Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 4, 1 April 2005 — Legislative Report [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Legislative Report

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This year OHA submitted 23 measures whieh addressed various issues from our beneficiaries. Of these, 13 measures - either the original bill introduced by OHA or a similar bill that would accomplish the same goal - remain alive as this issue of Ka Wai Ola goes to press. They include:

• Ceded lands revenue (SB911) OHA strongly encourages passage of this bill, whieh would clarify the technical definition of ceded lands and hopefully help resolve the long-running dispute over exactly what revenues from these lands are due to OHA for the betterment of Hawaiians. • OHA autonomy (HB 447) Should OHA transition into a Hawaiian goveming entity? This bill provides the first step towards autonomy by allowing OHA to issue checks in its own name. This would ease the transition of fiscal responsibility towards independence from the state. • Land-use board representation (SB925) OHA, as the agency charged with the betterment of Native Hawaiians, shouldhave a voice in selecting members of public land and natural resource boards. Though similar measures seeking representation on other boards have failed, this measure

to ensure Hawaiian input into the state Land Use Commission remains alive. • OHA budget (HB 450) This is a budget request of $2.5 million to continue funding for the Hawaiian service organizations Alu Like, the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation and Nā Pua No'eau. We will also be urging an amendment to include funding for pre-constmction costs for an Office of Hawaiian Affairs building whieh would also house a Hawaiian cultural center. • Teacher certification (HB441) With teacher shortages creating a statewide crisis, passage of this measure would enhanee the ability of under-represented members of Hawai'i's teaching populahon to successfully complete the national competency examination by providing them with financial assistance. • Cultural "kīpuka" (HCR25/ SCR3) This pair of resolutions

(one eaeh for the House and Senate) encourage cultural perpetuation in mral Hawaiian communities. The proposed measures would urge county and state govemments to treat rural Hawaiian communities, or "cultural kīpuka," as cultural heritage treasures. • Archaeology oversight (HCR26/ SCR2) OHA's beneficiaries have been increasingly voicing concems regarding the competency and cultural sensitivity of the archaeological profession in Hawai'i. These resolutions seek a proactive approach by analyzing the effectiveness of the state Historic Preservation Division's regulatory role and examining whether the Hawaiian community is being adequately protected in the important services that archaeologists render. • Kuleana land taxes (HCR180/ SCR193) Today's inflated real estate market has resulted in increasing pressure on residents of kuleana land in

» -u ' -h m.p : i ,/ wim the form of higher property taxes. These resolutions urge county govemments to address this crisis. • Shoreline certification (HB1020) Many shoreline boundaries have been incorrectly certified and are currently too close to the oeean, whieh has resulted in the loss of coastal trust lands and public access. This bill would clarify the definition of shoreline and would also authorize the state land surveyor to rescind a shoreline certification based on a misrepresentation in the applieahon. • Natural Area Reserve funding (SB1897) The state's Natural Area Reserve System has long been under-funded and neglected. This bill establishes permanent funds for land conservation by dedicating 25 percent of the state's conveyance-tax revenue for this purpose. U

The enactment of these bills ean only be realized through your civic participation. Your comments are welcomed, and we invite you to eall your legislators to support these initiatives. If you feel strongly in support of our endeavors or if you're interested to leam what other bills we are tracking, please contact David Rodriguez at (808) 594-1888.