Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 5, 1 May 1996 — OHA's lobby team: dignified, focused, committed [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA's lobby team: dignified, focused, committed

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Eaeh year more than 2000 bills are introduced at the state Legislature. The responsibility for determining whieh of these measures should be supported or opposed by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs falls to the OHA trustee lobbying team.

For the past four years, the lobby team has been composed of Trustees A. Frenchy DeSoto, Kina'u Boyd Kamali'i, and

I Abraham Aiona. I Government Affairs I Officer Scotty Bowman I says "the OHA team is I effective, experienced I and strong in their support and representation of all Hawaiians on issues before the Legislature. Thcy are listcncd to, and most important, heard as OHA and Hawaiian advocates." The lobby team is a unique combination of talents and skills. First elected to the Board of Trustees in I 1980, Frenchy DeSoto is I often called "the mother of OHA." She chaired the Hawaiian Affairs eom-

mittee at the 1978 state constitutional convention whieh created the Office and also served as OHA's first chairperson. Now as the chair of OHA's legislative review committee and member of the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission, Trustee DeSoto is known for bolh her poetic turn-of-phrase in supporting Hawaiians, and her blunt, no-holds-barred reaction to

opponents. Asked about her style and approach at the Legislature, DeSoto said, "I follow my na'au. lf I don't feel good inside myself, then I know it's not pono. And if it's hewa — like the bill to cut OHA's trust entitlement — then I'll fight it with everything I have." Just as strong in her commitment to assuring fairness and justice to Hawaiians is Trustee Kina'u Boyd Kamali'i. A ten-year veteran of the state House of Representatives and former minority leader before being elected to the OHA Board in

1992, Kamali'i serves as the chair of the committee on land and sovereignty. She also sits as the OHA representative on the

Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Commission. Kamali'i has taken the team lead in asserting Hawaiian rights. "Trust revenues and Hawaiian program

dollars are necessary tools for rebuilding the Hawaiian naūon" she explains. Money won't matter if we will cea.se to exist as a people. As Hawaiians we are compelled to demand the return of our

lands and guarantee our traditional rights to water, gathering, and spiritual practice."

Also a key member of the lobbying team is Abraham Aiona who is serving his second term as trustee from the island of Maui. A longtime member of the Maui County Council and former chief of poliee, Aiona now serves as Board vice chair and head of the OHA budgct. finance and policy committce. Dislinguished and articulate, Aiona "finds greal salisfaction in serving the Hawaiian people. I've been in public service all my life, but nothing has made me

prouder than standing with the Hawaiian people and for our culture." Together, the lobby team has nearly fifty years of governmental experience. And the influence and respect they wield from many years of service is noticeable and important. Rep. Dennis Arakaki, chair of the House Hawaiian affairs committee, commended the OHA team for their "diligence and persistence. Hundreds of bills are heard whieh affect OHA and Hawaiians — they were always helpful in providing information, consistent in their perspective for advocacy, and thoughtful in their testimony. With their input, good bills were made better

and bad bills were often held." Windward O'ahu Senator Whitney Anderson agreed and called the OHA team "hardworking and determined. When they testify on a bill, the committee knows they're getting hard facts and deep feelings. That's an effective combination at the Legislature." The real proof of their work is reflected in the legislative outcomes. The bill to cut OHA's entitlement by 80 percent — is dead. The bill to assure all lands acquired by OHA are held in a trust for all Hawaiians — passed into law. The bill to transfer the ceded lands of Leiali'i to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in violation of the OHA trust — is dead. The bill to continue current funding to the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council for a summer Native Hawaiian Vote — passed into law.

DeSoto also credits the support of the Hawaiian community at two unity rallies as critical to OHA's success this year. "The bill to cut OHA's revenues brought us together as one 'ohana. Sure, we sometimes disagree with eaeh other. But if someone outside starts a fight, then they deal with all of us." During a very difficult session, the OHA lobby team of Trustees Frenchy DeSoto, Kina'u Boyd Kamali'i and Abraham Aiona maintained the dignity and strength of purpose whieh should make all Hawaiians proud.

"With the lobby team's input, good bills were made better and bad bills were often held." — Dennis Arakaki, House Hawaiian Affairs Committee chairman

Trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto: often called "the mother of OH A." Photos by Patrick Johnston

Trustee Abraham Aiona: distinguished and articulate

Trustee Kina u Boyd Kamali'i: committed to assuring fairness and justice to Hawaiians.