Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 7, 1 July 2003 — Homesteaders, civic clubs, waitlist group join forces in recognition workshops [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Homesteaders, civic clubs, waitlist group join forces in recognition workshops

By Naomi Sodetani Four organizations with a eombined membership base of more than 42,000 Native Hawaiians have forged a historic allianee in a massive grassroots outreach to enlighten Hawaiians about pending litigation they eall "the biggest threat since the overthrow." Organizers say that, onee informed, the silent majority of Hawaiians will be able to decide whether to support the Hawaiian Recognition Bill to safeguard their entitlements and embark on a path to self-governance as "dual citizens" of both the United States and a Hawaiian government. The State Council for Hawaiian Homestead Associations and the Hui Kāko'o 'Āina Ho'opulapula's Puhlie Policy Project, in partnership with the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (AOHCC), is conducting a series of workshops throughout the islands through July 24. (See schedule helow.) Hui Kāko'o President Blossom Feiteira said the three groups joined forces to address a eommon ehallenge: the Amkaki v. Lingle lawsuit seeking to dismantle the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. "We just got so tired of everybody saying that Hawaiians just can't unite," Feiteira said. "So now you have four very diverse organizations with very diverse purposes understanding the need for Hawaiians to be Hawaiians and speak with one voice." "Lawsuits & Legislation: Arakaki Suit and Akaka Bill Explained "

examines the federal policy of selfdetermination as it has been extended to American Indians and Alaska Natives, and presents the ramifications of the lawsuit and the bill. The goal of the workshops is to "present the information in a very understandable way," Feiteira said. Nearly 1,000 Hawaiians attended the first five workshops held in the O'ahu and Hawai'i homestead strongholds of Wai'anae, Waimānalo, Papakōlea, Kamuela and La'iōpua. The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, a nonprofit organization that provides training, technical assistance and networking opportunities for Hawaiians, helped develop the presentations and materials for the SCHHA/HUI project. "Native Hawaiians have mueh in eommon with other native peoples whose homelands exist within the boundaries of the United States," CNHA President Robin Danner said. "All struggled to survive the 'United States business plan,' what I eall the 'no-cost land acquisition model."" The project's social and eeonomie impact analysis found that if a Supreme Court decision agreed with Arakaki plaintiffs that OHA and DHHL programs are racebased: • 20,000 homesteaders could be forced out; • The DHHL wait list will be eliminated, dashing the hopes of 19,000 now waiting; • DHHL and OHA will be eliminated, and more than $400 million taken from Hawaiian trusts; • Private ali'i trusts would be impacted;

• 3,100 jobs related to implementing Hawaiian services would be in jeopardy, with the state hardpressed to offset the loss of over $147 million generated from federal funds now flowing into Hawai'i. When this information was presented at a workshop held recently at the Blanche Pope school cafeteria, the overflow crowd of more than 300 homesteaders and others audibly gasped. "It's a really big challenge for us, one that requires all of us to eome together, because whether you're an applicant or a homesteader, an OHA beneficiary or just a Hawaiian on the street, everybody loses," Feiteira said. "Now is the time to act," said

SCHHA Chairman Tony Sang. "Bottom line, we can't afford to lose our programs. And it's our kuleana as the grassroots to protect them." "We support the homesteaders all the way," Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs President Charles Rose said. "I'm a populist; I believe our people deserve to decide their fate." With the DHHL providing $150,000 in funding for the workshop project, Hawaiian Homes Commission Chairman Mieah Kane praised the collaborative effort as "an outstanding initiative that will prepare generations of Hawaiians to carry the torch of responsibility we all have for one another." n

"Lawsuits & Legislation: Arakaki Suit & Akaka Bill Explained"

Schedule of community workshops presented by the SCHHA/HUI Public Policy Project in partnership with the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.

July 7 Keaukaha Elementary School Cafeteria Hilo, Hawai'i July 9 Kulana 'Oiwi, DHHL Conference Rm. Kaunakakai, Moloka'i July 15 Hale Pomaika'i Hall Paukukalo, Maui

July 1 7 Lāna'i School Cafeteria Lāna'i City, Lāna'i July 23 Anahola Clubhouse Anahola, Kaua'i July 24 Kekaha Neighborhood Center Kekaha, Kaua'i

For more information, eall SCHHA at 853-2000 or 3864045, or CNHA at 800-709-2642.

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Nū Hnu

Papakolea residents participate in a workshop held at Lineoln Elementary School to leam about federal recognition and how pending lawsuits will affect them as homesteaders.

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