Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 3, 1 March 2014 — Our beneficiaries raise their voices [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Our beneficiaries raise their voices

t was heartwarming to listen at hearings held by our Legislators, to the many voices raised by our beneficiaries in support of the development of the lands at Kaka 'ako Makai given to OHA as a settlement for the ceded lands revenue owed our people from 1978-2012. I share with you a testimony given by a passionate henehciary at the House Committee on Water & Land and Committee

on Oeean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs. "Aloha Chair Evans, Vice Chairs Lowen and Cullen: "I am Homelani Schaedel, a native Hawaiian who is 64 years old, and I eonsider myself a beneficiary of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). "The diligent and deliberate efforts of OHA and its Trustees, some who are no longer with us today, took 33 years, 5 months, and 5 days for the State to settle a long overdue debt to Native Hawaiians. That is more than half of my lifetime. "It's been almost two (2) years since Governor Abercrombie signed Senate Bill 2783. 1 believe OHA, in good faith, accepted the settlement on behalf of all its beneficiaries at the estimated value of $200 million appraised by the State. "Since then, OHA and its Trustees eontinue to move forward, working toward developing the highest and best use of Kaka'ako Makai to ensure long term oplimal ineome to serve its beneficiaries. In addition, they must also halanee the transformation of these lands respectfully and with cultural sensitivity to stand the test of time and elements as did our ancestors. "While we will hear voices who oppose the passage of this bill, it is time for all to hear that we are tired of being told what we ean or cannot do, or what we should and should not do with our lands. I ask all here to remember, it was our ancestors who walked and worked these lands; they taught us how to be good stewards of the 'āina.

"We agree Kaka 'ako Makai is for the benefit of native Hawaiians. What we may not agree on is how it should be developed. That kuleana rest on the shoulders of OHA and its Trustees. Do not tie their hands. Let them do their work! "Throughout the 33 plus years of negotiations, the State said there were no funds to settle OHA's elaim.

"Recently, through the media, we learned the State now has a surplus. If OHA is not able to consider residential development for Kaka'ako Makai, then perhaps we should look at the State using these surplus funds to pay OHA the $200 million dollars and reimburse OH A for all costs and fees to date expended on this project. "Though I am only one of thousands from those who eame before me and those who are here now, it is for those who will eome after me that today I raise my voice and humbly ask you to pass HB 2554. "It is my hope that I will live to see today's vision for Kaka'ako Makai become tomorrow's reality. "Mahalo for the opportunity to present my testimony." Mahalo Homelani! OHA has been fighting from its ineeption to support appropriate safeguards to ensure responsible development. We are on record as advocates of sustainable growth, the preservation of natural and cultural resources, and the perpetuation of tradition and customary practices. We understand better than any other developer the impacts of irresponsible development. Native Hawaiians have been victims of, and suffered most from, the consequences of reckless development. We seek to find the highest point at whieh the culturally rich use of our Kaka'ako Makai lands intersects with revenue-generating use of the parcels so that all of our beneficiaries will benefit from this settlement and development. ■

Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey TrustEE, Maui