Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 10, 1 October 2004 — The time is right to register for nationhood [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The time is right to register for nationhood

Editor's note: Retired polieeman Charles Rose is president of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. The views expressed in this community discussion eolumn are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The issue of self-determina-tion and nationhood for Native Hawaiians is not of recent vintage. In fact, as far back as thirty years ago Hawaiians were asking for reparations based on the tragic and harmful results of the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i in 1893. Since then, there have been a host of plans, recommendations and proposals that have attempted to rectify the injustices that have been inflicted upon the Hawaiian people. Throughout the years, eaeh and every self-determination proposal - no matter how valid, how innovative, or how popular - has failed to capture the hearts and minds of the majority of the Native Hawaiian people, let alone the general community. The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, a confederation of 50 civic clubs located throughout Hawai'i and in the states of Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada and Utah, is the oldest communitybased grassroots Hawaiian organization in Hawai'i, having been formed in 1918. We have vast outreach capabilities. Since 1991, the civic club movement has been very active in self-determination and nationhood. At every convention, we have adopted resolutions expressing our support. Our members have been active participants in all attempts to

move the process forward. We are not alone in this effort, as many organizations, groups and individuals have contributed in some way. The question is why, in spite of all these nohle efforts, has there been no success? The answer is a simple one. We, the advocates for self-determination and nationhood, have been preaching to the choir. By that I mean that only a small segment of the Hawaiian community is active or even interested in nationhood. As painful as this may be to most of us, I believe that the majority of the Hawaiian people have other issues that occupy their time, such as holding jobs, raising families and educating their children. We have been unahle to persuade the majority of our people that nationhood should have a high priority in their lives. Add to this the fact that every time someone suggests a course of action, opponents immediately surface to attack and condemn the idea. Some of us are unahle or unwilling to see the big picture. Some of us believe we are so right that it is either our way or no way. We find ourselves involved in unneeded philosophical debates that sometimes result in offensive and hostile treatment of eaeh other. In recent times, Hawaiians attacking

Hawaiians has been eommonplaee in the puhlie arena. The principles of compromise are rarely used. This type of activity has been detrimental to every effort and must stop. Since 2000, federal recognition and the Akaka Bill have created widespread debate. During this effort, we have forgotten that the Akaka Bill does not - I repeat does not - form our Native Hawaiian government. We, the Hawaiian people, must do this. In 2002, OHA's trustees approved facilitating the nationhood process and providing the necessary funding. This effort towards nationhood is currently underway and should be supported by everyone. I submit that if nationhood is to heeome a reality, the current attempt must succeed. This should be the final effort. The time is right. I believe that some of the past hostility towards forming our government has waned, and a major funding resource is now available. For the past seven months, the Native Hawaiian Coalition has been meeting and attempting to design an adequate process that will move us toward the creation of a Native Hawaiian governing entity managed by duly elected representatives of the people. One need not be a rocket scientist to understand that the first order of

business in forming the governing entity is to register as many eligible members as possible. The challenge for us is to persuade every person of Hawaiian ancestry that nationhood is the most important issue facing our people, and that they should heeome a part of the process. We must capture their hearts and minds. We must use every skill, every resource and every person at our disposal to conduct a successful mass outreach drive. The registration process - called Kau Inoa, "plaee your name" - has been underway since January. You may have already received, or will soon receive, the registration brochure and application form in the mail. As indicated in the application, the information will only be used for the formation of our Native Hawaiian governing entity. Please encourage all of your 'ohana, friends and associates to enroll. If you require additional application forms please let us know. We need to provide the opportunity for every person of Hawaiian ancestry to participate in the process. I appeal to every Hawaiian: let's set aside our differences, let's mobilize our people. Let's get to work. For more information on Kau Inoa, eall Hawai'i Maoli, ine. at 394-0050. ■

Kūkākūkā

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"The challenge for us is to persuade every person of Hawaiian ancestry that nationhood is the most important issue facing our people , and that they should heeome a part ofthe process. We must capture their hearts and minds."