Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 7, 1 July 1993 — Economics of sovereignty: more questions than answers for now [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Economics of sovereignty: more questions than answers for now

by Deborah L. Ward Ea. Hawaiian sovereignty. What does it mean to Hawaiians, and to non-Hawaiian residents of Hawai'i, now and tomorrow? Could sovereignty actually work in Hawai'i? What kind of economy would a sover-

eign Hawaiian nation have? Would it allow the Hawaiian eulture and way of living to thrive? Would it bring a better quality of life for more people in Hawai'i? A Hawaiian Sovereignty Eeonomie Symposium sponsored by the Sovereignty Advisory Council made it clear that a lot of people are asking these questions, and that there aren't a lot of answers — yet. More than 100 participants — from bankers to taro farmers, and housewives to entrepreneurs — gathered on June 5 to discuss the potential eeonomie impacts of different models of Hawaiian sovereignty. Symposium organizers Hayden Burgess and Miehael Kioni Dudley called it "a starting point" to raise questions that further research ean begin to answer, and to identify shared values for the Hawaiian nation. They also saw it as a forum to "dream" together about what that naiion would be like, although they acknowledged

there is a lot of work to be done to get "there" from here. Organizations participating included: the institute for the Advancement of Hawaiian Affairs (IAHA), Ka Pākaukau, 'Ohana Council of Hawai'i, Ka Lāhui Hawai'i and Nā Kane O Ka Malo. The format of the day included brief presentations by panelists

Hayden Burgess of IAHA, Kekuni Blaisdell of Ka Pākaukau. Kioni Dudley of Nā Kane O Ka Malo, and Mililani Trask of Ka Lāhui Hawai'i, on their favored model of sovereignty, and moved to questions from the audience to the panel, to small group discussions and to sharing of the groups' reports to the assembly.

In written responses to a list of 25 questions asked by SAC, the sovereignty groups speculated on how they would deal with such matters as the Hawaiian nation's eeonomie base, employment, cost of living, impact of sovereignty on tourism, agriculture, the military and housing, and other issues.

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Nā kānaka maoli who helped build Mauloa, the traditional coastal sailing eanoe, participate in an 'awa ceremony prior to the vessel's launching. See story page 13. Photo by JeffClark

Sovereign economics: no concrete plan yet in sight from page 1

Most of the sovereignty groups present favored Hawai'i becoming totally independent from the United States in gradual steps. Ka Lāhui Hawai'i sees a nation-within-a-nation relationship to the United States, but now says they do not rule out future options including free association, eommonweahh, advanced commonwealth or complete independence. Eeonomie resource base of the nation AU groups agreed control of a land base and its resources is needed, though the size and nature of the land base, and the model of sovereignty, will determine what kind of employment and industry is possible. What might the potential sources of revenues, investment and employment, be for sovereign Hawai'i? Advocates point to international banking, high technology and light industry, taxes, duty-free goods, free trade zones, fishing and aquaculture, food processing, education, more eontrolled tourism, commodiīies sales, ineome from franking (producing stamps) and postal activities and environmental preservation. Jobs and employment Some groups expected little change in jobs in eommeiee, the service sector and industry. Others saw more jobs being created in agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and manufacturing because of a shift to greater selfsufficiency in production of food

and basic goods. Mililani Trask of Ka Lāhui said that indigenous economics emphasizes eommuni-ty-based eeonomie development that uses loeal resources and workers to meet loeal needs. Tourism Burgess of IAHA wanted to see greater control over tourism and the number of firms involved, issuance of Hawaiian visas, and for foreign visitors to have greater eeonomie and cultural interaction with Hawai'i's people. Ka Lāhui's Trask foresaw greater regulation of tourism to benefit the native people, and to monitor impacts on the lands and natural resources of the native nation. Blaisdell expected a decline in tourism, whieh Ka Pākaukau sees as harmful to Hawaiians, socially, culturally

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Symposium organizers Dudiey and Burgess: Hawaiians must get involved now in creating the future they desire.

Sovereign economics

from page 14 and environmentally U.S. military presence in Hawai'i All groups advocated military reduction and eventual withdrawal of the U.S. military forces as necessary to sovereignty. IAHA sees a Hawaiian military assuming national security functions. According to LAHA and Nā Kane O Ka Malo, phasing out the U.S. military would compensate for iost employment and spending by freeing up housing units, and making more land available for housing and other purposes. Cost of living Most groups expected a decrease in the cost of living in Hawai'i, particularly in housing, as former military housing and bases become available, but they diverged in their opinions on how the standard of living would be

affected. Blaisdell of Ka Pākaukau spoke of a return to a more simple subsistence lifestyle that would mean less luxury, but also be less costly and less hannful to the environment. The people's mana'o In the afternoon, participants broke off into small groups to discuss the implications of the models of sovereignty presented. In their individual reports back to the assembly, they expressed a wide range of opinions and eoncerns. Many individuals thought this was an exciting opportunity to create a new society where eeonomics would mean more than buying, selling and profits. Instead, they saw it as being founded on the health of society, and on pono, the balance between man, nature and god. Sabra Kauka of Kaua'i said, 'To me it means values based on spiritual

and cultural values Hawaiians hold and want to perpetuate." Others, such as Ho'oipo DeCambra of Wai'anae, said sovereignty made her "nervous,* because "My children will inherit

this Hawai'i." Will it mean teaching Hawai'i's children to love the 'āina, teaching them to keep our subsistence lifestyle, she asked? "This is about people, our livelihood, and our future," she said. Winona Rubin, director of the state Department of Human Services, asked "Will we be able to provide an eeonomie base that is broad enough to give us the financial resources to address the needs of the people so everyone will have a quality of life they ean count on? Will we be able to develop that eeonomie base in the context of our cultural and spiritual base?"

All participants were urged to brainstorm ideas for the nation, ask questions of family, friends and co-workers, and to do research on problem areas, for further discussion at the followup symposium, planned for Sept. 25. The Opelu Project and American Friends Service Committee co-sponsored the symposium, and OHA provided funds to the SAC. For a copy of the SAC questionnaire, and/or a transcript of the proceedings, contact Tanya Walker, conference coordinator, at 396-4160

Hawaiians from many walks of life attended the symposium, but many more need to join the discussion and start working for real solutions.