Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 2, 1 February 2001 — Carroll/Barrett forum draws community comment [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Carroll/Barrett forum draws community comment

By Manu Boyd fRUSTRATION, FEAR, optimism and hope were among mixed emotions expressed at a Carroll/Barrett forum held at the Center for Hawaiian Studies at Mānoa Jan. 10, one of several gatherings in January to bring critical information to the Hawaiian community, face-to-face. Organized by the Center and the 'īho'ulaokalani Coalition, the panel presentation drew more than 125.

Panehsts were OHA Chairperson Haunani Apohona; Robert Klein, attorney for the State Council of Hawaiian Homesteaders Association (SCHHA); Bill Tam, attomey; Carl Christiansen of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp and attomey for 'Ilio'ulaokalani; Ray Soon, chairman, DHHL; Darrell Yagodich, also of DHHL; and Senator Colleen Hanabusa. "Hawaiians do not currently fit into the United States Constitution as native ' people," said Christiansen, emphasizing that the Akaka Bill - or some form of federal recognition - is the sole means for protection of Hawaiian rights and entitlements. "As long as U.S. law eontrols us, and for the foreseeable future it certainly wih, the lawyers in these cases are bound by those laws. The only way that law ean be changed is with the passage of the Akaka Bill," he said. The Akaka Bih seeking federal recognition of Hawaiians failed in the Senate last year, and was re-introduced to Congress in January.

Attomey Bill Tam cautioned not to be "put off" by such terms as "Indian" and "tribe" explaining that these terms are part of the language of the Constitution and constitutional law. Current "tribes" recognized by the federal government include religious groups, nations, famihes, clans and hunting groups. "It's a generic term and need not cause heart aehe," he said. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Chairman Ray Soon explained their strategy. "Because DHHL is a state entity, its defense was left to the Attorney General's office. Therefore, the Hawaiian Homes Commission approved a loan to the SCHHA $600,000 to fund their defense." Lilikalā Kame'eleihiwa, director of the Center of Hawaiian Studies, encouraged continued discussion and brainstorming on the litigation and federal recognition, offering the center for future meetings. ■

Keoni Agard addressed the panel, suggesting that OHA resources be used to initiate the building of a political entity to interact with the federal government. At left, Keola 'Ōhumukini of Utah, who extended his trip home to attend the forum, said "Hawaiians have the power of Ke Akua behind us. We must unite and email everyone we know on the continent to garner support from their Congressional representatives for our cause." pHOTOS; MANU B0YD