Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 4, 1 April 2016 — Leave the Nation-Building Process to the People [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Leave the Nation-Building Process to the People

Last month we saw the closure of the 'Aha and the announeement that those gathered had drafted what could potentially be the governing documents of the Native Hawaiian Nation. I have had discussions about the process with various participants and those who chose not to participate. In my capacity as OHA Trustee, I have consistently been criti-

eal of OHA funding Kana'iolowalu and Na'i Aupuni. My reasoning for criticizing this was because I did not see enough inclusion of the people in this process. Voices of many in our community were often ignored when they eame to the Board of Trustees with criticisms of the process. What I have gathered from my recent discussions is that there was a strong consensus amongst 'Aha participants that they no longer wanted Na'i Aupuni or OHA to be a voice in this process. The participants themselves have taken a position of ownership and will roll out a eommunity engagement plan that aims to be far more inclusive of eommunity concerns. While it remains to be seen how this will look or if it actually will be more inclusive, I believe they are very astute in their reading of the feedback they will get if Na'i Aupuni, OHA, or Kana'iolowalu are heavily involved in the next steps of this process. The community is not interested in signing on to top-down initiatives. This is nation-building, the nation is the people. Therefore, the people should be included in every step going forward. Additionally, I was informed that efforts are being made amongst participants to privately raise funds to support the next steps. I am very adamant that OHA should not provide funds for this process. It is imperative that the people are given every opportunity to engage meaningfully about what this pro-

cess means, what it could or could not lead to, and how it may or may not benefit the people. By OHA continuing to fund this process, it will only further taint an already sorely tainted process. Our community has become very cynical of OHA because this institution has not done enough to build trust amongst the people. The best thing OHA ean do is step aside and let the process take its course in our community. I am

hopeful that these proposed documents will cause great discussion amongst our people that will lead to meaningful plans that allow us to move forward eolleetively. There are very real issues that need to be addressed in our eommunities, and although I have been critical of this process, I realize that it is now forcing a critical discussion that will open up the doors to our future. We must remain pono, thoughtful, and open-minded when we discuss these issues. I would also like to acknowledge the 'Aha Aloha 'Āina meetings/ discussions that are taking plaee across the islands, they too are providing an important platform for discussions to take plaee regarding moving forward. I am hopeful that while these two tracks are currently moving independently of eaeh other, they will soon meet and/or run parallel to one another. I am optimistic that the two will join at some point for the future of our people and Hawai'i nei. I do not think it is a coincidence that the mea makamae (treasures) of Kalani'ōpu'u have returned home during this time. I believe it is a hō'ailona (sign/symbol) that represents our people coming full circle from the time of first western eontact. These treasures are a symbol of a time when our people flourished with full autonomy and control of these islands, it's time we forge a path to find similar autonomy and control of our destiny. ■

Dan Ahuna

VicE Chair, TrustEE, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau