Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 2, 1 February 2009 — E kūʻē kākou: A stand for Hawaiian rights [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

E kūʻē kākou: A stand for Hawaiian rights

Editor's note: This eolumn was written by Hope Laheīa Nitta, a senior at Kamehameha SchooJs Maui. As a Native Hawaiian growing up in Hawai'i, it may seem that I have been isolated from events that affect the rest of the world. Though issues such as the stock market crash and global warming have an impact on me, they do not seem to have as profound an affect on me as the issue of Native Hawaiian rights. Attending the Kamehameha Schools, a private institution whieh gives preference to Native Hawaiian students, I have participated in rallies eaeh year, standing up for Native Hawaiian recognition. In these rallies, I interlock my hands, heart and voice with fellow Hawaiian supporters and wear a red shirt symbolizing Hawaiian blood; my shirt states, "E kū'ē kākou," meaning "A stand for Hawaiian rights." Since the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, Native Hawaiians have suffered a decline in culture and eeonomie hardship. Loss of identity in an increasingly Western society in Hawai'i led Native Hawaiians to despair. Today, Native Hawaiians have the lowest family ineome of all major ethnic groups in the state of Hawai'i, and almost half of the inmates currently in prison are of Native Hawaiian ancestry. As a result, there is a movement within the Native Hawaiian community to strive to find our identity and "home" in Hawai'i. We also strive to preserve cultural, traditional and spiritual practices and resources that are rightfully ours. In order to do so, we must establish a new native goveming body, whieh cannot become a reality without the approval of Congress to pass the Akaka Bill introduced by the U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka in the year 2000. The ultimate purpose of the Akaka Bill is to seek to achieve for Native Hawaiians the same federal recognition

and right to self-govemance that some Native American tribes have. The bill would authorize Hawai'i as a nation within a nation, and Hawaiians would be recognized as indigenous and gain direct polhieal representation. In addition, it would protect federal money for Hawaiian programs. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiian Home Lands, and the Kamehameha Schools are three programs the bill directly affects. The bill would also provide assistance to Native Hawaiians with healthcare, housing, education, job training, employment, culture and the arts. Lastly, it would enable Hawaiians to form a governing entity. Hawaiians would gain rights as Native people to self-determination, self-govemance and eeonomie self-sufficiency. The aeeeptance of the bill would begin a process of saving claims the Hawaiian people have for 1.8 million acres of ceded lands and resources that were taken by the U.S. federal govemment when the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown. Without this bill, it would be difficult to enter into a serious debate dealing with the retum of lands and resources. The reason for this is because the federal and state govemments are unlikely to transfer valuable lands and resources unless they are negotiating with a legitimate representation from the Hawaiians. I believe it is time Hawaiians are recognized in a positive light. Growing up, my tūtū (great-grand-mother) did not allow my family to speak Hawaiian. She told us it would hinder our English language and therefore success in society. I am sad that my family did not speak Native Hawaiian in our own household, so being given the opportunity to attend the prestigious Kamehameha Schools has been a blessing and has given me a second ehanee to reclaim my native language and culture. If the Akaka Bill does not pass, not only will ceded lands eonlinue to be sold, but the hope to rebuild a cultural foundation for Native Hawaiians through education will be sold. I believe that education is the key that unlocks opportunities. It is time that we "E kū'ē kākou" and stand proud for our Hawaiian eulture. My name is Hope Nitta, and I am proud to be a Hawaiian. E3

LEO 'ELELE ■ TRUSTEE MESSAGES

Dnnald B. Cataluna TrustEE, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau