Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 1, 1 January 2007 — HOʻOKELE POLOLEI [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOʻOKELE POLOLEI

To voyage aheaā, navigate well, persevere On Dec. 6, some 400 community leaders, kūpuna and members of the general public attended the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' trustee investiture ceremony and annual address on the state of OHA and the Hawaiian eommunity at Kawaiaha'o Church. Speaking on the theme of "Ho 'okele Pololei" (to voyage ahead, navigate well, persevere), OHA Board of Trustees Chairperson Haunani Apoliona reviewed the many efforts and millions of dollars the agency committed to benefit Hawaiians in 2006, as well as the many challenges that continue to face Hawaiians in the ongoing quest for justice and self-determination. In addition to Apoliona's speech, the program also featured a service led by Kahu Curtis Pa'alua Kekuna and music from the Royal Hawaiian Band. Here is the full text of Apoliona's address:

Aloha mai kākou e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau a puni ke ao mālamalama. Aloha e nā kūpuna, nā mākua, nā 'ōpio, nā keiki a me nā kamaiki e 'ākoakoa mai nei, ma kēia hale pule la'ahia 'o Kawaiaha'o, a ma loko o ko kākou mau hale 'ohana a puni ke ao mālamalama. Aloha e nā kama'āina a me nā malihini kekahi. Aloha nō kākou a pau loa. Aloha. (Transīation: Greetings to ouresteemed fellow Native Hawaiians from Hawai'i to Ni'ihau and around this brilliant world. Aloha to the elders, adults, youth, ehildren, and toddlers who have assembled here at this sacred church, Kawaiaha'o, in your family homes, and around this brilliant world. Greetings to Iongtime residents and newcomers alike. Greetings to us all. Aloha.) This year marks the 4th State of OHA and the Native Hawaiian community presentation. We weleome this opportunity to share with the community at large, in Hawai'i and away from our shores, what has happened at OHA and within the Native Hawaiian community this past year and where we are focused for 2007. Challenges of 2006 The year 2006 presented many ehallenges. Probably the most difficult of all the challenges was the Akaka Bill and our inability to have the bill survive the "eloture" vote to proceed on the floor of the U.S. Senate this past lune. It was truly

agonizing to listen to the racist comments made by U.S. Senators on the Senate floor, with their revisionist history and pure disregard for the facts of the history of Native Hawaiians. It was even harder to see Native Hawaiians reveling in eelebration with people who support these distortionists. Although we have not yet been successful in passing the Akaka Bill, we want to thank our U.S. Senators, Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye, for their tireless efforts to find a way to protect Native Hawaiian assets and funding for emeial programs. We also appreciate the work of Representatives Neil Abercrombie and Ed Case. We thank Governor Linda Lingle and her cabinet for their assistance with the Republicans in Congress and the White House in Washington, D.C. Now that the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives have a Democratic majority, we look forward to continuing our work with Senator Akaka, Senator Inouye, Representative Abercrombie, and Representative-elect Mazie Hirono. We also look forward to working with Governor Lingle, our Attorney General, and others in the State administration in our collective effort to pass this major and critical legislation. While we anticipate that the polhieal climate in the Congress has improved to favor passage of the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, we will take nothing for granted. And all of us, Native Hawaiians and

non-Native Hawaiians, who support passage must be diligent and unified in our effort. "I ku'u pono 'a'ole e pau." Clearly, the work in Washington, D.C., is not finished. Indeed, we are aware that "conservative ideologues" in Hawai'i and across the U.S. who worked to undermine passage of this Bill are regrouping to work their mischief still, since the November 7 election. They are re-grouping and strategizing ... to "end it for Native Hawaiians." but with similar intent, their mischief now includes the undermining of other native people in this country ... American Indians and Alaska Natives. And that's the truth. All native peoples need to maka'ala to the big picture and work in unified effort. Highlights of accomplishments in 2006 Despite the difficulties with the Akaka Bill, there were many high points for OHA and the Hawaiian community in 2006. I would like to share a few of the key accomplishments with you today. Land acquisition and management OHA completed the acquisition and took title of two key areas: Wao Kele O Puna and Waimea Valley and ahupua'a. Eaeh transaction was accomplished in partnership with organizations such as the Pele Defense Lund, the Trust for Public Land (TPL), the Hawai'i State Department of Land and Natural Resources, the USDA Lorest Legacy Program, the City

and County of Honolulu, and the U.S. Army. With these acquisitions, totaling over 27,000 acres combined, OHA is now the 13th largest landowner in Hawai'i. Health & human services OHA contributed $1 million towards the governor's initiative to help the homeless on the Wai'anae Coast and joined with the Hawai'i State Legislature and the Department of Heahh in funding renovations for Moloka'i General Hospital. In this partnership, OHA provided $800,000 to match $1.6 million from the state Legislature. Education OHA continues to fund the Hawaiian culture-based charter schools in the amount of $2.2 million per year. Recent research released by Kamehameha Schools shows Native Hawaiian students in charter schools are scoring higher than their counterparts in regular D.O.E. schools. We are privileged to be a part of advocacy for systemic change in the public school system. In a mere three years, OHA will have deployed $6.6 million dollars to this initiative. OHA trustees also approved $500,000 for scholarships for Native Hawaiian children attending private schools and an additional $1 million for scholarships for higher education. Eeonomie development I have three special highlights to share. OHA held the inaugural OHA Business Conference and Expo in May with

HA'I 'ŌLELO MĪKOLOLOHUA • KEYN0ĪE AD D RESS

OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona delivers the State of OHA address at Kawaiaha'o Church. - Pholo: Detek Fem

the support of sponsors like Northrop Grumman Corporation, Bank of Hawai'i, First Hawaiian Bank, Central Pacific Bank, Lockheed Martin, Wal-Mart, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More than 250 Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs participated. A significant outcome of this conferenee was the realization of the need for more data concerning Hawaiian owned businesses. Consequently, OHA is funding research whieh will help to establish some baseline data on Hawaiian businesses. The Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund is administered by OHA and currently has assets exceeding $26 million. For the past 24 months, OHA has worked closely with the Administration for Native Americans in revamping the program to better meet the needs of the Hawaiian community. We expect to have a completely restructured program ready to be unveiled in February. A primary goal of the revamped program is to have loans processed in 30 days rather than 6-8 months. Please be on the lookout for the announcement of our new and significantly improved Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund program. Earlier this year, the trustees approved exploratory funding to determine the feasibility of developing an internet television station. As many of you know, television programs on the internet are becoming eommonplaee. The development of an internet television station will provide OHA and other Hawaiian groups with the opportunity to get their mes-

sage out to a whole new generation of Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians in Hawai'i and across the world, using a venue whieh will soon be the norm and not the exception. The messages will span from the traditional to the contemporary, enlightening and educating all, using platforms such as education, cultural preservation, and Hawaiian language instruction to name a few. Culture and history OH A awarded a $ 1 . 1 million contract to the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, $2 million to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, and $1 million to renovate the Kawaiaha'o Church campus to extend social service programs at the eommunity center being completed in 2008. We assigned cultural monitors under a Programmatic Agreement with the U.S. Army to help preserve sacred sites in the Schofield area. With the County of Maui, we helped negotiate a settlement for stream water to replenish taro fields. These initiatives that I have just cited are but a sampling of OHA's accomplishments for the Native Hawaiian eommunity in 2006. A full listing is available on our website, www.OHA.org. • When we held our first State of OHA in 2003, OHA had given out $315,000 in grants and $400,000 in scholarships. •This year, OHA gave out $8.1 million in grants and $1.25 million in scholarships. This represents a significant increase

in dollars for grants and scholarships eaeh year. When OHA provides funds for hospitals, the homeless, puhlie schools, and other programs, OHA targets Native Hawaiians. However, as Native Hawaiian well-being improves and as Native Hawaiians are able to utilize the resources of OHA and put them back into the community, we end up helping all of Hawai'i. In improving the conditions of Native Hawaiians, Hawai'i becomes a better plaee for everyone. By putting funds in the community, we are not only building capacity in the eommunity, we are helping to improve the economy. Applying a multiplier effect, for every dollar that OHA puts into the Hawaiian business community, $2 is generated. This is another way OHA and Native Hawaiians are contributing to the overall well-being of Hawai'i. Our first annual grants report is also available on the OHA website. Where we neeel to go in 2007 The theme of this year's Investiture is "Ho'okele Pololei: To Voyage Ahead, Navigate Well, Perservere." It is an appropriate theme given that this year is the 30th anniversary of Hōkūle'a and her reaffirmation of Native Hawaiian courage to rely on our traditions and values to chart our future and press on against all odds. Hōkūle'a embodies the spirit of what we Hawaiians ean achieve if we are clear on our vision and mission, prepare ourselves, and remain focused and disciplined in carrying out our tasks. If 2005 and 2006 have been years of challenges and turmoil, 2007 will be the year of clarity, focus of poliīieal will, and disciplined action by Native Hawaiians. For OHA, in 2007, we will continue to refine and enhanee our role as advocates for the Hawaiian people as we strive to better the conditions of Hawaiians and native Hawaiians. As in the past, our advocacy will take several paths: • Legal advocacy • Legislative advocacy

• Advocacy for cultural preservation and native rights • Advocacy to improve the quality of life for all Hawaiians Legal advocacy: OHA will continue to aggressively defend any and all challenges to Hawaiian rights and entitlements. Though we view litigation as the last alternative in resolving disputes, OHA has not hesitated to choose this option when the situation has called for such action. Our lawsuits against NASA and the U.S. Army are examples of this. We do not seek confrontation with those who file lawsuits to question our existence and that of our sister agencies, but we will not hesitate to aggressively defend against these litigations. Further, OHA will retain the very best lawyers to assist in these defenses. A top-notch defense is costly. The Arakaki v. Lingle case is an example where OHA has needed to spend thousands of dollars in defense of this legal challenge. We expect a permanent, final dismissal very soon. But we are not naive to think that these plaintiffs, whom we have eome to know over these six years, will give up. Legislative advocacy: Protecting federal and state funding of Hawaiian programs is critical to the survivalofcertainprograms. TheAdmissions Act, Hawai'i State Constitution, and various Hawai'i Revised Statutes recognize the special relationship Hawaiians have with both the state and federal governments. However, this recognition falls short of having the federal government formally acknowledge a "poliīieal and legal relationship" between it and the Hawaiian people. The need to protect these funding sources and programs remains a high priority for OHA. Trustees have been 'onipa'a (steadfast) in their support of federal recognition for Hawaiians. We expect to remain in support of passage of the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act as a prominent item See STATE 0F OHA on pagE lū

HA'I'ŌLELO MĪKOLOLOHUA • KEYN0TE AD D RESS

FY03 $ 314,875 $ 400,000 FY04 2,553,947 221,000 FY05 5,697,764 500,000 FY06 8,174,689 | 1,250,000

0HA's grantmaking and scholarship activities have increased dramatically over the last several years.

Nearly 40U community members attended the investiture ceremony and address. - rhoto: Uerek terrar

