Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 6, 1 June 1994 — Hui Kākoʻo to represent homestead applicants [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hui Kākoʻo to represent homestead applicants

Hui Kāko'o is a non-profit organization whieh was formed in March this year to, for the first time, officially represent applicants for Hawaiian Home Lands. It originated in September 1993 as an advisory task force of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. One of the task force's recommendations to DHHL was that there be a group to represent the interests of applicants on the waiting

list. According to Hui Kāko'o leaders, DHHL will recognize Hui Kāko'o as the official representative of homestead applicants. Hui Kāko'o was created to encourage active participation by all applicants in matters affecting them as beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Home Lands trust. It will advocate for and speak as the elected voice of DHHL applicants in legislative and judicial matters at the eounty. state, federal and internation-

al levels. It will work with the Hawaiian Homes Commission and DHHL to support their efforts to get more Hawaiians on the land. Executive director Hanale Kauhi said Hui Kāko'o also hopes to contact applicants living on the Mainland, to invite their help in creating networks to spread the information. Hui Kāko'o will also serve as a two-way communications network to hear the concerns of

applicants, and to inform them about the status of DHHL programs as well as trust claims being examined by the Hawaiian Home Lands Individual Claims Review Panel and the work of the Independent Representative for Hawaiian Homes beneficiaries. Presently designated island representatives of Hui Kāko'o are: • Peter Kama, chairman, for O'ahu and out-of-state applicants

• Hanale Kauhi, executive director, for Maui • Gordean Bailey, for Maui • Robert Lindsey, for West Hawai'i • Reynolds Kamakawiwo'ole, for East Hawai'i • Lehua Matsuoka, for Lāna'i • Kawika Gaspero, for O'ahu

• Jo Ann Lei Kalamau, for Kaua'i and Ni'ihau • (no representative for Moloka'i yet named) There will eventually be 17 Hui Kāko'o island district representatives, representing district advisory councils that will be formed from applicant mem-

bers on eaeh island. Eaeh district representative has one vote on a statewide board of directors. Monthly meetings of Hui Kāko'o representatives have begun. This month, meetings are scheduled: on Kaua'i, Monday, June 6, 7-9 p.m. at Līhu'e Community Center; on Hawai'i, Wed., June 15, 7-9 p.m. at Kūhiō Haie, the DHHL West Hawai'i office in Waimea; and on Moloka'i, Thurs., June 23 at Mitchell Pau'ole Center, 7-9 p.m. in Kaunakakai.

For information on future meetings and to join Hui Kāko'o, eall Peter Kama, ehainnan, (O'ahu) at 259-7035, or Hanale Kauhi (Maui) at 8717318.

A voice for homestead applicants: Peter Kama (left) and Hanale Kauhi of Hui Kako'o.