Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 6, 1 June 2005 — Recognition bill would benefit Native Hawaiians and all who call Hawaiʻi home [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Recognition bill would benefit Native Hawaiians and all who call Hawaiʻi home

Aloha nui kākou, e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino. With the United States Congress on Memorial Day recess until June 6, Native Hawaiians, here at home and across the continent, are optimistic regarding passage of S. 147, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005. We await the first action to occur in the U.S. Senate after it reconvenes, followed by action in the House of Representatives and by the president of the United States. False statements and misinformation about this monumental legislation eontinue to be broadcast, distributed and editorialized. It is a responsibility for eaeh of us to be informed first-hand. The text of S. 147 ean be downloaded from the nativehawaiians.com website for analysis and study. Access to the site is free. Passage of S. 147 will trigger the United States' formal recognition of Native Hawaiians as an indigenous

people, as did Public Law 103-150 - the Apology Bill of 1993 - whieh triggered the formal apology of the United States to Native Hawaiians for the illegal overthrow of the Native Hawaiian Government in the 1890s. Passage of S. 147 will authorize a process through whieh a Native Hawaiian governing entity - created and elected by enrolled Native Hawaiians, with constitutional, legal and political standing - will emerge to lead on behalf of Native Hawaiians in Hawai'i and elsewhere, and to negotiate with federal and state government over land, resources and other matters. This will continue the reconciliation process called for in the Apology Bill. S. 147 does not authorize gaming, nor does it serve as a settlement of any elaim against the United States. S. 147 reaffirms that Indian programs and services and Native Hawaiian programs and services are clearly separate and distinct, so as not to work at cross pur-

poses between these indigenous people. S. 147 does not affect social security payments, U.S. citizenship or military status for Native Hawaiians. Passage of S. 147 will diffuse or make moot the legal challenges in federal court against Native Hawaiian publie and private trusts and the targeted Native Hawaiian programs. Passage of S. 147 will reduce the threat to federal programs serving Native Hawaiians, and thus the State of Hawai'i - inelusive of the taxpayers - will continue to benefit, via the multiplier effect, from the federal infusion of funds - funds and services that the state would be unable to provide if Native Hawaiian programs ended. Successful reorganization of a Native Hawaiian government will create cultural, eeonomie, business, educational and social opportunities for Native Hawaiians, and in turn enhanee the same for Hawai'i and places where Native Hawaiians live. Hawaiian culture and practice will be

respected and celebrated as tradition and not just as a commodity. In turn, all cultures and diversity will be respected and celebrated as a collective strength We must search for and find credible, honest, principled, skilled, hardworking, value-based and mission-driven Native Hawaiian leaders, across the generations, to take up the tasks that lie before us. Our work for the future of Native Hawaiians, bringing the best from the past into the present and future, will require those of spirit and courage, who wish to serve, not selfserve. Me nā mea 'oi loa mai nā wā ma mua, e holomua kākou i kēia ao. Ua hiki mai ka wana'ao me ka ho'ōla a me ka ho'āla hou. E hō'ā kākou i ka lama kūpono, no nā hulu Hawai'i. E kūkulu a'e kākou no ke ea o ka 'āina me ke aloha a me ke ahonui. 7/48

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Haunani Apoliona

i Trustee, At-large