Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 1, 1 January 2004 — 2004 is here -- this is the year to step forward for Native Hawaiian governance [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

2004 is here -- this is the year to step forward for Native Hawaiian governance

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau, a puni ke ao mālamalama. E mau ana ka ha'aheo, ka ha'aheo o ka nohona. Ke ola kamaehu o ka lāhui, o ka lāhui Hawai'i. Ka lāhui pono'ī o nā kai, o nā kai 'ewalu. Me nā mea 'oi loa mai nā wā ma mua, e holomua kākou i kēia ao. Ua hiki mai ka wana'ao no ka ho'ōla a me ka hō'ala hou. E ho'ā kākou i ka lama kūpono no nā hulu Hawai'i. Kūkulu a'e kākou no ke ea o ka 'āina me ke aloha a me ke ahonui. 2004 is here. This is the year. Federal recognition for Native Hawaiians will be enacted into law. Native Hawaiians in Hawai'i and away from our homeland will step forward and proactively declare, He Hawai'i Au, I am Hawaiian ... and I want to participate in forming the Native Hawaiian governing entity. As a result, Native Hawaiians and 'ohana in our motherland and away from our shores will be connected, as descendants of Hāloa, as in no

other time. And as descendants of Hāloa, we will be deliberate, methodical, and comprehensive in organizing and implementing our Native Hawaiian governing entity. This process of organizing our Native Hawaiian governing entity is of tremendous and profound signifieanee. It is assumed that those who are currently active in Native Hawaiian issues — who may lead a group for or who are themselves proponents of nation-to-nation or independence governance — will be likely participants that in this process. But this process also will require participation by those who consider themselves part of the "silent majority" of Native Hawaiians, who have never been elected to puhlie office, who do not carry membership in any sovereign group, BUT who do care deeply about the future for Native Hawaiians of this generation and those yet to step forward. From practitioners of tradition to those professionals found in

thesemodern times, as Native Hawaiians reach deep into your na'au for the courage to participate in the process to organize our Native Hawaiian governance. Would it not be the will of your ancestors that you do so? 2004 is here. This is the year. We continue to defend Native Hawaiian benefits, assets and programs in the courts of the State and the United States of America and in this year we will realize victories. We are resolved and unwavering to defend against the ideology put forth by plaintiffs who allege that Native Hawaiian programs are "race-based." 2004 is here. This is the year. With the energy of "political activism, awakened and growing, in our community's na'au here at home, we will influence puhlie and administrative policy related to ceded land revenue payments obligated by statutory and constitutional obligation; protect lands held as trust legacy for Native Hawaiian

beneficiaries; stabilize and grow assets administered and managed by trustees, commissioners, and directors who serve Native Hawaiian beneficiaries and extend services to reach more beneficiaries; protect and perpetuate traditional and customary practices that honor our ancestors, our kupuna, our wahi pana, and our natural resources and the halanee of growth with health and well-being for our 'ohana, communities and environment here in Hawai'i. 2004 is here. This is the year. We further assert our "politcal activism," as choices are made for those who will determine puhlie policy affecting us in our homeland. Terms for all members of the State House of Representatives, for 50 percent of the members of the State Senate, for four of nine Trustees at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; for certain mayors and county councils, will require the exercise of ehoiee for November 2004. This is the year. 38/48 ■

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Haunani Apoliona, MSW Trustee, At-large