Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 1, 1 January 1995 — The buying of ceded lands, makahiki time [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The buying of ceded lands, makahiki time

by Moanike'ala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i Last month my article was about the ceded lands. I would like to continue that discussion since part of the article dealing with the buying of ceded lands was cut because of an absurd policy proposed by OHA's pub-

lie information office (administration) and adopted by the Board of Trustees last year that limits eaeh trustee's eolumn to 600 words. In speaking with our current administrator about this problem. he has promised to find internal ways to resolve this needless encumbrance. It disturbs me that so timely and important an issue as the buying and selling of ceded lands shouid be chopped up over a two-month period; this breaks the flow of eommunication. Part of my responsibility is to

inform you in a clear, timely manner of enieial issues affecling our people - that's why you elected me. OHA trustees, in my view, are as important to Hawaiians as is a senator, congressman, or governor - and who would limit their reasonably worded statements? Last month we discussed the selling of ceded lands; now. the buying of ceded lands. In the late 1980s, during the time of OHA's negotiations with the Office of State Planning on what was Act 304 Retroactive Payment Bill, trustees in negotiation (mySelf included) did not want to alienate (lose) nor he forced to purchase ceded lands! This was prior to Clayton Hee, Kīna'u Boyd Kamali'i, Abe Aiona, Rowcna Akana, and Sam Kealoha becoming trustees. I was very disturbed that the end result of negotiations in '90 was revenues and/or 'āina. 'Āina should have been eonveyed to us - and not as part of a deduction from dollars owed OHA whieh unfortunateIy ended up being the case in Act 304. Subject to verification by our own auditors, the state finally paid OHA $128,000,000 last year with the possibility of $100 million more coming our way through litigation. Subject to Act 304 (owed retroactively in land or money), OHA's entitlements

committee (of whieh I am a member) has for the last few years been looking at a number of parcels - Waikīkī Yacht Club and lands at Sand Island are both parcels agreed to by the BOT on October 15 as a deduction from money owed OHA by the state. These agreements are not finalized. As stated last month, OHA was forced into this situ-

ation by the '82 law - OHA receives revenues, not specifying 'āina. It is important that Hawaiians keep fully aware of the ceded land issue: I will keep you up to date on what transpires for nothing is more important to our future in these islands. Makahiki Recently I attended two makahiki eelebrations: Hilo and South Point, Ka'ū. The longtime grass-roots 'ohana of the

Big Island. whose activist roots go back to Kalama Vailey ('70), Kaho'olawe ('76), Hilo Airport Runway ('78), Defending Pele ('80s), Miloli'i, sovereignty and more, for almost 20 years has held makahiki and ho'olaule'a with music, dance, religious ceremonies, games, and free food for two days, all manuahi. Mueh kōkua, donations and hard work is put out so the eommunity ean eome together, and for some of us. reflect on "how things go" with our 'āina and people. We here on the Big Island have been catalysts responsible for a lot of changes in the direction of these islands. Aloha 'Āina is our creed, and it has always been "in the spirit of peaee and aloha" throughout our quest for justice. Governor Ben Cayetano has just been sworn into office. There is great optimism and hōpe that he will bring needed change and help our people. At OHA, we have one new trustee; weleome, Billie Beamer. Hee and Aiona have been re-elected as Chair and Vice-Chair. I hope for change and more openness on the BOT as well. I am optimistic for the New Year and hope you are also. Hau'oli Makahiki Hou. Mālama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono.