Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 10, 1 October 2006 — WHITNEY T. ANDERSON [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WHITNEY T. ANDERSON

As a member of the Offiee of Hawaiian Affairs' Hawaiian registry since the program's inception, I find it

hard to believe that, as OHA asserts in their 2005 state audit, the organization is in collaboration with state departments on a wide scale. OHA could be involved more closely with the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), whieh is working diligently to fulfill their mandate of putting Hawaiians onto home-

stead land. Many Hawaiians, though, do not have the money necessary to build a home upon being awarded a DHHL lease. Being that DHHL has land, and OHA has at least a decent amount of available funds, perhaps OHA could consider providing low-interest loans in an effort to help Hawaiians fulfill the American dream of homeownership. Most are aware of OHA's generous gift of $1 million to combat homelessness, but even in this venture, a partnership with DHHL towards a goal of permanent affordable housing rental units would make more of a difference. State Auditor Marion Fhga affirmed that the current loan system OHA has in plaee is seriously lacking when it comes to collecting repayment, but that is not the beneficiaries' kuleana - it's OHA's kuleana, and it ought to be corrected. A more direct partnership with the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) and the LIniversity of Hawai'i system would also yield benefits to OHA beneficiaries. DLIR has data as to whieh industries provide the best employment opportunities in our state, as well as the average pay one ean expect in these various positions. LIH, a large part of whieh sits upon Hawaiian ceded lands, has scholarships available to students of Hawaiian ancestry. OHA could even work with the state Legislature to statutorily provide for additional tuition waivers for needy Hawaiian students. I authored such legislation as a state senator in 2000, and it passed both chambers of the legislature, but the governor vetoed the measure. With proper urging. the state Legislature could be approached on this issue again. The partnership between OHA and the Hawai 'i Community Development Authority (HCDA) in an effort for OHA to gain a long-term lease for their headquarters and a cultural center has the potential to be a fruitful engagement. However,

such a project is not going to produce money for OHA and its beneficiaries. Perhaps OHA could consider establishing revenue-generating facilities that would be open and available to everyone in Hawai'i to be built on this prime pieee of real estate. Since Rice v. Cayetano. all Hawai'i residents are eligible to vote in OHA elections, and I'm sure they'd mueh prefer seeing their money pay for a facility that they both have access to and will benefit our host culture. These are suggestions and concerns about OHA from myself and people who have recently approached me. Whatever your thoughts and concerns are regarding OHA, please, carefully examine all of the candidates running for important OHA trustee positions this year, and vote for those you feel will best represent you. Whitney T. Anderson is a past president of the state Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club. and a former Hawai'i state legislator. He is running for an OHA at-large seat in the 2006 general election.

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