Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 12, 1 December 1995 — Civic clubs hear message of renewal [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Civic clubs hear message of renewal

by Deborah L. Ward "Ho'omaka: From the honored past let us bring forth new buds," was the theme of the annual Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs' fīve-day convention held in KailuaKona, Hawai'i. The convention was hosted by the Hawai'i District Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and drew 636 registered club members and guests. Eaeh year the 46 member clubs aeknowledge their founding in 1918 by Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole as a civic and political organization of Hawaiians. Workshops on Hawaiian issues of eoneem, as well as floor debate on resolutions, prepare Hawaiians to gain knowledge and insight to carry on the work of improving the conditions of Hawaiian people. Resolutions frequently are later introduced into the state Legislature where they may be adopted, or incorporated into draft legislation. Keynote speaker was Hawaiian Homes Commission Chairman Kali Watson, who outlined ambitious plans for accelerating land awards, expanding infrastructure, and initiating various kinds of housing and commercial development by the depart-

ment. The strength behind the realization of these goals is the $600 million settlement for DHHL enacted this spring by the state legislature. Watson said that DHHL has begun to receive the first increments of the annual $30 million payment, whieh may be made in cash or in land transfer. This year more than 16,000 acres of state land were transferred to restore the home lands tmst inventory. Watson also pointed to the recent signing of the Hawaiian Homes Lands Recovery Act (see story page 6) as an important first step for the retum of federal lands as compensation. In plenary session, the association passed 29 resolutions on various issues eoneeming, health employment and housing, benefits and trusts, native rights and cultural and historic preservation. The association also adopted an ad hoe committee report whieh proposed a recall process for "persons elected by Hawaiian beneficiaries to serve as trustees of public Hawaiian tmsts." Last year in convention, the association adopted a resolution appointing a committee to develop legislation to implement a recall process for OHA trustees by voter benefīciaries. In formulating this process and draft legislation, the ad-hoc

committee extended itself to propose amending Chapter 11, HRS to create a Native Hawaiian Office of Elections under the state Office of Elections "until such time as a sovereign entity is established." This "transitionaI elections system" would cover all elements of future Hawaiian elections, including voter and trustee eligibility requirements and registration, term limits, recall, impeaehments, resignations, reapportionment, and filling vacancies of

unexpired terms. The report proposes that the Native Hawaiian Office of Elections be composed of 11 members, whose names would be sent to the govemor for confirmation: 3 qualified voters of Hawaiian ancestry selected by leaders of any organization with "an overwhelming number of members of Hawaiian ancestry whieh has been in existence at least 75 years and with an unbroken record of service to the Hawaiian community";3 Hawaiian voters selected by trustees of charitable ali'i trusts; 5 Hawaiian voters, one eaeh elected from the islands of Hawai'i, Maui, Moloka'i, O'ahu and Kaua'i, to represent all Native Hawaiian constitutents. At present, there is no recall process for

any elective offīce in Hawai'i. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs election is the only one in whieh trustees are elected to a publie Hawaiian tmst. Commissioners of the Hawaiian Home Lands, also responsible for a public tmst with Hawaiian beneficiaries, are appointed by the govemor and not subject to recall. Tmstees of private, charitable Hawaiian trusts are appointed by Justices of the Supreme Court, and also not subject to recall since they are directed by ali'i wills. The 1996 convention will be held at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu. The 1997 convention will be held at the Town & Country Hotel and Convention Center in San Diego.

Aha Mele choirs sing 'Kona Kai 'Opua,' the competition song.

Opening ceremonies: Civic club directors arrived by eanoe for a traditional ho'okupu presentation at Ahu'ena Heiau, personal heiau of Kamehameha Nui. Photo by Deborah Ward