Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 11, 1 November 2004 — Let us strive for clarity, work with patience and aloha, and achieve the very best we ean [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Let us strive for clarity, work with patience and aloha, and achieve the very best we ean

Aloha nui e na 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau, a puni ke ao mālamalama. Aloha e nā kūpuna kahiko nāna e ho'oulu mai nei iā kākou e holo pono, a loa'a e ka lei lanakila. In November 1917, Queen Lili'uokalani passed into the realm of her creator, a leader who survived the most significant politieal and social upheaval faced in the 19th century by Native Hawaiians and Hawai'i. She acknowledged that she could not "turn back the political change." And in the essence of that statement, affirmed indeed, that political change had eome to pass, taken hold, and Hawai'i governance was no longer to be the same. Despite the humiliation, hurt and struggle Queen Lili'uokalani counseled all who would listen — to save our heritage, not cease to act for fear of failure, discern that decisions and choices in life are like a "blade of pili grass,

a razor'sedge," that aloha is all important, and that while in this world all things are two, in heaven there is but one. Queen Lili'uokalani left the unfinished business to Native Hawaiians of the decades to follow, to act, to take up shaping a political and social change to benefit Native Hawaiians and Hawai'i. Ninety-seven years later, in November, 2004, Native Hawaiians and Native Hawaiian leaders face issues of challenge as well. On November 1, the puhlie trusts that serve Hawaiians - OHA and DHHL - return to federal court, challenged by plaintiffs who want to dismantle both the Hawaiian homestead program (established by the U.S. Congress) and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (established by the State of Hawai'i Constitution and approved by all Hawai'i voters) as racially discriminatory. On Nov. 4, the Kamehameha Schools is forced to return to federal court challenged

by an "anonymous" plaintiff who seeks to dismantle the Hawaiian preference admission to Kamehameha as racially discriminatory. And in November, the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust will again face the Honolulu City Council in the quest to repeal an ordinance that currently compels this private Trust to sell its legacy lands left by Lili'uokalani. Now more than ever, Native Hawaiians and Native Hawaiian leadership must stand, must act and not cease to act for fear we may fail. Now more than ever Native Hawaiians and Native Hawaiian leaders must envision the future, must chart the "political change" toward that future. Native Hawaiians, in Hawai'i and away from our shores, have the opportunity to take the first necessary steps. Register and be identified. KAU INOA. Commit to participate in the process to create our Native Hawaiian governance. And yes, our debates, deliberations,

choices and decisions must strive for clarity and be as keen as a razor's edge, a blade of pili grass. But our work must be done with patience and aloha as we strive for the very best and achieve the ultimate goal. E hana kākou me ke ahonui, a pili me ka hā a ke aloha, 'oiai e kulia i ka nu'u, a kau i ka 'iu o luna. Lili'uokalani reminds us, "the world ean not stand still. We must advance or recede." This November, now more than ever, let us advance together. We know as Native Hawaiians, in Hawai'i and away from Hawai'i, what we must do. We know as Native Hawaiian leaders what we must do. Let us not cease to act for fear that we may fail. We should not recede. We must advance, it is our destiny. A hui hou i ka mahina a'e. 48/48 ■

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Haunani Apoliona, MSW Trustee , At-large