Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 11, 1 November 2002 — Nā ʻŌiwi ʻŌlino [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nā ʻŌiwi ʻŌlino

a "\^ OHA native rights campaign

By Manu Boyd Aunty Mālia Craver (pictured above), kupuna cultural and spiritual consultant at the Queen Lilihokalani Children's Center, puts a lot of thought into giving a Hawaiian name. "I was called by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to name a program for them," Craver explained. "I said, cyes,' and that I would pray on it. "The name I gave was TSTā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino.' 'Ōiwi are our Hawaiian people. When youthink of the word c6lino, there are so many meanings like brilliant, glittering, gleaming, to shine — it's a positive name. With our kupuna, a positive name means that it's your expectation that a pemon or a group of people will grow to do the things that the name meant," she said. "My expectation of giving that name to the project was to have the children and the families be people with knowledge and wisdom in eveiy thing they

do or with every aspect." Nā 'Ōiwi "Ōlino is the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaiian Rights and Education Campaign, officially launched Sept. 9. Its ultimate goal is to inform and educate the public on such critical Hawaiian topics as ceded lands, self-determination, education and social issues. As a people who value knowledge and understanding, the eoncept of "people seeking wisdom" underscores that information equals

power. Events of the Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino eampaign continue at the top of this month with the OHA 2002 Gubernatorial Campaign, Nov. 1, 7 p.m. at Jefferson Hall at the East-West Center. This is OHA's second forum — the first was held Sept. 9 prior to the primary eleetion. At the Nov. 1 event, top gubernatorial contenders VIazie Hirono and Linda Lingle will share their positions on Hawaiian issues, the mostcritical of whieh is the restoration of ceded lands revenue to the Native Hawaiian Trust. Since July 2001, not a penny has been paid by the state to the Native Hawaiian Trust for its use of ceded lands. That obligation is more than a moral one — it is mandated by statute. But the 1990 law that defined the 20 percent prorata share of those revenues due the Office of Hawaiian Affaim, Act 304, was struck down Sept. 1 2, 2001 , by the State Supreme Court, because of conflict between state and federal law regarding use of airport revenue. Although the Honolulu International Airport sits squarely on ceded land, it is entirely under federal jurisdiction. The nullification of Act 304 effectively cut off any payment to the Native Hawaiian Trust via the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, thereby sending the statutorily mandated measure back to the State Legislature. But in its 2002 session, the legislature failed to pass any law either redefining a revenue stream to OHA, or providing the agency interim revenue. As a part of Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino's kamali'i (youth) empowerment, an essay and poster contest is underway for students in various charter and Hawaiian immersion schools. "He Hawai'i Au" (I am Hawaiian) is the See CAMPAIGN on page 14

"My expectation of giv - ing that name to the project was to have the children and the families be people with knowledge and wis - dom in every thing they do. " — Malia Craver, QLCC

CAMPAIGN from page 1 essay topic, with specified grade level categories. Entries may be in either Hawaiian or English. The poster contest subject uses the overall Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino theme. Entries for both contests are due Nov. 22, allowing judging to take plaee prior to the Dec. 7 awards ceremony. Winning essays and posters will be published in Ka Wai Ola o OHA January '03 edition. A high school debate eompetition on the issue of Federal Recognition will highlight the Dec. 7 event, scheduled for 5-8 p.m. at Kamehameha Schools' Ke 'elikōlani Auditorium. "The Dec. 7 e\'ent culminates the initial kamali'i empowerment pieee of Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino," said OHA Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o. "We invite the public to learn more about these programs by visiting our website at www.oha.org, or by calling us at 594-1894." All are in\Hted to rally for Hawaiian rights and entitlements under the banner of "Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino," Wed., Jan. 15 at the State Capitol. Mark your calendars for these important Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino events. ■