Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 2, 1 February 2005 — OHA's 2005 legislative package focuses on an array of issues important to Hawaiians [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA's 2005 legislative package focuses on an array of issues important to Hawaiians

Aloha kākou! Onee again we begin the New Year with enthusiasm and political optimism. With the exciting eleetion season ended and legislators eager to get the session underway, OHA trustees approved a legislative package of 22 measures that range from Homestead education to OHA's financial autonomy. Throughout the session, OHA's BAE Legislative Team will review an estimated 3,400 bills that are introduced for every cause and issue. Of these, approximately 500 bills and resolutions may be identified as proposals whieh impact Native Hawaiians in some way. OHA's Legislative Team will provide analysis and recommendations on these bills for weekly Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment Committee meetings. During these committee meetings trustees are provided with an overview of the bills and what effect (positive or negative) it will have on Hawaiian

beneficiaries. Trustees will then decide what kind of position they will take on eaeh measure. Positions include support, support with amendments, support with reservations, monitor and oppose. With the exception of bills labeled "monitor," OHA's Legislative Team will formulate written testimony that reflects the Trustees' positions on the bills. For those bills that are labeled "monitor." no testimony is provided. Trustees tend to monitor bills that eall for more information. For instance, if a bill relates to a specific community or group of beneficiaries, OHA's Legislative Team will talk to residents of the area about their concems relating to the bill. They will also attend any committee hearings to see what the issues are, both in favor and against the bill. OHA's Legislative Team then provides trustees with the updated information and a recommendation for positioning. OHA's 2005 legislative package will

revive bills from 2004 that were held, including a bill that would help clarify the lands comprising, and the revenues derived from, the public land trust under the State Constitution. Other bills will ask for representation of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on boards, commissions and advisory boards. This bill calls for the Govemor to appoint one member of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Land Use Commission and the public advisory body for coastal zone management from lists of three nominees submitted by OHA. OH A' s 2005 legislative package will also contain other familiar initiatives, including shoreline certification, ceded land alienation and kuleana land. Issues on shoreline certification involve tightening and strengthening the current program. A major part of the bill is geared toward clarifying the definition of "shoreline" to be the "upper reaches of the annually recurring high seasonal surf."

Issues on ceded lands aim to prevent alienation, sale and exchange of land that are or may be part of the state's ceded lands trust. In the last several years, OHA has actively opposed these types of land transactions and hopes to gain legislative confirmation to this effect. The kuleana land proposal would require counties to adopt an ordinance that exempts kuleana lands from real property taxes if the land has been continuously occupied by lineal descendents of the original title holder. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will remind legislators of their duty to put in high priority, and ultimately resolve Native Hawaiian issues relating to ceded lands, education, and the preservation of natural and cultural resources. I invite any of you who have concems about measures currently at the Legislature to attend BAE Committee meetings and share your mana'o. Please eall us for more information on meeting times and agendas. ■

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Colette Maehaelo Trustee , Moloka'i and Lāna'i