Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 4, 1 April 2005 — Hawaiians must speak out to improve housing conditions [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiians must speak out to improve housing conditions

By Ka'imo Muhlestein OHA Housing Specialist The recent film The Hawaiiam - Reflecting Spirit produced by Edgy Lee successfully captured the resilience of the Hawaiian spirit. Images in the film validate our Hawaiian strength as we are challenged with housing and other social conditions as results of western ināuenee. Native Hawaiians continue to have a unique and special relationship with the 'āina because it provides spiritual, eeonomie and social halanee. Historically, land,

water, plants and animals were interwoven in a society that allowed

its people to flourish. The abundance of land and natural resources p r o v i d e d food, clothing, shelter and other needs.

Like other indigenous peoples, Hawaiians cultivated the

land in areas that accommodated daily eommunal life. It was eommon to find housing structures in low elevations near streams and the oeean, not in the upper elevations, whieh were often reserved for religious and cultivation purposes. Today, Hawaiians have been displaced from their ancestral lands and natural resources. This displacement has impacted

the spiritual, eeonomie and social halanee of the Hawaiian people, and the housing conditions of Hawaiians are a reflection of this ināuenee. Clearly, we need to build more affordable units, and to acquire land to care for the unmet housing needs of Hawaiians. For an 'Oahu household of four earning $67,750, an affordable house would range between $184,900 and $243,400, according to federal affordable sales guidelines. Currently, the median cost of a single family home exceeds $500,000, leaving many Native Hawaiians wondering how they ean remain in Hawai'i when their ineome cannot keep

rp wun me rapiaiy increasing cost of homeownership. This year, the leg-

isiators are eonsidering bills that address H a w a i ' i ' s housing crisis. In particular, House Bill 1731, SD1 would identify

puhlie lands for affordablehousingprojscts and provide 20 percent

of the units developed in the project to Native Hawaiians. However there are other concerns for our people as well. Existing policies often clash with the need for housing that accommodates multi-generational families and communities that embrace our cultural lifestyles. The acquisition of land over See HOUSING on page 1 7

HOUSING from page 1 1 whieh we have design control should remain our priority. What ean be done? Hawaiians need to voice their mana'o and be heard. Call, fax or email your legislator and the governor to insist that lands be made available for housing projects are a true refection of our native culture and values. Hawaiian values and practices of ancient times must not be forgotten. Our ancestors

passed on a legacy of excellence and wisdom to us, and in turn we are responsible for improving the conditions of all Native Hawaiians. As Hawai'i's society evolves with diverse cultures and values, our ability to maintain a special relationship with our land will be tested as we seek spiritual, eeonomie and social balance. Improved housing conditions for Native Hawaiians would be a reflection of this halanee. Cl.