Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 10, 1 October 1985 — "Bread and Butter Issues" Affect Hawaiians [ARTICLE]

"Bread and Butter Issues" Affect Hawaiians

Needs Assessment Survey Results Given

By Wendy Roylo Hee Planning and Development Officer Preliminary results from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Population Survey/Needs Assessment indicate that Hawaiians are affected by basic "bread and butter" type of issues that affect everyone else in this state. When asked about problems whieh affect their families, Hawaiians mentioned "money and eeonomie" problems (34%) most frequently, then "work and employment" problems (16%). "Medical and health" problems were third ( 15%), the "school" problems (7%), fourth. In seeking assistance for these types of problems, respondents say they turn to relatives first when they have "money or eeonomie" problems, then to government agencies next. Problems with work and employment most often are taken to government agencies. For medical and health problems the top sources of help were medical professionals, health care organizations and goverment programs. Problems with school were most often taken to Hawaiian organizations. When asked about preschools, parents replied overwhelmingly that preschools were beneficial (85%): "the child prepares for school and learns faster" (68%), and "the child is socialized" (18%). Respondents preferred a pre-kindergarten program whieh was a combination of "Western" and "Hawaiian" (45%). A totally "Hawaiian" program was equally preferred to a "Western" one (23% and 21%, respectively). Seventy-five percent of the parents who had children under 5 years old, but not in a preschool indicated that they would like their children to attend a preschool. The most cited obstacles were that the "child was too young" (67%), "there was limited enrollment" ( 1 1%), and that "the program was too expensive" (11%). Forty-seven percent of the parents were satisfied with the public schoo! system; mainly because their children were happy or doing well in school (49%) or that teachers were good or worked hard ( 16%). Those dissatisfied with public schools believed that schools were too lenient (25%), or that there was a low quality of teaching (22%), or a laek of individual attention (13%). The most eommon suggestions for making the public schools better were "more discipline" (21%), "better teachers" (15%), and "study and improve the system and curricula" (11%). Only 8% of the adults indicated that they were going to school; usually to prepare for a different or better job (18%), for self-employment ( 15%) or for enjoyment/relaxation ( 1 1%). Ninety-seven percent of those not going to school indicated that they would like to go, but problems included "laek of time" (20%), "money/financial problems" (19%) or "family/ other obligations" (13%). Since many agencies are striving for their constituents to

be "self-sufficient," OHA asked beneficiaries to define the term. Most people replied "being independent, taking care of self/family" (69%), or "living off the land and/or sea" (11%). When asked if they participated in activities that directly provided for their sustenance, approximately one-third of those surveyed indicated that they did not participate in any of those activities, such as fishing, farming, hunting, gathering food and raising animals. Of those respondents who performed these activities, most did so for recreation, pleasure, relaxation, and exercise (50%), or for food and survival (40%). Interest in !earning about these activities is very high: (43%) say they would like to leam more about farming/gardening, (24%) fishing, and (16%) raising animals. When asked about work, the most frequently cited reason for dissatisfaction was the need for more training or skill (21%), or the unavailability of jobs or the right kind of jobs ( 18%). Generally, only 1 1% of the parents indicated that they left their children home alone because of work or other reasons. The most eommon housing problems faced by the respondents were that: rent/payments were too expensive (34%); people can't afford their own plaee (30%); and that their current living quarters were too crowded (13%). Some 45% of those surveyed indicated that they have land. Of those who have land two-thirds said they owned land and one-third said they leased land. Of those who have small farm/residential holdings, 56% owned and 44% leased. For those who have residential lots, 71% owned and 29% leased. Two-thirds have residence lot8, one-third have small farmresidence holdings. Hawaiian Homes was the most eommon lessor, with 58% of the lessees holding Hawaiian Home leases. Some 20% of those surveyed said they had a legal problem with land ownership at some time. The most eommon type of legal action mentioned was "quiet title" (43%). Respondents were asked to define a "Hawaiian lifestyle" and to determine if they lived such a lifestyle or not. Both those who felt they do and those who felt they don't have a Hawaiian lifestyle most often said that a Hawaiian lifestyle is being easy going and generous. Approximately 76% of those surveyed thought they had Hawaiian lifestyles, and 24% thought they didn't. The survey also asked what rights Hawaiians feel they have and the bases of those rights. Twenty-two percent said Hawaiians have a right to land reparations, and 20% said free land and homes. The bases for these rights is that the Hawaiians were here first. Thirteen percent of the respondents said that Hawaiians' rights are the same as those of anyone else in the U.S. because of national laws and the fact that we are all citizens. The majority of the respondents believed that eligibility to

participate in Hawaiian programs should not be limited to only some Hawaiians (59%). They felt that more Hawaiians should be able to benefit from Hawaiian programs, and they were also concerned for the next generation. Forty-one percent preferred to restrict eligibility, because they believed that those who have 50% Hawaiian blood should be taken care of ftrst. Those surveyed were asked whieh aspects of the Hawaiian culture should be preserved. In order of frequency, the responses were: — Hawaiian language including speaking, writing, reading (24%); — Music including dancing, singing, chanting, making musical instruments (20%); — Food production and preparation whieh includes growing, gathering food, catching fish, hunting, culinary arts, luau (17%); — Arts whieh includes feather work, tapa, leis, omamental skills (11%); and — Crafts and occupational skills whieh include making too!s, weaving, clothing, and other practical skills (9%). Respondents stated that the best way to preserve all aspects of the culture was through educational means (84"h), whieh includes more than formal academic schoo!ing. According to results of the survey, cultura! activities that respondents participated in and the frequency were: 1) Hawaiian food preparation and preservation (13'\.) — frequently (54%), occasionally (39%); 2) Lei making (11%) — frequently (30%), occasionally (56%); 3) Playing musical instruments ( 10"'h) — frequently (43"i>), occasionally (45%); 4) Singing Hawaiian songs (9\>) — frequently (34"..), oeeasionally (53%); 5) Studying Hawaiian history (7%) — frequently (36l><>), occasionally (47%); and 6) Speaking Hawaiian language (7%) — frequently (38"i.), occasionally (37%). Respondents said that they experienced some problems in continuing to practice some aspects of the Hawaiian culture because they needed more training on how to do the activity (43%); or lacked the time or had too many conflicting activities (29%); or they were in poor health or physically unable (16%). Most frequently mentioned cultural activities people would like to study were speaking or reading the Hawaiian language (31%) and studying Hawaiian history (8%). About one-third of those surveyed said they were not registered to vote, because they were not interested in politics.