Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 05, 1 May 2003 — OHA not neutral [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA not neutral

Is OHA authorized under the law to control or direct the Hawaiian , sovereignty and self determination movement? OHA trustees should seek an opinion from the state attorney general on this question. It is my understanding that in the exercise of self determination, the people have the right to choose < what form of government they desire, without influence by any other government entity. OHA jeopardizes the legitimacy of the process if it continues to take the position of controlling or directing the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. OHA is a state entity, or state instrumentality (as cited in the Rice case) and thus cannot interfere with the self determination process. OHA trustees must recognize that it must remain neutral. At this point, OHA trustees have pre-determined the ehoiee reserved to the people by supporting integration (in the form of the Akaka Bill). However, OHA's proper role is to empower the community to make the decision on its own. The people have the right to choose. OHA trustees must marshal its resources i to inform the community of its choices: independence, free associ-

ation and integration. To do otherwise jeopardizes the legitimacy of what they are trying to accomplish Keoni Agard, Esq. Kailua

Good woiks recognlzed — Ncrtive Hawal!ans Maring Gacusana (D. and Franclne Makaonaona Dudott-Tagupa, R.N. (r), here with Lt. Gov. James Duke Aiona, were honored by the State Leglslature for thelr steilar community sentae. Dudoit-Tagupa was commended for lntegrating tradltional Hawallan and Western heaiing methods. Gacusana was app)auded for her selfiess, compassionarte dedication to the children of the Puna District. Photo: Naomi sodetani