Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 10, 1 October 1994 — Research program to study economie effects of sovereignty models [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Research program to study economie effects of sovereignty models

The Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce has formed the Kōkua Loa Institute, a non-profit, non-political research and educational institute to study the potential eeonomie effects of sovereignty. Kōkua Loa Institute president Clyde DuPont said "Sovereignty or self-determination for Hawaiians will affect everyone in our state, especially those in business. ... The KLI will research and study the various self-governance alternatives and the potential impact eaeh may have on the State of Hawai'i." Its purpose, say supporters, is to develop competent data analyses and an effective public education program to allow rational debates in the community that lead to well-

informed decisions. Tasks of the Kōkua Loa Institute will be to: • develop a research and educational master plan • develop public eeonomie awareness on sovereignty targeting a possible Hawaiian plebiscite in January 1996 on the issue of sovereignty; • develop various technical models and baselines of the state's eeonomy; • study the eeonomie ramifications of the Hawaiian land claims issue; • model and appraise the impact of a state-chartered governing entity for Hawaiians; • model and appraise the impact of a federal-chartered governing entity for Hawaiians; and to • model and appraise the impact of

political models including: eommonweakh, advanced eommonweahh, free association and total independence. The institute is seeking preliminary funding of $57,000 for startup costs, as well as roughly $60,000 in cash or in-kind support to fulflll a requirement for 20 percent matching funds to qualify to apply for an Administration for Native Americans grant request of $300,000. The Kōkua Loa Institute is governed by a board of directors appointed by the NHCC and chosen from the broader community. To assist them in their work, they plan to recruit a technical advisory board comprised of specialists in economics, cultural anthropology, sociology, poliīieal science, and constitutional and international law, said Keawe Vredenburg, KLI interim executive director. It will also organize a sovereignty advocates' advisory board to ensure that the full range of sovereign alternatives is researched and studied. Momi Cazimero, past president of NHCC, called for all businesses to support the KLI because any form of self-governance or Hawaiian land elaim settlement will affect the state's economy as a whole. For information or to make a financial pledge, write the Kōkua Loa Institute, 350 Ward Ave., Suite 106-102, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96814. Or phone (808) 533-1959.