Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 10, 1 October 2010 — PETER APO [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PETER APO

1. The Akaka bill addresses the most important issue for Hawaiians since the overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani in 1893 - federal recognition of Hawaiians as indigenous people. It's the least that the Federal government ean do to atone for the loss of sovereignty and the marginalization of Hawaiians who were dramatically distanced from having any meaningful voice in the urowth of what was onee their home-

land and in whieh they now find themselves strangers. The Akaka bill is vital to the process of reconciliation and easing the abiding tension between Hawaiians and Hawai'i's major institutions. It will present Hawaiians with a legitimate opportunity to revitalize, reorganize and better utilize theirresources. The bill would allow us to maximize the capacity we have at our command, whieh is the culmination of years of Hawaiian activism. It represents real hope for reconciling our claims and for our eeonomie and cultural revitalization. One of the most important aspects of the bill is the protection of existing entitlements, Hawaiian trusts, community institutions and an entire landscape of programs that blanket the state. These are broadly supported by the Hawai'i community as a vital part of Hawai'i's economy, and fundamental to Hawai'i's eeonomie and societal stability. Their legal standing is under judicial siege in a litany of court challenges and their survival may hinge on the passage of the bill. By redefining Hawaiians as a citizenry of a recognized nation (within U.S. jurisdiction), the bill begins a process of sheltering these Hawaiian programs, institutions and entitlements such as Hawaiian Homes, Kamehameha Schools, the Ali'i trusts and even OHA itself from legal attacks. I would support the Akaka bill as a major priority of my service as a Trustee. 2. OHA Trustees have supported the Akaka bill despite the fact that it may mean the organization's dissolution. I believe this is the right approach. The overarching goal of Hawaiian well-being should be paramount and not the survival of an organization. OHA's role must be one of an agent of change in guiding the process of transition to true self-governance. While the specific role of OHA in a newly constituted governing entity remains unclear, OHA may settle into an adjunct administrative role with its long experience in shepherding Hawaiian programs. 3. I believe OHA is on the right track in its approach to a settlement of: (l) cash awards equal to the 20 percent share of total ceded land revenue for the immediately preceding fiscal year; and (2) a combination of cash and land in fee simple title for back rent. The cash awards satisfy the need for a liquid asset base but the SEE APO ON PAGE 9

TRUSTEE O'AHU — OFFICE OF HAWAIIAM AFFAIRS

1) What single issue facing Native Hawaiians concerns you the most anel how woulel you address that issue as an OHA trustee?

2) Should the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act be enacted into law, what role do you believe OHA should play in the formation of the Native Hawaiian governing entity?

3) How would you like to see OHA and the state resolve the ceded lands revenue issue, both in terms of past due revenue and the annual revenue due to OHA?

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APO Continued from page 7 nrore irrrportant asset is the land awards. It is the land base that will provide for the future weahh of the nation. I would index the value of the land by two measures. One is conrnrercially viable lands whereby the value is established by the nrarket. It would be better to have 35 acres of Kaka'ako Makai (Kewalo Basin area) than 200 acres of less valuable rural real estate. A second value index would be nreasirred by the "eultirral" value of the land - a notion that I believe was gaining standing during the nrost recent negotiations. Exanrples of culturally valuable lands are heiau locations, fish ponds, lo'i sites, coastal wetlands and waterways; culfirral landscapes whose value is not nreasured by the real estate nrarket, but by its value to the dignity of enrerging nation rebuilding its cultural base. The ceded land settlenrent is fundanrental to building capacity for a Hawaiian fufirre in whieh we are free of being wards of the governnrent.