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

ʻ98 candidates in focus

» ■ .} 9 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 *; lli

Why do you want to be an OHA trustee? In reviewing the names of the candidates, I felt that another ehoiee was needed. We are facing perilous times and many hard-fought, hard-won gains may be lost for a laek of effective leadership. I believe I bring the leadership skills needed in OHA. What qualities would you bring to the position? I bring my experience of 20 years in public service to this position. The strength and confidence it took to be one of the first women in the Honolulu Poliee Department exemplify the leadership necessary for OHA. I headed the governor's Office of Affirmative Action for five years. I developed my leadership in the House of Representatives for 8 years as the vice chair of judiciary, vice chair of housing and majority floor leader. I have spent my life working on issues of violence against women and children and made major changes in laws on sex assault and domestic violence. I have spent 16 years in the Hawaiian civic club movement, was honored as the outstanding Hawaiian civic club for my work in the community and have in the community and have succeeded in passing significant legislation on Hawaiian issues. What do you consider the most important issues confronting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and/or

the Hawaiian people? Advocacy for enhanced health and human services for Hawaiians. OHA has failed to provide advocacy for the healih and human services for the Hawaiian community by identifying needs, monitoring and advocating for services and enhancing heakh and human services. How: Train trustees in their role as policy makers, understand trust responsibilities; meet with trustees of the ali'i trusts for coordination of service needs; meet with boards of other Hawaiian agencies to coordinate service needs; meet with the Hawaiian community to assess their needs; use trust monies for advancement of heahh and human services for Hawaiians. Credibility: We must restore credibility for OHA not only for Hawaiians but for the non-Hawaiian community as well and in so doing, advocate in the area of legal claims and entitlements with state and federal governments, assure a eonsistent voice for the Hawaiian people and grow the trust for the benefit of all Hawaiians. How: Develop rules of conduct for trustees; allow for sanctions against trustees for violations of these rules; develop, with the Hawaiian community, policies for entitlement issues to guide settlement and legal actions; expand the legal service for Hawaiians; initiate discussions with federal government on federal ceded lands; end the micro-manage-ment by the trustees; expand the management of the trust assets.

; }• m " ■■. t 1.«« i Ceded lands settlement: OHA is in negotiations with state goveniment on ' certain "open" classes of claims for ceded lands revenue; the sett1ement issues should be assessed against the "needs" of the Hawaiian community and additional benefits that could be made available beyond just a cash and/or land settlement. How: If cash resources are limited, assure fair settlement of ceded lands revenues through provision of service. University of Hawai'i (ceded lands use): provide for availability of education costs for the university system, i.e., tuition, books, fees for Native Hawaiians at a 20 percent level of community population usage; Community hospitals: provide for heahh services for Naive Hawaiians at a 20 percent level of community population usage; Housing (HFDC/rental housing program): set aside 20 percent of affordable housing inventory for Native Hawaiians and/or 20 percent on subsidized housing inventory for Native Hawaiians. With respect to Duty Free Stores. 20 percent of all revenues should be paid tp OHA as well as airport revenues. The future of OH A depends on you, thevoter. Make your vote count this election. Choose leaders for the next century. Elect Annelle Amaral for O'ahu island. Mahalo, a hui hou. ■ -:? | M i li| i IIIMM

We the Hawaiian people of the 50th state have tried to find our plaee in Hawai'i's world of the '90s. While times have changed, the spirit of the Hawaiian people has not. The challenge we face now is very critical to the future of the Hawaiian people. The conflict of interest currently on the OHA board of trustees has lost precious time on mainline issues of great importance to Hawaiians. Accountability and responsibility has disappeared into personal differences that has caused OHA to be voted the worst state office in the 50th state by Honolulu Weekly. It is time to pass the torch to a new generation of Hawaiians. We have real problems and issues that need to be addressed. Our economy is at an all-time low, businesses big and small have suffered by the hands of elected officials with no real agenda for the future. Agreements were made by the state government about Hawaiian Home Lands and payment for ceded lands. These agreements have not been honored. My experience working with the mayor, city eouneil members, senators and representatives of my district in Waikīkī has made me realize how Hawai'i cannot truly move forward until issues like Hawaiian home lands, payment for ceded lands and sovereignty are resolved in a way that works for everyone. My vision is to create businesses and jobs and opportunity for Hawaiians.

This would make the Hawaiians self-suf-ficient and they ean market their culture and products all over the world through Internet and shipping. This would preserve the culture of the Hawaiian way of Life. And during the long term, I would be positive and productive for Hawai'i. None of this ean happen unless all Hawaiians unite together to make this vision a reality. This is what we must do for the children of Hawai'i. This is my dream for the Hawaiian people through the year 2000 and beyond. Let's do the right thing for the future of all Hawaiians. I love you Hawai'i, aloha. Vote for Les Among, OHA, O'ahu District. Why do you want to be an OHA trustee? I want to create job opportunities for the Hawaiian people. Regaining Hawaiian lands and federal funds owed to the Hawaiian people, that will build our own businesses on Hawaiian lands to market through internet and shipping. The jobs we create will keep us self sufficient. What qualities would you bring to the position? I have been elected to two terms to serve on the Waikīkī Neighborhood Board District 9, City and County, working with social and eeonomie issues that affect you. Me and my fellow Hawaiians have made a positive difference.

1 What do you consider the most important issues confronting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and/or the Hawaiian people? a. Regaining Hawaiian lands and federal funds for the seizure of Hawaiian lands. b. To create business and job opportunities for Hawaiians. And to brihg back unity, purpose and bright future for the Hawaiian people. As an OHA trustee, how wouid you resolve those concerns? Through committee meetings they must decide a settlement figure before December, or the Supreme Court will decide. The governor and OHA trustees must set aside personal differences that has wasted precious time. 1 would try to find eommon ground with my fellow trustees and look at the issue of using settlement funds for creating business and jobs for the Hawaiian people. lf you couid only accompiish one goal as an OHA trustee, what would it be? One goal that I feel we must address is education, opportunity and unity. The eall for Hawaiians to have the torch of the future passed over to them is now. We must move on these issues that will benefit Hawaiians. ■ ir miMul Sr

i\nnelle .\maral O'ahu

Les i\mong O'ahu