Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 8, 1 August 2013 — Native Hawaiian Convention will highlight effort to create a roll to shape governing entity [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian Convention will highlight effort to create a roll to shape governing entity

ByTreenaShapiro Kana'iolowalu is an appropriate theme for one of the largest gatherings of Native Hawaiians this year. If "Kana'iolowalu, Unrelinquished - Undeterred - Unified, We Rise as One" sounds familiar, it's because it echoes the theme of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission's effort to register Hawaiians who are eligible to partici-

pate in the creation of a governing entity. "That is a very important aspect of what's going on in the Native Hawaiian

community so we have adopted their theme as our theme, with the topic 'rise as one,' " explains Miehelle Kauhane, president of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. CNHA is organizing the convention, with help

from its strategic partners: the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission. The Native Hawaiian roll isn't the only thing that will be discussed at the 12th annual Native Hawaiian Convention, although it could be tied in to presentations on overarching themes such as eeonomie development, housing and education, Kauhane says. "It's a huge question among Native Hawaiians and our community: What exactly is the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission and what is their role?" Representatives from the commission will address these questions, as well as offer some insight into its next steps. They'll also explain what makes the Kana'iolowalu registry different from other registries Native Hawaiians have been asked to sign up for over the years. It's a good forum, says Kauhane. "It's a great time to convene with other Native Hawaiians, to network and to learn what's going on in our community," Kauhane says. The goal of the convention is to bring together Native Hawaiian community members and lead-

ers from the nonprofit, business, civic and homesteaders sectors so that everyone ean focus on top issues. The day before the convention starts, leaders will be setting the platform with input from housing, health care, education and other groups who ean help set policy. The three top priorities from eaeh subject area will be considered as part of the policy platform. There will also be culture-based

workshops focused on Native Hawaiian arts, such as kāhili (feather standard), whieh was taught at a previous convention. There are always lots of exhibitors, Kauhane points out, so you'll find arts and crafts booths and exhibits by native artists, too. "It celebrates everything Hawaiian and I think there's something at convention for everyone," says Kauhane. The convention takes plaee Sept. 3 to 5 at the Hawai'i Convention Center. However, preconvention events begin Aug. 30, when leaders convene for a roundtable on national policy and others get together for the three-day Hawaiian Way Fund Native Basketball Tournament. On Sept. 3, right after Labor Day, there will be summits and caucuses addressing issues like affordable housing, small business, culture, health, leadership and Hawaiian Home Lands. Sept. 4 includes the opening ceremonies, the Council on Native Hawaiian Advancement's annual membership meeting, a resources forum and an oli workshop. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will provide information on community

resources and host a session on its grants and loans programs. There will also be a maoli art collectors reception. The hnal day features a special session on the next steps after Kana'iolowalu, a puhlie policy roundtable and a civic engagement luneheon. Registration will be open until Aug. 29, the day before the convention begins. Fees range from free to $150 for small nonprofit organizations and $425 for corporate and business firms. Information will available at www.hawaiiancouncil.org. The website will also have applications for exhibitors or vendors who want to feature skills, products or services at the convention marketplaee. Those registered for the convention may be able to take advantage of special room rates at the Ala Moana Hotel - $1 15 a night for the Kona Tower or $ 129 a night for the Waikīkl Tower. Ask for the annual Native Hawaiian Convention group rate. ■ Treena Shapi.ro, a freelance writer, is a former reporterfor the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser.

12th annual Native Hawaiian Convention WHEN: Sept. 3-5; preconvention events start Aug. 30 WHERE: Hawai'i Convention Center FEE: free to $150 forsmall nonprofits; upto $425 for corporate anel business firms REGISTRATION/INFO: byAug. 29 at www.hawaiiancouncil.org

G0VERNANCE To restore pono and ea, Native Hawaiians will achieve self-gover-nanee, after whieh the assets of 0HA will be transferred to the new governing entity.

John Waihe'e

Miehelle Kauhane

Eaeh year, the Native Hawaiian Convention aftracts hundreds of aftendees from Hawai'i, the continent and the Pacific to discuss eeonomie development, affordable housing and governance, among many other issues, and to eelebrate the arts. On Sept. 4, former governor and current Native Hawaiian Roll Commission Chairman John Waihe'e is scheduled to give the keynote luneheon address. - Photos: KWO file