Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 11, 1 November 2016 — GNHA convention: A 'solutions-based affair' [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GNHA convention: A 'solutions-based affair'

By Ka Wai Ola Staff More than 300 people attended the 15th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention last month to hear presentations fromNative Hawaiian organizations, network and eollaho-

rate to achieve shared goals. One of the highlights was a presentation on the Native Hawaiian Constitution drafted during February's 'aha in Kailua. Council for Native

Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) nresident and CF.O

Miehelle Kauhane said the draft constitution does not guarantee recognition by any government and "sets up a unicameral democracy for Hawaiians by Hawaiians." The plenary sessions were an opportunity to share mana'o and seek solutions to issues of eoneem throughout the Hawaiian eommunity - homelessness and a laek of affordable housing; policies and funding that impact Native Hawaiian education programs; availability of capital and other resources; eommunity engagement and advocacy strategies. Representatives from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs participated throughout the convention, starting on opening day with Ka Pouhana/ CEO Kamana'opono Crabbe sharing ways OH A's work as an agency and collaborator touches tens of thousands of beneficiaries regardless of blood quantum. OHA's strategic priority areas are culture, land, governance, eeonomie selfsufficiency, education and heahh. Other sessions throughout the convention offered a more detailed look at OHA and other organization's efforts to help Hawaiians

heeome better educated, move up the eeonomie ladder and be more proactive in preventing chronic disease. The Housing and Homestead Caucuses focused on a need for affordable housing to address homelessness, including rental units

owned an operI ated by Hawaiian homelands trust beneficiaries. OHA's Kamakana Aquino presented a homeownership fact sheet that ean be found at: http:// ' www.oha.org/

economic-self-sufficiency. OHA was ren-

resented on the Next Generations Caucus panel by Community Engagement Director Mehanaokalā Hind and Kamaile Maldonado. The Hawai'inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge facilitated the panel, whieh focused on various forms of civic engagement. OHA's Puhlie Policy team shared its 2017 legislative priorities, as well as advocacy efforts that include monitoring state boards for issues that impact beneficiaries. The Marketplace, always a highlight at the convention, featured Native Hawaiian art, clothing, accessories, food and resources. For those seeking capital resources, OHA's grant and loan programs offered information about how to get funding for community events; land, culture and education programs; businesses that are just starting or expanding; home repairs and higher education. CNHA's Policy Center will be releasing a full report on the Small Business Caucus's priorities, such as increasing access to capital resources, taking advantage of loeal Community Development Financial Institutions resources and spurring eeonomie development at the eommunity level. ■

UNA Ka rouhana/LtU addressed the aftendees on the first day of the convention. - Photo:Alice Silbanuz