Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 1, 1 January 2013 — The road to Hawaiian self-governance [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The road to Hawaiian self-governance

OHA convenes summit of diverse initiatives

ByTreenaShapiro Prior sovereignty models have had trouble galvanizing a majority of Hawaiians, but leaders throughout the Native Hawaiian community have renewed hope that Hawaiians will forge ahead to establish a Native Hawaiian government. Last year, the State of Hawai'i officially recognized Native Hawaiians as the only indigenous, aboriginal, maoli population of Hawai'i, paving the way for state and federal recognition, and the potential establishment of an independent government. At a recent summit on Native Hawaiian governance, speakers offered diverse opinions on what this ean - and should - mean for the future, but a eommon theme recurred throughout the first day: the time is ripe for Native Hawaiians to join together to form a Hawaiian nation. The two-day Kāmau a Ea eonference at the Ko'olau Ballrooms in November brought together representatives from Hawaiian

self-governance initiatives to help educate the Office of Hawaiian

Affairs and participants on the diverse views and options ahead for Hawaiian self-determination and to plan for the content and form of future Kāmau a Ea summits (at least two more are slated). Those invited to speak at the OHA-sponsored summit included state officials, noted activists, aeademics and artists who have been working toward self-governance from a variety of angles. Nā'ālehu Anthony, vice chairman of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, discussed the effort underway to identify Hawaiians eligible to participate in creating a Hawaiian nation. This effort, he says, has given him renewed hope that Hawaiians will unite to bring their ideas to the table. He knows that not all Hawaiians will get involved, whether it's because they're content with the status quo or because they don't mind having others make decisions for them. Nevertheless, he's optimistic that many, like himself, will recognize that they have a kuleana to step forward and engage in the discussions. "I do believe the time is now to

Kāmau a Ea For more on the Hawaiian Governance Summit series, visit oha.org/kamau.

G0VERNANGE To restore pono and ea, Native Hawaiians will achieve self-gover-nanee, after whieh the assets of OHAwillhe transferred to the new governing entity.

www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org NATiVE HAWAllAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

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La'akapu Lenehanko began his presentation with a chant.

OHA Chief Advocate Breann Nu'uhiwa says 0HA's role is to eonvene and facilitate discussion among the leaders of Hawaiian selfgovernance initiatives. "We're already. whether

we know it or not, working together toward the same goal of a healthy thriving Hawaiian people, and the question is how we ean support eaeh other and whether there's synergy and an opportunity for cooperation so that we ean move forward together," she said. "Our hope for this summit is to begin that dialogue."

University of Hawai'i professor Jon Osorio said returning to a Hawaiian Kingdom is critical.

"I think it's time to really dig in and get the majority of the people to understand the seriousness of - of our sovereignty," said Bumpy Kanahele, a longtime leader in the sovereignty movement.

Hawai'i lsland's Moanikeala Akaka, a former OHA Trustee, was among the 21 presenters.

Esther Kia'āina shared her views on what she called a "critical issue that we have been dealing with as a people for decades." Kia'āina, who addressed Hawaiian governance and self-

determination within the federal context, said she spoke from her past experience on Capitol Hill, at Kamehameha Schools and OHA, and not in her current role as deputy director at the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

eome together," Anthony says. If the process of nation-building is imperfect, Anthony points out that, "Nothing about establishing, maintaining and now re-establishing our nation has ever been perfect."

Activist Bumpy Kanahele, a leader in the sovereignty movement for decades, says he has seen numerous models for a Hawaiian government eome and go. Like Anthony, he feels now is the time for the right model to emerge. "I think it's time to really dig in and get the majority of the people to understand the seriousness. . ,of our sovereignty," he says. Reaching consensus on a model for selfgovernance isn't likely to be an easy process, but Miehelle Kauhane, deputy director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, notes that part of the challenge rests with the importance of the effort. "There is not a people in this world who don't have opposing views over those things that are of utmost importance," she says. "We are not arguing, having different opinions

and different points of views because we are Hawaiian; we are having those because we are human, all fighting for a better plaee for eaeh of us today and forever." University of Hawai'i professor Jonathan Osorio shared his thoughts on why returning to a Hawaiian Kingdom is so critical in discussions that must also include indigenous people's rights to their land that were protected under the Hawaiian Kingdom. "We must go back to the kingdom law in order for our own people - in order for all of our people - not just the wealthy, not just the well-placed, but the poor, the homeless and the ones left behind, to make their elaim, their stake to resources in Hawai'i. It was a good government," Osorio insists. " It is worth returning to that government to start over again. Almost anything else makes no sense to me." Nā'ālehu Anthony, raised by Hawaiian rights advocates Lilikalā Kame'elehiwa and James Anthony, leamed about the patience and resolve required to move forward from an early age. One of the most important things he learned, he highlights, is that "while passion and being steadfast in the approach is critical to realizing a positive outcome, . . .1 also see the greatest accomplishments that we could make as a people will eome from unity, collaboration and a collective eommitment to working together." While this first summit in the Kāmau a Ea series invited participants directly involved in self-governance efforts, future summits will engage a larger Native Hawaiian and general audience. Visit oha.org/kamau to learn more about Summit 1 and, in future months, plans for future summits. ■ Treena Shapiro, afreelance writer, is aformer reporterfor the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser.

We must go back to the kingdom law in order for our own people — in order for all of our people — not just the wealthy, not just the well-placed, but the poor, the homeless and the ones left behind, to make their elaim, their stake to resources in Hawai'i. It was a good government." — Jon Osorio

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