Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 11, 1 November 2012 — Convention aims to move natives forward [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Convention aims to move natives forward

Just as a global fund has had "tremendous impact on the HIV/ AIDS epidemic," a global fund is needed to combat racism, a W.K. Kellogg Foundation vice president said at the recent Native Hawaiian Convention. Racism affects how our children are taught in schools, whieh communities house garbage dumps and whieh are polluted, said Gail Christopher, program strategy vice president with the foundation, whieh has a multibillion-dollar corpus supporting civic engagement, healthy and educated children, and secure families, among other areas. Christopher said Hawaiians' 1970s canoe-voyaging resurgence was a fine example of a community defining itself on its own terms and not being limited to what others say they are eapahle of. "They had the courage to say any statement about the laek of our capacity of our people, that's a lie, and we will correct that lie," she said.

Christopher gave the keynote address at the Oct. 3 opening day luneheon to a crowd of about 1,000 people. The Kellogg Foundation undertook a $100 million initiative in 2010 to combat racism. Called America Healing, it works to "uproot the fundamental fallacy that somehow human beings differ in their value based on their physical characteristics," she said. Philanthropy was a major focus of the 1 lth annual convention at the Hawai'i Convention Center, whieh attracted national foundation leaders from Kellogg, Ford and Kresge foundations. A separate policy roundtable discussing needs and priorities brought together various groups representing youth leaders and Hawaiians in homesteads, Ananeial organizations, and state bodies like the Department of Hawaiian Home Fands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, as well as leaders from Paeilie nations like the Federated States of Micronesia. In a speech to the gathering on opening day, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka pledged to continue his push for the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act

until he retires in January. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee passed an amended bill in September, reflecting the state's creation of the Native Hawaiian

Roll Commission in Hawai'i. "The amendment removes the sections of my bill about creating and certifying the roll of qualified Native

Hawaiians, because that process is already under way here in the Islands, and streamlines my bill down to its essential parts," said Akaka. "As chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, this version of the bill represents my best mana'o on how to secure the future of our people. ... I truly believe that as the indigenous people of Hawai'i, our ability to chart our own course and define our future will never be sure until we have parity with all other native peoples." Additional highlights from the two-day conference included talks by: » Kaua'i Mayor Bernard Carlvalho Jr., who described various projects and successes on both Kaua'i and Ni'ihau as part of his Holoholo 2020 plan, whieh aims to grow Kaua'i responsibly. » Nā'ālehu Anthony, a captain on the Hōkūle'a and founder of Palikū Documentary Films. He discussed the Polynesian Voyaging Society's worldwide voyage, whieh departs in spring 2013 and will visit 21 countries in four years involving 25 canoes. » Kamehameha Schools CEO Dee Jay Mailer,

who urged people to press the Fegislature to amend state law affecting the state's youngest learners. In 2014, she said, 5,100 keiki will "no longer get the opportunity" for early education. ■

Retiring U.S. Sen. ūaniel Akaka gave his final speech to the Native Hawaiian Convention as an elected official. He is stepping down in January. - Photo: LisaAsato

1 . The convention opened Oct. 3 with hula and chant. Robin Danner, president of convention organizer Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, is third from left in the back row. 2. Pacific lsland Forum Steering Committee members Miehelle Kauhane, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands deputy to the chairperson, left; Dee Jay Mailer, Kamehameha Schools CE0; and Maile Meyer, Hawaiian Way Fund chair, participate in an armchair dialogue. - Photos: Helson Gaspar; 3. Hawaiian Homes Commissioner Joe Tassill, recognized with the inaugural Joe Tassill Award of Courage, was overcome with emohon when given a framed photo of him as a young man playing 'ukulele. - Photo: Lisa Asato; 4. Kuali'i Lum of Nā Mea Hawai'i sold Hawaiian-inspired shirts at the convention marketplace. - Photo: Mson Gaspar; 5. Alan Mumkami of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. called for Hawaiian advocates to support getting a qualified member on the state Water Commission who has "substantial . . . expertise in traditional Hawaiian water resource management techniques" as state law requires. Two seats on the commission will open up in 201 3. - Photo: LisaAsato

6. Blossom Feiteira, president of the Association of Hawaiians for Homestead Lands, left, addressed the 0ct. 4 policy roundtable. 7. 0ffice of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson Colette Machado provided updates on the agency's lands in Kaka'ako. - Photos: LisaAsato