Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 9, 1 September 2002 — If we don't get past our history, how will we focus on our future? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

If we don't get past our history, how will we focus on our future?

Aloha nō. I quote, "The time has eome," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things." I have been a Trustee of OHA from the Big Island for one year and 10 months. When I first eame to OHA with all my years of Hawaiian activities exparience, I thought this wouldbe just another pieee of eake, so to speak. I thought the only difference was now I am getting paid. Wow! I was wrong. This is a whole new ball game. Every 10 years or so, we go through the same ritual. "Hawaiian

Histoiy Education." We don't seon able to get past our history and focus on the future. E kala mai iahi (excuse me), but there are some oiganizations that have moved on. For example, (just to name a few), The Kingdom of Hawai'i, Kanaka VIaoli, Ka Lāhui and at OHA, we are trying with our Hawaiian Registry. We are registering Hawaiians by genealogy and not by blood quantum. This is a registry, not a role. Every 10 years or so, something new pops up and we start fighting

all over again. We always seons to start with Hawaiian History Education and then, whatever is new. This time I guess, it is the Akaka Bi 11 in Congress. Some like and some like it not. How long are we going to dwell on this kind of education? Another 10 years? Recently, I attended quite a few Hawaiian workshops, seminam, conferences etc., and I am truly impressed at the control of the activities regarding the setup. It is held in a closed, air conditioned environment with written agendas, video tapes, microphones,

brochures and 'ono mea 'ai (food) . In the old day s, we brought our own luneh, paper and peneil and took notes. But the lessons seem to be the same. Hawaiian Histoiy first, a few deviations and whatever we disagree on. Like this time, the Akaka Bill. The Akaka Bill in Congress did change about four times. Take my word for it (for what it's worth): By the time Congress passes the bill (if they ever do), I don't think we will recognize it. And so the band play s on. Aloha nō. ■

IHliatMlliaalM«8fcRT«laMBak.

Linda Dela Cruz Vice Chair, Trustee, Hawai'i