Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 3, 1 March 2009 — Hot List [ARTICLE]

Hot List

2009 promises to be a pivotal year for our Hawaiian people. The battle for self-detennination is moving on all fronts. Here's Hawaiian Govemance's Hot List, with ways to track the issues yourself. Get infonned! It's the first step to figuring out how you ean get involved to make a positive difference. AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL There are several items of interest relating to Hawaiians. We have our eyes on two: • Hawai'i v. OHA: the "Ceded" Lands case at the United States Supreme Court. Oral arguments were Feb. 25, a decision is expected by sununer of this year. » http://origin.www.supremecour tus.gov/docket/07-1372.htm provides a timeline of events and filings on the case at the Supreme Court level and a list of attorneys involved. » inversecondemnation.com/ inversecondemnation/cededlands. html has all the briefings on the case, along with some opinion. » stopsellingcededlands.com • S. 381/H.R. 862, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, also known as the Akaka Bill. Introduced in February, it proposes that Hawaiians be formally recognized as the indigenous people of Hawai'i by the United States, provides for a Native Hawaiian goveming entity organized by Native Hawaiians and provides a process for federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian governing entity. » nativehawaiians.com is a web site dedicated to federal recognition for Native Hawaiians. » thomas.loc.gov offers a way to track bills in Congress. In the search box in the middle of the page, eliek on bill number and type in S. 381 or H.R. 862 to track the current versions in the Senate and the House of Representatives. AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE There are many important bills relating to Native Hawaiians. You ean

start by viewing the entire package introduced by a group, for example, the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus: http://capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/ lists/rptpkg.aspx?pkg=50. Onee you are familiar with the bills you want to track, you ean look up individual bills and subscribe to their RSS feed. Here's an example for HB 1660, a bill to recognize Hawaiians as the indigenous people of Hawai'i: http://capitol.hawaii.gov/sitel/docs/ getstatus ,asp?query=hb 1 660&currpag e= 1 &showstatus=on.

ATTHEUNAND INTERNATIONALLY We are not alone in our struggle, although our history is unique. Indigenous Peoples around the world are organizing for positive change in their conununities, countries and around the globe. It is important for us to understand the global context of our efforts, as we now live in a global society. To find out more about Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations, eheek out: • docip.org • un.org/issues/m-indig.html • un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/index.html Keep abreast of happenings in the indigenous world at a site conceived, created and maintained by indigenous people, for indigenous people at www.indigenousportal.com. Native Hawaiian Malia Nobrega is one of the founders. Check it out! Also eheek out a new online news source for a broad spectrum of news and opinions related to Native Hawaiians: http://maolinews.blogspot.com. ^

Kau Inoa registration events for March are still in the works, please eall 808-594-1912 for upcoming _ registration J°i opportunities. For T-shirt Kau Inoa inquiries, Count as eall Kaina of Feb. 19: Yasuhara in/l AA1 registration ' \JHlHH'0 specialist ot 808-594-0245. = I Contact us: 808-594-1912 hla@oha.org or kauinoa.org

HAWAIIAN GOVERNANCE