Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 11, 1 November 1996 — News Break [ARTICLE]

News Break

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LCandidates for the Legislature overwhelmingly support continued payment of entitlements to Hawaiians, according to a survey just conducted for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The survey, done for OHA by Ward Research, ne., asked 1 16 candidates their position on the 9ntitlements. llThe survey's outcome is heartening," said Scotty 3owman, OHA's government affairs officer, "we □re concerned, though. A number of incumbents did not respond and some of those are among the most powerful legislators." See what your legislator candidates said. Pages 4 and 5. _ ■

(from Page 1 ) Seventy-two percent of those running for office responded to the OHA survey. Of the 23 candidates running for state Senate, 16 answered the survey question.

Of the 94 candidates for state House of Representatives, 68 answered. "We will be vigilant to make sure this pre-election support continues after the session begins." Bowman said support for the entitlements is critical, because during the continuing state budget woes, there have been indications that the 20 percent entitlement to Hawaiians from public lands might be attacked. Letters were mailed to the address candidates listed on their state elections filing. As many as five follow up phone calls were made. Senate Non Responders Among those in Senate races who did not respond were incumbents Donna Ikeda, who has been chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, Andy Levin, Joe Tanaka, Donna Ikeda, Brian Taniguchi and Carol Fukunaga. House Non Responders In the House race, incumbents who didn't respond included Joe Souki, who has been speaker of the House. Nor did Eric Hamakawa, Robert Herkes, Bob Nakasone, Brian Yamane, Terry Yoshinaga, Ken Hiraki, Jun Abinsay, Romy Cachola, Nathan Suzuki, Nester Garcia, Ron Menor or Devon Nekoba. The candidates were given the statement: "To compensate for native lands taken from Hawaiians, state law provides that 20 percent of all revenue from public lands shall be used by OHA to better conditions of native Hawaiians. Do you support continued payment of these entitlements by the State?" Candidates' responses ranged from "strongly support continued payment" to "strongly oppose continued payment." VOTE November 5

» Number Senate House Total Ofseats 13 51 64 Ofcandidates 23 94 117 Responded 16 68 84 % responded 60% 72% Strong support 14 43 % of responders 87% 63.2% % of candidates 60% 46% Somewhat support 1 19 Somewhat oppose 1 1 Strongly oppose 1

Name Senate candidates Boyd, Stewart K. (Stew) Matsuura, Richard M. (Dick) Fitzgerald, Bryan Levin, Andrew (Andy) Tanaka, Joe lkeda, Donna R. Slom, Sam Matsunaga, Matt Neff, Ronald J. (Ron) James, John Taniguchi, Brian T. Fukunaga, Carol Ryan, Tracy Ahn Chun Oakland, Suzanne N.J. Low, Jonathan Mizuguchi, Norman Sakamoto, Norman Dudley, Kioni Kanno, Brian lge, Marshall Lki, Miehael (Mike) Anderson, Whitney T. Young, Jackie House Hutchison, Terry L. Takamine, Dwight Y. Chang, Jerry Leslie Humphers, Steve Arthurs, Bob Hamakawa, Eric G. Herkes, Robert N. Reed, Robert Cohn, Elaine Whalen, Paul McDermott, Rick Tarnas, David A. Barr, Allen W. White, Mike Agsalog, Danny Souki, Joe Hokoana, Lui K. Nakasone, Bob Evert, Dan Morihara, David Halford, Chris Ramil, Luz Romero Morita, Hermina (Mina) Kanoho, Ezra R. Low, Jonathan Kawakami, Bertha C. Kennedy, David K. Stegmaier, Dave Hoshijo, William D. (Bill) Ward, Gene Marumoto, Barbara Tataii, Steve Perry, Yvonne Say, Calvin K.Y.

Distr. Party lncumbe 2 R No 2 D Yes 3 R No 3 D 5 D 8 D 8 R No 9 D Yes 9 R No 11 R 11 D 12 D 12 L No 14 D No 14 R No 15 D Yes 16 D 20 R No 24 D Yes 24 D Yes 24 R Yes 25 R Yes 25 D No 1 R 1 D 2 D Yes 2 R No 3 R No 3 D 4 D 4 R 5 D 5 R 6 R No 6 D Yes 7 R 7 D Yes 8 R No 8 D 9 R 9 D 10 R No 10 D Yes 11 R Yes 11 D 12 D No 13 D Yes 14 R No 14 D Yes 15 R No 15 D Yes 16 D No 16 R Yes 17 R Yes 17 D No 18 R 18 D Yes

nt? Statement I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I somewhat oppose continued payment I strongiy support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I somewhat support conbnued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued paymen I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I somewhat support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I somewhat support continued payment I somewhat support continued payment I somewhat support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I somewhat support continued payment I strongly support continued payment I somewhat support continued payment

Comments My wife and children are extremely proud of their native Hawaiian heritage. I hope to make them proud of my service to the Hawaiian people. The State must learn to honor its contracts. The same as every one else. Any modification must be by mutual agreement However, the definition of revenue from public lands should be clarified to comply with federal law lndependent Hawaiian, not the State, should control ail the trust lands, including the ceded lands. OHA should be separated from the State or abolished. Long time Hawaiian religion Professor wrote "Man, Gods, and nature co-author a eall for Hawaiian Sovereignty." I believe the State has an ethical obligation to assist the native Hawaiian community to meet the challenges confronting it in virtu ally every social area. The rhetoric of reason must replace the rhetoric of division. A summit of leaders must include legislators from both parties. A solution ean be found. The Governor wants to reduce funding to OHA, but under a 1987 Hawaii Supreme Court Ruling, only the legislature is authorized to this. Give them their land and give them their money. A contract is a contract. When voting against OHA's budget cuts, I said the State must honor past agreements, and only through direct negotiations ean anything so significant be changed. I strongly support continued payment but at the current level until such time that the legal issues with the Federal government are resolved. "This mess is the work of the Democrat-controlled State government. It's elean up time. It's pay back time. A payment plan that is not detrimental to the whole state should be negotiated." No payment cuts! The Airport funds conflict suggests another approach may be need. Any new formula must meet or exceed current average Statewide payments. I strongly support 20% on ceded land however, I do not feel OHA should receive revenues for any capital improvements for whieh they have made no contribution. I would like to see the lands returned. The Governor has taken a strong position in reassessing this matter. I believe it is important to hear him out and to listen to other points of view before coming to a decision myself. We made a commitment to rebuild the Hawaiian people and that is exactly what we should do. I support continued payments from public lands trust according to law. I have helped Hawaiians for two decades. Now I am in dire need of their help. I ask every Hawaiian regarding this to send a eheek to Steve Tataii, P.O. Box 11042 Honolulu, Hl 96828. Mahalo. Though I support in principle OHA's 20% entitlement to ceded land revenue, issues regarding what constitutes "revenue" and means of fundina need to be resolved.

Continued on Page 5

Legislative candidates give position on Hawaiian entitlements

Name Dstr. Party lncumbent? Statement Black, Bruce R. 19 R No I somewhat support continued payment Parker, Miehael 19 NL No I somewhat support continued payment Yamane, Brian Y. 19 D Saiki, Scott K. 20 D Yes I somewhat support continued payment Ferguson-Brey, Pam 21 D No I strongly support continued payment Fox, Galen 21 R No I somewhat support continued payment Porter, Sean P. 21 L No I strongly support continued payment Yoshinaga, Terry Nui 22 Case, Ed 23 D Yes Harding, Ken 23 R No I strongly support continued payment Aiona, Samson K. (Sam) 24 R No I strongly support continued payment Shon, Jim 24 D Yes I somewhat support continued payment Brawley, Richard D. 25 R No I strongly support continued payment Hiraki, Kenneth T. (Ken) 25 D Kawananakoa, Quentin Kuhio 26 R Yes I strongly support continued payment Schuman, Richard 26 D No I somewhat support continued payment Ahu lsa, Lei 27 D No I strongly support continued payment Ching, Corinne W.L. 27 R No I strongly support continued payment Arakaki, Dennis A. 28 D Yes I strongly support continued payment Abinsay, Jun 29 D Santiago, Rob l 29 R No i strongly support continued payment Cachola, Romy M. 30 D Suzuta. Nathan H. 31 D Mcdemiott, Bob 32 R Pepper, Lennard J. (Len) 32 D Yes I strongly oppose continued payment Magin, Judy 33 R No I strongly support continued payment Okamura, Tom 33 D Yes I somewhat support continued payment Ferguson, Paul 34 R No I somewhat support continued payment Takai, K. Mark 34 D Yes I somewhat support continued payment Yonamine, Noboru (Nobu) 35 D Yes I strongly support continued payment Kuehu, Holly 36 R No I somewhat support continued payment Takumi, Roy M. 36 D Yes I strongly support continued payment Garcia, Nestor 37 Georgiev, Dean 38 R Lee, Marilyn B. 38 D No I strongly support continued payment Menor, Ron 39 D White, Thomas 39 R No I strongly support continued payment Oshiro, Marcus R. 41 D Yes I somewhat support continued payment Oshiro, Paul T. 40 D Yes Amaral, Annelle C. 42 D Yes I strongly support continued payment Moses. Mark 42 R No I stroogty support conhnued payment Kahikina, Miehael P. 43 D Yes I strongly support continued payment Miyashiro, Aly A. 43 R No I strongly support continued payment Jones, Merwyn Seichi 44 D Mixeti, Miehael Eleu 44 R No I strongly support continued payment McCabe, Theresa (Terry) 45 R Santiago. Alex 45 D Yes I somewhat support continued payment Bellinger, Reb 46 D No No comment Meyer, eolleen 46 R Yes I strongly support continued payment Archibald, Karen 47 G No I strongly support continued payment Loftus, Mike 47 R No I strongly support continued payment Tom, Terrance W.H. 47 D Yes I strongly support continued payment It0, Ken 48 D Yanagihara, Roy S 48 R No I strongly support continued payment Doi, Bil! Jr. 49 D No I somewhat support continued payment Thielen, Cynthia 49 R Yes I strongly support continued payment Nekoba, Devon M T 50 D Pendleton. David (Kawika) 50 R No I strongly support continued payment Anderson, Eve Glover 51 R Yes I strongly support continued payment Goodenow, Kenny 51 D No I strongly support continued payment

Comments House, continued These lands should be returned to Hawaiians. Then Hawaiians ean realize their full potential, culturaily, financially and agrculturally. The level of my support is aiso contingent upon the outcome of OHA litigation whieh is pending in the Hawaii Supreme Court The State and OHA have a legal contract. The State must honor its obligation towards OHA or lose credibility. The question and response options are overly simplistic. I have generally supported the allocation of publie land revenues described, but it is clear that ambiguities need to be cleared up and amendments need to be made. None of the options provided adequately describes my position. Whether native Hawaiian or not, we all have an interest in making OHA work, and I pledge my support to this end. The formula has worked well so far, but equity and justice may require other creative measures that do not pit the rights of the native Hawaiian community against other state needs I support continued payment as long as the monies are truly supporting native Hawaiians and not solely going to support the board of OHA. I strongly support continued payment. However, the monies should be better managed to programs that make real change There should be an amendment to the law to waive application to improvements that are made whieh serve a public purpose i.e. public housing, schools, etc. Language in statute should clearty establish intent as compensation forthe wrongful taking of lands during the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. People of good will need to eome together to discuss fair payment and legislative intent as compared with the court's interpretation. I fully support the 20% payment to OHA, however, consensus must be reached on what constitutes the base revenues from public lands. State law provides that 20 percent of proceeds go to OHA, but does not require it. I support meeting the requirements of law. I support continued payment. But the formula needs re-examination so all persons of Hawaiian blood benefit, while Govemment ean still provide services for all its people I don't want to select one of your suggested options of response because I don't feel at this point that I have ali of the facts involved in this very complex issue. While I strongly support continued payment, I have some reservations and concems regarding what comprises "revenues" and how the current 20% payment is calculated I am open to further discussion on this issue Natīve Hawaiians have been given so many broken promises that it is time to grve the native Hawaiians what they rightfully deserve Pay the Hawaiians what is owed to them now! It is time to make a complete settlement In my opinion, they have waited too long. I strongly support the 20% payment to OHA. We need to clarify, with OHA's input, presently how the 20% calculation is made, to avoid court battles. The State government made a promise to native Hawaiian to pay this money. It cannot now break this promise simply because eeonomie condition have changed. I will support continued payment of 20% of revenues earned through the use of ceded lands, not all public lands as stated in the questionnaire. We morally and legally owe the ceded land revenue to OHA. This steady base of funding is essential for programs that help native Hawaiians. An open discussion is needed to clarify issues There is way for the State to fulfill its legal obligation to OHA as well as its financial responsibilities to all citizens.