Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 11, 1 November 1990 — OHA Board Business [ARTICLE]

OHA Board Business

The Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs held its monthly business meeting on Sept. 29 at the Ho'olehua Congregational Church on Moloka'i. Present were Chairman Kaulukukui and Trustee Akaka, Burgess, Ching, DeSoto, Hao and Keale. Trustees Kahaialii and Mahoe wre excused. Unfinished Business Trustee Burgess asked what action the board intends to take by Dr. Frank Tabrah at the August board meeting on Kaua'i. Tabrah's report eoncerned the effects of electromagnetic radiation, including possible health problems suffered by individuals living near the Lualualei Naval Radio Station transmitters on O'ahu. Tabrah recommended an independent group be formed to examine radiation levels. At the Moloka'i meeting the matter was referred to the Committee on External Affairs. New Business The board considered two requests presented at the Moloka'i community meeting held the previous evening. The first request was to fund a conference on fishponds, water rights and other traditional rights. The matter was referred to the Committee on Status and Entitlements. Moloka'i community members also requested legal assistance to protect their hunting rights. The board directed staff to review this matter and it also was referred to the Status and Entitlements Committee. Administrator's Report Administrator Richard Paglinawan presented for review a schedule of OHA's biennium budget and six-year functional plans. The schedule reflected a total of seven community budget meetings in all counties, followed by a revision of the budget and presentation for approval at the Nov. 2 meetinq of the board. Historic Preservation Task Force Report A written report was presented summarizing three task force meetings held in September. It was also noted that the task force members were concerned about their working relationship with Hui Malama 1 Na Kupuna with respect to the issue of repatriation of Hawaiian bones. Committee Reports Committee on Operations and Development A. The board unanimously approved property management guidelines entitled "Principles and Procedures for the Management of Cultural and Historic Properties." The plan is described as a first step in the development of a comprehensive land management plan for the transfer of cultural and historic properties to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

B. Unanimous approval wns also voted to a recommendation "to appropriate $l,069.6.'f from the Native Hawaiian Rights Fund to pay the outstanding amount on legal services rendered by lsaac 1 'avis Hall, attorney at law, in the OHA intervention before the Mai li Land Use Commission on the applieahon of the Waihee Golf Course for land use redesignation. C. The board amended and accepted a Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (NHLC) "Case Acceptance Criteria for Non-Land Title Project Representation." It approves a Hispute resolution mechanism regarding potential conflicts of interest between OHA and NHLC clients. The amendment specifies that the mechanism is to be considered an interim measure subject to the recommendations of an NHLC audit. D. Approval was granted to a rerommendation to appropriate $34,232 from special funds to supplement the FY 1990-91 budget of the Native Hawaiian Preservation Task Force. The request takes into consideration needed additional travel funds for the repatriation to Kaua'i of remains from the Smithsonian lnstitution, hearings on relevant repatriation legislation and an unanticipated shift in the composition of the Task Force and related intrastate travel costs. E. Pending review by the Committee on Ext£rnal Affairs, the trustees gave tentative agreement to a proposal to establish the Onipa'a Award, and a seven-member Onipa'a committee. The award is in honor of Queen Lili'uokalani and is designed to recognize the individual or organization who has done the most to advance native Hawaiian rights in previous years. F. The board directed that letters expressing OHA's outrage at the destruction of 55 'ohe trees in Kahauloa, Keei in South Kona, be sent to the developer and contractor of the project as well as to the Hawai'i County Planning Department. The !etters will demand replacement of the trees and appropriate restitution. The board also approved the institution of a civil suit against the developer and contractor if adequate restitution cannot be achieved by other means. The developers violated a condition of the grading and grubbing permit granted by the Department of Public Works, County of Hawai'i, whieh was to preserve a stand of 60 'ohe trees (not to be confused with bamboo). The developers bull-

dozed all but five trees, despite the direction of the Department of Public Works and community support for preserving the trees. The trees were listed as rare or endangered on previous endangered species lists but were removed from the list in 1985. G. A motion was approved directing staff to seek additional information on the federal dispo6ition and protection of "Greenbank," a 22.5 acre parcel of land in Kohala, Hawai'i, and to convey to federal authorities OHA's recognition of the tradiHonal and historical value of the property. Hui O Hana Kupono O Moloka'i Hui O Hana Kupono O Moloka'i, a group of Moloka'i youngsters who perform service projects and are concerned with preserving Hawaiian eulture and language, made a presentation to the board. Along with their advisor, Moses Kim, the organization asked the trustees for recognition and support of their aims and goals. The board directed that a formal resolution acknowledging the work of the Hui be drafted. Calendar The next regular meeting of the board of trustees was set for Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. in OHA's Honolulu office, 1600 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1500.