Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 4, 1 April 2006 — Three ongoing issues require fotus, discipline and ʻonipnʻa [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Three ongoing issues require fotus, discipline and ʻonipnʻa

Aloha nui kākou e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau a puni ke ao mālamalama, e nā 'ōiwi Hawai'i. Ka Wai Ola April 2006 begins the second quarter that in a short 90 days will become summer. I took a look back to my OHA trustee columns of April 2003, 2004 and 2005 and found that issues identified then still remain prominent in April 2006. The issue of public land trust revenues to OHA, the issue of enactment of federal recognition for Native Hawaiians and the issue of registration of Native Hawaiians who reside in Hawai'i, the nation and the world through KAU INOA, extend into 2006. However, collectively, we have achieved milestones and ean measure definite progress forward in all three of these areas. Public Land Trust revenues OHA awaits enactment of legislation in this 2006 state Legislature that will authorize and codify an AGREEMENT (not settlement) between the executive branch and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The agreement, a product of 12 months of negotiations, whieh represents just the first phase of negotiations, will provide for a 50 percent increase in annual revenue payments to OHA for fiscal year 2005-2006 going forward, as well as pay balances for 2001-2005. With legislative approval and enactment in 2006, eollectively, we will have taken a significant step forward in responsibly reconciling but one layer in this historic, legal, eomplex and at times politically charged issue. The OHA board's negotiating team and OHA trustees will eonhnue the work by initiating Phase II negotiations with the executive branch dealing with the past

due and unpaid Public Land Trust revenue claims, with intent to present proposed legislation to the 2007 Legislature, as may be appropriate. Enactment of federal recognition for Native Hawaiians We await action by the Senate of the United States on S. 147 to occur before the Memorial Day congressional recess that begins in May 2006. That is a mere 60 days away. Registration of Native Hawaiians in Hawai'i, throughout this nation and the world The KAU INOA registration progresses, and is an ongoing effort. As we begin this second quarter of 2006, the reported numbers of KAU INOA registrations is peaking the 50,000 mark. Continuing outreach to Native Hawaiians is and will be a primary thrust for the balance of 2006. We must stay the course on all three issues working with focus, discipline and partnership. We must not be deterred. We must also remember that 2006 brings opportunity for Native Hawaiians and those who support Native Hawaiian self-determination to onee again exercise a right of democracy, the right and responsibility to cast your "vote." If we want Native Hawaiian issues to successfully navigate public policy decision-making in state and federal government arena, Native Hawaiians must vote. We must believe that our voice, our vote, counts. If we do not believe, we will not act. If we do not act and do not vote, the self-fulfilling prophecy of failure will prevail. There are county, state, Office of Hawaiian Affairs and congressional elections in 2006. Start evaluating the relevant Native Hawaiian positions that candidates for these public offices take. Use your voice, your vote and get your 'ohana to do the same. We have more than 400,000 Native Hawaiians in the 50 states who must and will believe, act and make a difference in all 50 States. 17 /48 m

LEO 'ELELE • TRUSTEE MESSAGES

Haunani Apnlinna. MSW Chairpersūn TrustEE, At-large