Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 1, 1 January 2001 — Polls show Hawaiians should not be divided by blood quantum [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Polls show Hawaiians should not be divided by blood quantum

AT A meeting I attended with Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries in early December, I was again reminded of one of the most troubling issues in our community — the debate over the 50 percent blood quanmm, as

defined in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921. When this requirement was enacted, it was not supported by the majority of the Hawaiian eommunity. Today, that sentiment eontinues. I have looked at recent polls taken of our people, one done last year by the Honolulu Advertiser and the other by SMS Research in 1999. In both polls, the vast majority of our people, including those of 50 percent blood quantum, wanted to see a lowering of this requirement to a fraction of its current stams, if not the total removal of this requirement. I am one of those who supports doing away with this law, a law that was not of our creation, a law designed

to disenffanchise future generations of Hawaiians from their birthright on our lands. Yes, I am more than 50 percent Hawaiian. But what of my mo'opuna? Should their heritage and rights as

Hawaiians be minimized because they do not meet this requirement? Under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921, approximately 200,000 acres of public lands were designated for leasing to native Hawai-

ians, those who meet the 50 percent blood quantum. While the intent may have been seen by some as a way to address the needs of our people, the effect has been the separation of our people. We know that at some time in the next century, those of pure Hawaiian ancestry will be rare. We also know that our people will see their rights and heritage as the indigenous people of Hawai'i diminished if we allow these laws

to eonhnue. My heart goes out to the thousands of native Hawaiians on the Hawaiian Home Lands waiting list who have waited decades and today have nothing to show for it.

We must be aggressive toward initiating legislation that addresses the need to open up our lands to our people. When I say "our people" I mean those of us with Hawaiian blood, no matter how mueh.

Īoday, new legislation was approved in December in Congress that brings more that $200 million to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands over the next five years. This money ean be used to house Hawaiians on and off Hawaiian Home Lands. This is a start. I will do all I ean to ensure that we as trustees perform the will of our people and ensure their rights and entitlements as Hawaiians continue through new legislation. I know that changing the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act requirements will take an act of Congress. I also know that we ean start with our legislature and begin the work needed to finally heal the wound of separation our people endure as a result of the 1921 legislation. There are several U.S. laws appficable specifically to indigenous Hawaiians. We

must support and affirm legislation that treats us as we are — a separate, indigenous people, the first people of Hawai'i. ■

In both polls the vast majority of our people, including tnose of 50 percent blood quantum, wanted to see a lowering of this requirement to a fraction of its current status, if not the total removal of this requirement.

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