at annexation and returned to the new state of Hawai'i in 1QS0 tn h p h^lH in

trust, at least in part, for native Hawaiians. These lands-about 1.4 million acres-remain controversial, but all Hawaiians agree that: • these lands belonged to the government and monarchy of the Kingdom of Hawai'i; • they were illegally taken from the nation when Hawai'i was annexed;

• these lands still belong to Hawaiians. A Population. OHA estimates that there are approximately 225,000 people with native blood and almost half of these are youngerthan 18. A Government. Although Hawaiians want sovereign power over themselves and their resources, we are realists. The right to self-govemance ean only be secured by arrangement with the United States and to seek sovereignty without this aeeommodation is pure stupidity! By law, I said, OHA is charged with advancing the interests of the Hawaiian people. When sovereignty is assured, Hawaiians will create their own government, undoubtedly through a constitutional convention where delegates representing ALL Hawaiians, not just a few, will draft a governing document. This is OHA's greatest role-to strengthen and support Hawaiians in their quest for sovereignty.

In conclusion, I told the participants that Hawaiians are proud but not arrogant. We need and want the counsel and expertise of those who have successfully gained their sovereignty. With that help, we will one day take our plaee with other native peoples as the rightful sovereigns of our land and culture. My constituents of Hawai'i: sovereignty begins from within your na'au-your gut-and is nurtured by your spirituality and culture. Some say that spiritual wisdom comes from the heart. I say no! Pu'uwai-heart-means lump of water. If you hold it in your hand, it dissipates. Our essence, our being comes from the na'au-it is the center of one's being. When your na'au is together, you are together. When you are together, you have achieved your own sovereignty. Only then ean you talk about sovereignty to others and begin to think of sovereignty for our people.