Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 10, 1 October 1998 — ʻ98 candidates in focus [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻ98 candidates in focus

i The views and opinions expressed in '98 candidates infocus are of the individual candidates and do not necessarily reflect those of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. 1

Why do you want to be an OHA trustee? I am in the period of my life in whieh want to do something for the people of Hawai'i. I believe I ean make a differenee and with my life experience, I kno\ I ean make a difference. It is my duty as a Hawaiian to be a trustee-at-large candi date for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. What qualities would you bring to the position? I ean bring fair representation, trust as a person, eommunieaīion to the Hawaiian people, youth to the younger generation, maturity to the kūpuna and unity to all the people of Hawai'i. What do you consider the most important issues confronting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and/oi the Hawaiian people? Education is, in my opinion, the key tc any issue of the Hawaiian people or in any culture. The people need to be educated in all issues in today's society, but most importantly , the youth and ehil-

dren in Hawai'i must be given a ehanee to be educated so they ean carry on the I Hawaiian issues of today to the future of tomorrow. v As an OHA trustee, how would > you resolve those concerns? When elected trustee-at-large, I would appropriate funds to the communities of Hawai'i in order that eaeh community > have the opportunity to educate the youth of Hawai'i in cultural and social issues for the 21st century. This is very important in order for Hawai'i to survive. If you could oniy accomplish one goal as an OHA trustee, what would it be? I consider unity among the trustees an important goal because we are elected by the Hawaiian people and they have entrusted us with their TRUST in order ) for us to serve them and only them. I believe we are to SERVE and PROTECT them from losing what they have and their CULTURE. ■

Why do you want to be an OHA trustee? I would like to complete the work I started in 1978: (a) Creation of OHA; (b) Perpetuation of the language and (e) Culture; (d) Protection of access rights. What qualities would you bring to the position? Experience, profound dedication and I love, strength, integrity. Advocacy for nā I maka'āinana. I What do you consider the most I important issues confronting the i Office of Hawaiian Affairs and/or 1 the Hawaiian people? I I believe the issues dealing with entitle9 ments and culture are paramount. As an OHA trustee, how would you resolve those concerns? Anyway that is humanly possible. Eaeh eoneem needs to be deliberated and actions and solutions implemented. If you could only accomplish one goal as an OHA trustee, what would it be? Guarantee that the ineome is perpetual. My OHA affair spans two decades, but my commitment to Hawaiians has lasted a lifetime. This stems from my childhood whieh was filled with foster homes, caring for children and exposure to the deplorable conditions too many of our people face. In 1976, after working in the State Senate, the First Circuit Court, and as manager of the Wai'anae Satellite City Hall, I

joined the Kaho'olawe movement. In 1977, 1 was involved in many meetings whieh culminated in the puwalu sessions at Kamehamea that provided representatives from 28 Hawaiian groups and many individuals with the opportunity to seriously address Hawaiian issues. In '78, 1 was a delegate to the constitutional eonvention and chaired the Hawaiian Affairs Committee whieh conceived creation of a self-governing state agency to hold title to all real and personal property set aside or conveyed to it as a trust of native Hawaiians. The highlight of my early work was establishment of OHA in 1979 as a uniqut state agency committed to, and governed by, Hawaiians. In '80, 1 was elected as one of OHA's first nine trustees and its fīrst chairperson. In '82, 1 ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate. In '86, 1 returned to the OHA board, where I have remained. I currently serve as chairperson. If re-elected, I will eonhnue to work for you to achieve OHA's mandate, "the betterment of the conditions of Hawaiians." My top priorities include: payment of unpaid debt government owes Hawaiians and a just formula for future compensation; resolution of the divisive blood quan tum issue; the Hawaiian right to selfdetermination; work for the passage of legislation favorable to, and the defeat of measures detrimental to, our people; and, more participation and effectiveness by Hawaiians in the electoral, legislative and judicial process. In addition, I will continue to support experienced and knowledgeable staffing for OHA and a process leading to decisions only after full and free discussion in full view of our beneficiaries and the general public.

The past 20 years have been exciting and I join many others who take justifiable pride in our accomplishments - creation of OHA, partial payment of government's past debt to native Hawaiians through OHA and DHHL, enactment of Public Law 103-150, changes in the racial category for Hawaiians in OMB Directive 15, many important judicial decisions favoring Hawaiians, the return and cleansing of Kaho'olawe; and, the transfer of more than 800 acres of surplus federal land to compensate for lands taken years ago from DHHL. ; But these wins don't mean any of us ean relax. Our success is working against us as the state struggles though its seventh year of eeonomie turmoil. Hawaiians must work to ensure we don't lose what we have won. The attack is vicious - cuts in general funding for OHA; eviction of the Pai 'Ohana and Mākua Beach residents; replacement of the 20 percent formula for the ceded land entitlement with $15.1 million for 1997-98 and 1998-99; and, the withholding of almost $10 million in airport revenues owed Hawaiians. Couple this with the state's thwarted efforts to sell ceded lands; rewrite Act 304; default on the DHHL settlement; repeal the Native Hawaiian Trusts Judicial Relief Act; restrict Hawaiian gathering rights; eliminate the Individual Claims Review Panel; and, eliminate DHHL and OHA by creating the Native Hawaiian Trust Corporation. You will clearly understand why we can't stop fighting for what is right for Hawaiians. Let's all continue to work to make things pono. E naue pololei kākou. ■

: Stewart i Dela Cruz At-Large

A. Frenchy DeSoto At-Large 1 i ; -■