Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 4, 1 April 1996 — Land claims and computers [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Land claims and computers

Kīna'u Boyd Kamali'i Trustee -at-Large We all know the crown and government lands of the Kingdom of Hawai'i were stolen. Even the Congress and President of the United States have formal-

ly apologized and admitted that nearly 1.8 million acres of land - today called the "ceded lands" - were taken "without the consent of, or eompensation to the Hawaiian people." But what will we say when the state

and federal governments turn to us and say, "You're right, we stole it. What do you Hawaiians want?" Are we going to respond, "Let me go

think about it, and get back to you in five or ten years?" The land claims may trace back to the end of the 19th century, but a fair and accurate land settlement will be guided with the technology of modern computers. In particular, the computerized,

graphic overlay mapping of data made possible with the Geographic Information System - or GIS technology — will be an invaluable tool in achieving a fair and just settlement. Computers, however, only eome

with a "brain," a capability to record information and to arrange data according to identified categories. The "thoughts" or data selected,

entered and sorted for informational fields in the computer must be determined by human design. OHA acquired the computer hardware to run the GIS system in 1993. Since that time, the OHA Committee on Land and Sovereignty and thē Land Division have developed and been implementing "Nā Waiwai o Ke Ao" - a long-range plan for selecting and entering key fields of information to display "the riches all around" on statewide island maps. The objectives of "Nā Waiwai o Ke Ao" are to enhanee ongoing land use reviews, collect databases needed for a Hawaiian land claims settlement, and develop the analytic information needed to formulate Hawaiian resource management and use policies. Sound big? It will be. To avoid duplication, unnecescontinued page 17

Kamali'i from 16 sary costs, and to tap into the best sources possible, OHA is successfully entering into inter-governmental partnerships and structuring projects to do double-duty. For example, the state ceded lands inventory of properties by tax map key is now being digitized. What? Information whieh would be printed out as a listing of numbers - TMK - ean now be displayed on a map showing this parcel on Moloka'i. By pointing and clicking on this spot on the map, you would learn that this parcel is ceded, zoned commercial, and currently being utilized by the state as part of the Kaunakakai Harbor. OHA has also cross-listed all the state ceded lands to county tax assessments, and is entering this data. Nearing completion is a three-year project with the Historic Sites Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. All known cultural and historic properties listed on either the inventory or register of sites are being mapped. By pointing and clicking at one of the dots used to plaee these sites on the map, you will learn whether the site is a heiau or fishpond, its name if known, a brief description of its function, and any existing reports you ean refer to for more information. Now pending before the Board is another 3-year project with Historic Sites to map the Mahele and Kuleana awards. This project will allow a segregation of "crown" and "government" lands, and locate all kuleana. Also linked by page number to kama'āina testimony and land court proceedings, this information could sustain and verify native traditional and customary practices and rights. A GIS partnership agreement has also been entered into with the United States Geographic Survey (USGS) agency to cooperatively enter stream data, and to share other GIS information related to surface and sub-surface water sources statewide. Other anticipated components include mapping the locations and information related to the Hawaiian population, public infrastructure, native and indigenous plants, forests, and animals. For too long, Hawaiians have visited and revisited the dark chapters of our history. Swinging back and forth between moods of "sad" and "mad." The continuing consequences of being homeless in our own homeland is literally killing us. We will be prepared for success. When the federal and state governments tum to us - and that will be sooner, not later than we think - and say, "You're right, we stole it - what do you want?" We'll hand them maps - "Here, these are the lands we want." The lands that will produce eeonomie opportunity and ineome, provide houses, support agriculture and aquaculture, that will sustain our culture and beliefs. Here, these are the lands on whieh we will build and bind our nation.