Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 11, 1 November 2008 — Native Hawaiian groups, lawmakers ofifer views of global issues [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian groups, lawmakers ofifer views of global issues

By Liza Simon Puhlie Affairs Specialist While it was not planned to be a dominant theme, fallout from the world eeonomie crisis eame under examinahon at the Policy Roundtable and Town Hall that capped off the seventh annual Native Hawaiian Convention organized by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. The purpose of the Oct. 2 roundtable was to present state lawmakers with Native Hawaiian policy reconunendations by CNHA's 90 member organizations. However, many speakers drew connections between the initiatives they were prepared to discuss and the breaking news about turmoil in the nation's banking system and the fact that the U.S. House of Representatives that day was sitting down to debate a proposed $700 hillion bailout of failed U.S. financial institutions, whieh President Bush later

approved. "Definitely there was a consensus that we as Hawaiians need to be proactive and engaged if the

state is to be successful despite hard times we are now facing," said CNH A director Robin Danner, who moderated the discussion at

the Hawai'i Convention Center. One audience member brought up sustainability initiatives as key Native Hawaiian issues and advo-

cated for Kanaka Maoli input in bringing down soaring energy costs that are adding to the nation's eeonomie slide. "We should be incorporating more Native Hawaiian solutions when it comes to elean energy," said Rep. Mina Morita (D-Hanalei, Anahola). "Annually, we are sending $7 hillion out of state to pay for energy, when we could be transitioning to solar power, setting the example for other states and, at the same time, recirculating more money inside the state," said Morita, adding that she would eall for a tax in the upcoming legislative session to fund energy programs. Morita added that families would save in long run if Hawai'i becomes energy independent. Lawmakers strongly agreed that maintaining a decent standard of living in Hawai'i is contingent on prudent land use policy. "The idea that our land mass is both preSee GL0BAL on pagE II

Af fhe annual Nafive Hawaiian Convenfion, a panel discussion wifh sfafe lawmakers ranged from energy solufions fo fhe pending U.S. Supreme Courf review of fhe sfafe's ability fo sell ceded lands. From leff are: Sens. Russell Kokuhun, Colleen Hanabusa, Jill Tokuda, J. Kalani English and Rep. AAina Morifa. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

cious and finite as a resource is something we must eome together in recognizing, because it's the basis of our food and fuel. It's also the foundation of our Native Hawaiian cultural practices," said Sen. Russell Kokuhun (D-Waiākea Uka, Kalapana, Volcano, Kahuku). Echoing conunents made earlier by Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, Kokuhun expressed eoneein that the eeonomie downturn would trigger support for developing or selling puhlie lands. Along with the nation's grim eeonomie news, Kokuhun said he was disturbed by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision - announced as the convention got underway - to hear a case that could open the way for the state to sell ceded lands, whieh are lands onee held by the Hawaiian Kingdom but are now under state purview. Kokuhun

told the audience he would push for a 2009 hill requiring stringent legislative oversight of any puhlie land sales. Many of the general pohcy priorities promoted by CNHA related to the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and OHA and how the two agencies ean best eollahorate on ideas including agricultural and pastoral homesteading, grant programs and joint funding. Despite the intrusion of gloomy headlines, the roundtable discussion resounded with many upbeat conunents about the enthusiastic crowd of Native Hawaiian policy advocates at the three-day convention. "There was a very positive feeling that we ean bring our Hawaiian values to the table in providing solutions for problems that are not just Hawaiian issues," said Sen. I. Kalani English (D-East Maui, Lāna'i, Moloka'i). "When faced with a crisis, we (as Hawaiians) have an ability of looking to our history for a road map into the future." E3

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