Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 11, 1 November 1996 — Defend progress [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Defend progress

Block governor, others who push us to reverse -. en Cayetano and airline attorney JefpUHP frey Watanabe warn — "State on brink L financial crisis — pushed by Hawaiian claims to revenues from ceded lands". This turns non-Hawaiians against Hawaiians receiving the fair agreed upon share. If Hawaiians are entitled to receive 20% of air-

port landing fees, how then, according to Watanabe, pt those same fees will have to be raised 300%,

| threatening increased I plane fares, loss of tourism » and higher food costs? Shibai! This is a blatant use of false scare tactics to "spook," divide and alarm the community-at-arge, alluding that Hawaiians are

"greedy and unfair!" They have our whole country, the very Presi-

dent of the Umted States said that. We OHA Trustees have tried to meet the governor to discuss these issues but he's canceled

many recent meetmgs. Gov. Ben Cayetano does find time, however, to meet with a tantrumthrowing UH football eoaeh. Why has the governor canceled meetings with OHA Trustee negotiators, and used the media to attack Hawaiian entitlements and our right to them? As Hawaiians, we cannot ignore and

take this lying down! We will need your kokua next Legislative Session — Be Prepared!! 'ONIPA'A!! $10 million Habitat loan fund On a more uplifting note, I am proud to say that on Sept. 24 the Planning, Eeonomie Development and Housing Committee I chair passed on to the Budget and Finance Committee a motion to fund a $10 million Habitat for Humanity Revolving Loan Fxmd at 11/2% interest (for administration) to be utilized Statewide. This presents an opportunity to many of our Po'e who never dared dream of owning their home, to do so in 10 years! In the Health and Human Services Committee I also chair, we passed a motion for beds at "Women's Way," an excellent healing, live-in substance abuse program by the Salvation Army for mothers and their children. Young Hawaiian mothers coming before our committee brought tears to our eyes as they

shared the ways their lives and 'ohana had improved tremendously: 1) giving up drugs and aleohol, and 2) becoming better mothers to their kamali'i through the kōkua and guidance from this project the only such in our islands. Tom and Barbara Naki (The Institute for Family Enrichment (TIFFE)) also eame before this HHS eommittee meeting. This dedicated eouple has been trying to get OHA to fund anger management classes for abusive men and their families for years. The last Committee Chair (Billie Beamer) refused to even meet

with them. This mueh needed project was well received by new active HHS committee members Kina'u Kamali'i and Abraham Aiona. More info on the way from staff. Mr. Naki, who has been offering this service (done in the Hawaiian

way) free to Hawaiian men who cannot pay, is scolded by his boss for this free service. But he says, "I can't help it. These men need help! !" No project addresses a more painful need in our community; it will provide anger management classes for 85 men and their families on O'ahu and later on the Big Island. Voting isn 't a party This OHA election, vote your mind and your heart — never the jingle or the slogan. Remember - This is not a social event, a hula festival or pa'ina - our resources, our future is on the line! I've been Hawai'i Island Trustee for 12 years and I have been guided by our tradition of the Aloha 'Aina philosophy in serving you. We've eome a long way; we must defend that progress, always with an open heart of aloha! Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater - the gold with the mud! Mālama Pono. Ua Mau Ke EaO Ka 'Āina I Ka Pono.

īvith a tantrum-throioing

Trustee Messages OHA trustees' individual views expressed do not necessarily represent the ojficial position of the Board of Trustees. OHA is not responsible for accuracy of these commentaries. The trustees weleome eommenl. Write to Ka Wai Ola o OHA, 71 1 Kapi'oiani Blvd. Suite 500, Honohilu 96813.

W Trustee, Hawai'i