Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 8, 1 August 2012 — Roll commission launches registry [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Roll commission launches registry

ByTreenaShapiro The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission has launched a yearlong effort to register all Hawaiians eligible to participate in the creation of a sovereign government. Creating a cer-

tified list, or base roll, is a critieal step toward reunification and self-governance for Native Hawaiians. "For all of us who aloha Hawai'i, now is the time to stand and be counted - unrelinquished, undeterred, united," said former Gov. John Waihe'e, commission chairman. The iniīiative is called Kana'iolowalu, a name that makes reference to King Kamehameha I, who united the Hawaiian islands. But as Amv Kalili

explained, it's more than that. The name evokes the sound of a group of people moving together for a single purpose. Through Kana'iolowalu's work, Native Hawaiians and supporters ean "strive together, to achieve something, to attain, conquer, maybe reclaim (a Hawaiian nation)," Kalili said. While only Native Hawaiians ean register for the base roll, non-Hawaiians are also invited to show their support by signing a petition that affirms the inherent sovereignty of the indigenous people of Hawai'i. Both forms are available at kanaiolowalu.org. During the July 20 launeh ceremony at Washington Plaee, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and other dignitaries signed the petition. In a video from Washington, D.C., U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye also signed up in support, as did U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka. Akaka, a ehampion for Native Hawaiian recognition, was

also one of the first to register for the base roll online. Waihe'e thanked the state Legislature and governor for passing Act 195, whieh recognizes Native Hawaiians as the only indigenous people of Hawai'i and helps facilitate selfgovernance. He also thanked the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for funding the initiative. Then Waihe'e thanked those who he described as present, but unseen. "This is the home of Queen Lili'uokalani, it was her action and our kūpunas' steadfast refusal to yield the sovereignty of the Hawaiian people that we today ean refer to ourselves as their beneficiaries." Waihe'e addressed concerns from some who are afraid or uncertain of what sovereignty could mean. "Here's something else you might not know," he pointed out. "Hawaiians are not only on a quest for justice. They

are also afraid. They are afraid when they look at the last few years to see whatever little we have left may be threatened." He referred to changes to OHA elections that allow non-Hawaiians to serve as trustees, as well as threats to ceded lands, and Hawaiian educational institutions funded through a trust from Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, such as Kamehameha Schools, whieh she founded. Kana'iolowalu is an

opportunity for Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike to eome together and resolve what must be made pono, Waihe'e suggested instead. "For those that are not of Hawaiian ancestry but love Hawai'i, because you are part of this land, we need your help. We cannot do this alone," Waihe'e said. "Without your support there is no way we ean see self-governance return to the Hawaiian people." In an emohonal speech, Governor Abercrombie said he himself has been changed by Hawai'i. "Never from the day that I was blessed to arrive on the shores of Hawai'i did it occur to me that it

would be my charge in life to be a catalyst in this transformation," he said. After the ceremony, OHA Chairperson Colette Machado talked briefly about the agency's role in Kana'iolowalu. As she pointed out, the OHA trustees and administrators approved the budget that made the launeh possible. "Native Hawaiians are not a minority group," Machado said. "We have been here for several thousand years. We had a govemment that operated on a monarchy system. We are going to be here for time immemorial. "This is what this purpose with the roll is - to sign up and be counted and know that you are part of this cultural direction." ■ Treena Shapiro, a freelance writer, is a former reporterfor the Honolulu Star-Bulle-tin and Honolulu Advertiser.

Kana'iolowalu The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission has set a yearlong goal of registering 200,000 Native Hawaiians eligible to participate in the formation of a sovereign government. Registration will be accepted on paper orelectronically through July 19, 2013. lnformation and forms - including a petition for non-Hawaiians to voice support -ean be found at kanaiolowalu.org.

OHA CE0 Kamana'opono Crabbe, left, and OHATrustees John Waihe'e IV and Hulu Lindsey sign the registry at the ceremonial launeh at Washington Plaee. - Photo: Andrew Pezzulo

Go v. Neil Abercrombie, left, and Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, right, presented Native Hawaiian Roll Commission Chairman John Waihe'e a proclamation naming the next 1 2 months the Year of Kana'iolowalu. - Courtesy: Office ofthe Governor