Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 6, 1 June 2004 — Legislators should hold Hawaiian issues as high priorty and work toward resolution [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Legislators should hold Hawaiian issues as high priorty and work toward resolution

This year's Legislative session began with efforts to revive bills that were part of OHA's 2003 Legislative Package that were not passed. These bills included a measure that would help clarify the lands comprising, and the revenues derived from, the puhlie land trust under the State Constitution. Another bill asked for representation of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Boards, Commissions and Advisory Boards. This bill called for the Governor to appoint one member of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Land Use Commission, and the puhlie advisory body for coastal zone management from lists of three nominees submitted by OHA. The two other bills are housekeeping measures relating to the uncapping of the OHA Administrator's salary and OHA Trustee retirement issues. Unfortunately, none of OHA's 2003 carryover bills survived the hiennium session. Throughout the session, OHA's BAE Legislative Team reviewed an estimated 7,000 bills that were introduced. Of these, the Office of

Hawaiian Affairs took positions on more than 600 bills and resolutions that were identified as proposals whieh impacted Native Hawaiians. OHA provided testimony for approximately 200 pieces of legislation and a majority of these measures were decided upon reflecting OHA's testimony. In the 2004 session, OHA added three initiatives to its legislative package whieh included shoreline certification, ceded land exchange, and cruise ship pollution. Of these three initiatives, the Legislature passed only one house resolution dealing with shoreline certification. The resolution requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources along with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the State Surveyor to develop and implement an educational program to set standards for proficiency and to investigate the availability and costs of technology that will enhanee accuracy in determining shorelines. OHA's attempts with regard to ceded land bills were not realized as measures of this nature were not

passed. At the start of this year's session there were six bills alive that addressed an array of solutions to the marine pollution problem. The establishment of a formal program relating to vessel discharge also fell short this session as none of these bills made it through. In the area of Health Care, budget allocations for rural hospitals and community health centers were lumped together in a bill that appropriated funds from the emergency budget and reserve fund. Moloka'i General Hospital, Kahuku Hospital, Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and Hāna Community Health Center were eaeh awarded $750,000 in the hiennium. In March of this year, the statewide debate on education reform made its way to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The Board of Trustees took a position to support educational reform because statistics continue to indicate that Hawaiian children consistently had the lowest test scores and graduation rates, and are overrepresented in special education. Hawaiian

students also have disproportionately higher rates of grade retention and absenteeism than do non-Hawaiian students. While the education reform debate continues, OHA moved ahead to focus on the issues facing Hawaiian-focused charter schools. OHA's Legislative team assisted Dr. Kū Kahakalau, Director of Kanu o ka 'Āina New Century Puhlie Charter School to draft Senate Bill 3148. The original bill called for the establishment of a non-eon-tiguous host-culture focused charter school district. After many amendments, the final version of the bill mandates a study that will answer important questions regarding the legality and feasibility of an autonomous, Hawaiian-focused charter school district. OHA eongratulates the 12 charter schools that constitute Nā Lei Na'auao Native Hawaiian Charter School Allianee for their efforts to bring about Hawaiian self-determination in education. ■

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Colette Machado Trustee, Moloka'i and Lāna'i