Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 6, 1 June 1995 — Can plebiscite roll as scheduled? [ARTICLE]

Can plebiscite roll as scheduled?

HSEC funding extended into FY96

bv Deborah L. Ward

The Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council (HSEC) is still waiting for Gov. Ben Cayetano to release its funding, whieh he has frozen since February this year. HSEC executive director Lulani McKenzie said, "Our understanding was that he would release the funds when the Legislature re-appropriated the funds. They have now done so, but why is the governor not meeting his commitment?" In the closing days of the Legislature, the funding appropriation for the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council (HSEC) was carried over from the current fiscal year (ending June 30, 1995) to the next one. This move should allow HSEC to carry out its programs for public education, registration and publicity in preparation for a plebiscite vote by Hawaiian voters this fall. McKenzie said the HSEC complied with all of the governor's budget and information requests during the legislative session, but that he is now

expressing eoneem about postplebiscite costs that the state might have to cover for a Hawaiian constitutional convention. The convention is the next step projected if the plebiscite is successful. McKenzie said the HSEC is well aware of the tight state economy and recognizes that it might need to seek alternative funding for the constitutional convention, or that it might even be postponed in that case. However, she asked, "Why cut off the plebiscite process now when we are ready to go and the Legislature has approved funding for next year?" The eouneil has planned a vote by mail between Nov. 15 and Dec. 29, 1995. Voter registration began in January this year, and will continue through November 30. 1995. The plebiscite would ask Hawaiians to vote, yes or no, on this question: "Shall the Hawaiian people elect delegates to propose a native Hawaiian government?" The plebiscite does not ask people to vote at this time on a specific model of sovereignty. It is

seen as only the beginning of a multi-step process for all Hawaiians to participate in forming a Hawaiian nation. The HSEC appropriation of $1.8 million in general funds, matched by OHA funds from the ceded land trust revenues, will be re-allocated into the new fiscal year. HSEC had expected to spend about $700,000 of that amount this fiscal year, but has spent only about half that amount because it has not had the funds to let contracts for voter education and media outreach. McKenzie said if the funds are not released soon, the eouneil may be forced to decide to delay the plebiscite into 1996. The funding re-allocation for HSEC was removed from an earlier bill to establish a Hui 'Imi Pono Advisory Council, and instead inserted into another bi 11 relating to state funding, whieh at press time was p>ending signature by the govemor. Despite the delay in release of funding that has affected the HSEC's outreach plans, McKenzie said that the eouneil will still try to adhere to the

scheduled timeline for the plebiscite. She said that in the fall HSEC will take a poll to determine whether enough people have heard about the plebiscite in order to register and participate. HSEC has been presenting information about the plebiscite to community groups and organizations. In April, HSEC focused its efforts on Maui, and in May on Moloka'i and Hawai'i. This month and next, HSEC will be focusing its efforts on Kaua'i. To schedule an information presentation, eall the HSEC at 1(808) 597-2834. McKenzie said they will also be trying to coordinate outreach and registration meetings this summer on the Mainland in key cities in Washington, Oregon and Califomia, with the help of loeal Hawaiians. Those meetings will be to provide information to coordinators and volunteers who ean help the eouneil on the Mainland. At present, because HSEC has no funds for out of state travel, eouneil members are unable to travel to the Mainland for information presentations.