Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 6, 1 June 1996 — The alternative: Peopie's Puwalu [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The alternative: Peopie's Puwalu

by Samuel Kealoha Jr., Trustee, Moloka'i and Lānai'i Regardless of the outcome of the vote, the state plebiscite is a Lose-Lose situation for the Hawaiian peoples. If Hawaiians vote YES: Hawaiians will be playing into the hands of the state, in effect endorsing the state's plan for a constitutionaI convention - a process that was imposed on the Hawaiian people by the state Legislature in 1993. Furthermore, in this so called "plebiscite," Hawaiians will be voting for a paper nation - there is no land provided for by the plebiscite. If Hawaiians vote NO:

The State will say that Hawaiians are satisfled with the status-quo and do not want sovereignty. The state will elaim that the Hawaiians accept their wardship status. and that it should therefore keep control over Hawaiian lands. Onee this plebiscite has been held, Hawaiians cannot negotiate for sovereignty. Negotiations for Hawaiians as equals in the sovereignty process will have been ter-

minated by the state plebiscite vote. Participation in the plebiscite process means you are agreeing to the parameters of H.B. 3630, where sovereignty is defined as no land and no change for Hawaiians. Participation amounts to agreeing to the annihilation of a self-determined Hawaiian nation. HSEC does not represent self-determina-tion for the Hawaiian people. HSEC represents a state-controlled process for achieving a state-controlled outcome - an outcome that protects state interests, not the interests of the Hawaiian people. The altemative for the Hawaiian people is the PEOPLE'S PUWALU. The Puwalu is a culturally appropriate mechanism to build consensus on the issues of sovereignty and self-determination among the Hawaiian people. The Puwalu is a process that comes from the Hawaiian people, not the state government.

To date there have been two Puwalus held. The first Puwalu was held on February 16 thru 17, 1996 at the Pai 'ohana residence in Kona. It was a special gathering whieh took up issues that touched upon Hawaiian spirituality and cultural rights. Everyone who attended had realized that the Puwalu is integral to Hawaiian unity and responsibility - a responsibi!ity to protect our lands and naturai resources for our future generations. The second People's Puwalu was held on Moloka'i in Ka'amola. It took plaee on the weekend of Apnl 19 thru 20, 1996. There were several organizations who attended and participated in the discus-

sions on issues pertaining to land, water, natural and cultural resources. The mana'o that had been shared at this Puwalu were many. There was a large spectrum of different ideas and opinions whieh involved long discussion. People from different organizations such as the ' Kingdom of Hawai'i, Ka

Pākaukau, Nation of Hawai'i, Homestead Associations, Ka Lāhui Hawai'i, Nā Mamo O Hawai'i, and many more participated in open dialogue. The one thing that we all had in eommon was our commitment to the betterment of the conditions of our people. In whieh, we all agreed to set aside our differences, sit down together and address the issues whieh affect our people. In the end, at the second People's Puwalu, consensus had been reached on the issues whieh were discussed. This proves that Hawaiians ean and will eonūnue to eome together to deliberate on issues pertinent to the establishment of a Hawaiian nation. This is true self-determination! I am urging any of you out there who belong to a Hawaiian organization to participate in the next People's Puwalu. If you are interested or want more information, eall my aide, Shane Pale at 594- 1 887.