Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 5, 1 May 2012 — Isles' congressional delegates rally support for renewing housing help for Hawaiians [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Isles' congressional delegates rally support for renewing housing help for Hawaiians

By Harold Nedd Capitol Hill eame to the islands recently as Hawai'i's congressional delegation urged support for a bill aimed at reauthorizing programs to provide housing assistance to Native Hawaiians. U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, held a hearing on the bill April 16 at O'ahu Veterans Center in Salt Lake. He said passage of the Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act would ensure that "the Native Hawaiian people have access to housing programs on our trust lands consistent with what the United States provides to other federally recognized native peoples." In her testimony, U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono said the Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act was in the odd position of not having the usually passionate backing in Congress, where some federal lawmakers have challenged the bill, calling it an entitlement program for Hawaiians. "There are some people in Congress who see these programs as set-asides based on race," Hirono said. "They reject the nohon that we have a responsibility to indigenous people. But these programs aren't about handouts; they are about giving families an opportunity for homeownership. We must see that the Hawaiian Homeownership

Opportunity Act is passed and signed into law by President Ohama." The reauthorization would allow for federal funding for housing assistance and loan guarantees for Native Hawaiians. The congressional delegation's efforts eome as more than 10,000 Native Hawaiians have been awarded land leases under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920. In addition, about 2,500 leases have been issued in the past decade, said Miehelle Ka'uhane, deputy director of the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Ka'uhane also testified that more than 26,000 Native Hawaiians are on a waiting list for land. "Waiting times are ranging from five years to 50 years," she said. "These numbers clearly show that in 2012, almost 100 years after the enactment of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, there is still a strong desire by Native Hawaiians to live and work on the Hawaiian homelands." In testimony, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa said that the hopes of the Native Hawaiians on the waiting list will depend on efforts to pass the Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act of 201 1. DHHL has received funding under the act through a hloek grant since 2002. "It is a significant pieee of legislation," Hanabusa said. "It holds within it the future of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands."

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye pointed out that the Native Hawaiians who lost homes during the foreclosure crisis were among the most visible wounds of the worst eeonomie downturn since the Great Depression. He addedthat anyone who supports housing opportunities forNative Hawaiians would be on the right side of history. "It's my sincere hope that the dialogue we entered into the record today will help reinforce the historical and legal justification for essential Native Hawaiian programs, like housing, that benefit the indigenous people of Hawai'i," Inouye said. "It's only fair that we do all we ean to provide for the people whose islands we eall home." Among others who gave testimony were Robin Danner, president and CEO of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; Melody Kapilialoha Mackenzie, associate law professor at the University of Hawai'i; and Rodger Boyd, deputy assistant secretary for Native American Programs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, who summed up his feelings about the bill this way: "It does not only increase housing opportunity on the islands, but it increases access to capital and provides the opportunity to build stronger, more economically vibrant and self-sufficient communities." ■

G0VERNANCE To restore pono and ea, Native Hawaiians will achieve self-gover-nanee, after whieh the assets of OHAwillhe transferred to the new governing entity.

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U.S. Sen. ūaniel Akaka held a hearing in Honolulu on housing assistance for Native Hawaiians attended by Hawai'i's four delegates to Congress, including U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, right. - Courtesy photos: Blaine Fergerstrom

Kali Watson and Robin Danner testify at the Senate hearing.