Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 8, 1 August 1993 — How OHA was created [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

How OHA was created

by The Rev. Moses K. Keale Sr. Trustee, Kaua'i & Ni'ihau 1993 is a very special year to reflect on our past. As part of our cultural practice, we have often looked to our past, but that is not where we find direction for our future. One hundred years ago our independence, our identity and our sovereignty were ruthlessly taken. History has recorded the

demise of our laws and our cultural practices, the methodical destruction of our language, the removal of our people from their Iand and the disenfranchisement of our leaders. lt was a decline whieh should have resulted

in the extinction of the Hawaian race. But we are a strong, resilient people and in the 1960s strange events began to take plaee. A reawakening, a fire was kindled

from within our deepest soul. Hawaiians chose to be Hawaiians and to put a halt to the decline of our marvelous race. Our people took a stand regarding the abuse of our land. We chose to mālama our cultural practices and to revive our language, to retell our ancestral stories through our dances and meles — to be proud Hawaiians. But this was not enough and in the 1970s we embarked upon a journey to restore our govern-

ment, resources and leadership. In 1978, we Hawaiians took control of our destiny and fought for the establishment of an agency that we could eall our own: an organization whose sole purpose was to better the conditions of

Hawai-ians. OHA was born of a logical progression of thought and purpose. We needed to be heard. We needed to be represented. We needed to be empowered by law to demand, not ask

for, those things whieh were our right, our entitlement. Out of the bowels of government, OHA was born. The people of the state of Hawai'i (Hawaiians and nonHawaiians alike) accepted and confirmed this birth in 1978. In fact we should be reminded of the exact words whieh were adopted by the people in Chapter 10, Hawai'i Revised Statutes: "(a) The people of the State of Hawai'i and the United States of America as set forth and approved in the Admission Act, established a public trust whieh includes among other responsibilities, betterment of conditions for native Hawaiians. The people of the State of Hawai'i reaffirmed their solemn trust obligation and responsibility to native Hawaiians and furthermore declared in the state constitution that there be an office of Hawaiian affairs to address the needs of the aboriginal class of people of Hawai'i. "(b) It shall be the duty and responsibility of all state departments and instrumentalities of state government providing ser-

vices and programs whieh affect native Hawaiians and Hawaiians to actively work toward the goals of this chapter and to cooperate with and assist wherever possible the office of Hawaiian affairs." There ean be no mistake, the language is clear. The people

sought to give us an avenue for justice. There are those who eonnnue to tell you that OHA is the "agent

of the state." I have been with OHA from its very beginning. I serve only one people — the Hawaiian people. That is as OHA was meant to be. Eaeh trustee must serve one and only one master — the Hawaiian people. To maintain the true spririt of OHA is also your obligation, to mālama this trust, for OHA is just one more step in our march to our destination. Our flag will fly freely over our lands and our pride will soar like the 'io, the hawk. It is OHA's duty, our responsibility, to provide you with a plaee to gather to confer, to share thoughts together for the benefit of all the Hawaiian people. Regardless of our philosophieal differences, we are one in blood and spirit. With that spirit we will build a nation! A i mana'o kekahi e lilo po'okela i waena o 'oukou, e pono no e lilo ia i kauwa nā 'oukou. Nā ke Akua e mālama a e alaka'i ia kākou apau.

In 1978, we Hawaiians took eontrol of our destiny and fought for the establishment of an agency that we could eall our own: an organization whose sole purpose was to better the conditions of Hawaiians. OHA was born.