Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 1, 1 January 2001 — Facing adversity together [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Facing adversity together

AS WE begin the New Year, let us pause to think of the exciting timei ahead and the challenges that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will face during the next 365 days.

There are many present day obstacles that need to be tackled by the trustees of this office. There are important decisions to be made that need to be grounded in the best interests of our beneficiaries. We must be bold in our decision-making and pmdent when thinking of long-range goals and plans in an effort to insure the perpetuity of this Hawaiian trust. We trustees must join together and put aside

our differences to move together in unison on behalf of our Hawaiian beneficiaries. When we think about the present day obstacles facing this office, we should be reminded of all the challenges and

assaults that our Hawaiian people have i survived during the past 200 years. Our language was onee considered substandard and our kupuna were forced to literally abandon their native tongue and

assimilate into the Westem world. Our nation was overthrown and our beloved queen was imprisoned and our Hawaiian population suffered due to disease and illness. But, despite all the adversity that our people have faced, we have persevered and survived the various skirmishes and assaults that have affected our race. We have made great strides in

important areas such as health, education and housing. We will eonūnue to pursue federal recognition that will protect us from challenges to our rights and entitlements such as was witnessed in the Rice vs. Cayetano

Supreme Court case. Now, more than ever, we need to band together to protect our rights and entitlements against attacks. What we need is to be prepared for a fed-

eral lawsuit, known as | Barrett vs. State of Hawai 'i. This case challenges Article XII of the Hawai'i State Constitution, whieh created OHA, adopted I the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and empowered Native Hawaiians to practice I our gathering rights. The new board must stand poised and ready to address this ehallenge, as it threatens the very existence of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and its benefi-

ciaries. As we move through the mire of legal challenges we will need the support of everyone. As a people, we must seize this moment in time, and work collectively together toward nationhood. We must regard these future obstacles as ehallenges, not setbacks. We must stop blam-

ing others for our plight and move on. We must not be bashful or afraid to speak out about our rights and entitlements. We must be vigilant in defending against any challenges that seeks to

I take away what our people have accomplished. We must stop being eomplacent and become invoIved in the issues that affect our race. We are a unique, indigenous group of people. We must protect that special status. To accomplish this important goal, we need the support and input of all voters who cast ballots in the OHA elections. We trustees need to hear about new and innovative ways to carry our people into the 21st century. We need to have important discus-

sions about what the future holds for our people. Most importantly, we must work together, rather than in factions. If we collectively stand together as a people, our voices will be heard as a beaeon of unity and guide future generations toward self-determination and self-gover-nanee. ■

Despite all the adversity that our people have faced, we have persevered and survived the various skirmishes and assaults that have affected our race.

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TRUSTEE MESSAGES

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