SĪAĪE 0F OHA

Cūntinued fram page 09 on our federal legislative agenda. Federal recognition is good for Hawaiians and all people of Hawai'i nei. We urge all to unify behind this effort, for there is nothing else that is certain to protect Native Hawaiian assets in the immediate future; and, we cannot accomplish anything if our efforts are not unified. At the loeal level, our legislative advocacy will continue with the state Legislature and the various county councils. Trustees will be considering a number of Legislative measures whieh will continue support of Hawaiian focused charter schools. Our legislative package also includes bills that require the Hawaiian language to be taught in public schools. How ean we say that Hawaiian is one of two official languages in the state of Hawai'i and not offer it as an option in our public school system? OHA will again seek legislative approval of a measure to exempt OHA from certain building permit requirements. This will provide us the opportunity to partner with developers who are interested in addressing the shortage of affordable housing in Hawai'i. We ask that you join us in advocating for our legislative agenda whieh will make life better for Hawaiians and, in turn, all of Hawai'i. On the county level we will advocate for the protection of cultural sites and cultural practices. Trustees will soon be formally discussing ways to assure the protection of the mueh treasured salt pans in Hanapēpē, Kaua'i. Also, we continue to advocate for real property tax relief for Kuleana landowners. Advocacy for cultural preservation and native rights In 2005, our staff completed 129 Section 106 consultation reviews. These are requests whieh OHA is statutorily man-

dated to comment on as a part of the environmental impact process. We expect this number will increase as our robust economy encourages further construction and development. In terms of cultural preservation, I am proud to report OHA trustees provided significant funding to the Polynesian Voyaging Society as they begin their sail of Hōkūle 'a to Satawal and ultimately lapan. Hōkūle'a continues to be an ieon of our cultural renaissance and, for many, provides a tangible sense of hope that times for Hawaiians will continue to improve. In 2005, OHA unveiled its plans to construct a Hawaiian cultural center and OHA office building. We have been in negotiations with the Hawai'i Community Development Authority (HCDA) for a parcel of land adjacent to the lohn A. Burns School of Medicine in Kaka'ako. We have been granted a 6-month period during whieh we have the exclusive right to advance OHA's efforts to develop this property into a first-class Hawaiian eultural center and OHA facility. The Hawaiian community is one of the few remaining groups in our state that does not have a cultural center dedicated to preserving its cultural heritage, and we believe there is no time like the present to do it. Please join us in supporting this very worthy project as our joint funding request is forwarded to the Legislature. OHA trustees are committed to funding 50 percent of the cost of the cultural center and office complex, and urge the Hawai'i state Legislature to join with us in this partnership. Advocacy to improve the quality of life for all Hawaiians We continue to provide finaneial assistance through grants and awards to various eommunity groups that work for the betterment of Hawaiians. As advocates we work at all levels to assure Native Hawaiians will

have access to the best educational programs available, be provided a safe environment in whieh to live, and have access to reasonably priced heahh care and housing. In the area of housing, OHA will continue to work with groups such as Habitat for Humanity to assure that affordable housing opportunities are provided to various Hawaiian families. We will also explore the possibilities of partnering with developers in creating affordable housing opportunities. Recently trustees approved funds to determine the feasibility of partnering with Pu'ukoli'i in developing affordable workforce housing in Lahaina. We continue to work with institutions such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mae in the development of mortgage loan packages to help Native Hawaiian families realize the dream of homeownership. Please stay tuned for further developments in this area in 2007. Of all the challenges we will face in 2007, the most daunting will be passage of a measure to provide federal recognition for Native Hawaiians. As explained earlier, we fell short in terms of getting our bill to the Senate floor for successful consideration in 2006. Time is running out for us to get this work done. Our attorneys have advised us numerous times that federal rec-

ognition will provide a legal shield against the attack on various Hawaiian programs. The year 2007 must be the time to move this initiative forward, and we will work with the governor, our congressional delegation, and others to get this done now! In I une 2006, trustees reviewed a staff proposal that focused on creation of a Hawaiian governing entity. The steps identified are very similar to previous community-identified steps, initiated beginning in 1993, by the Sovereignty Elections Commission, Hā Hawai'i, Native Hawaiian Coalition, and 2006 federal recognition legislation. Kau Inoa is a registration program that has been in existence sincelanuary of 2004. However, unlike the Akaka Bill, while sustaining the requirement for lineal descendants of the aboriginal, indigenous people of Hawai'i, it assures less complexity in verifying eligibility to participate in the expected process. Registration is the foundation, the first building block for building a Native Hawaiian nation. Native Hawaiians, regardless of where they reside, must, must register, with Kau Inoa. Hawai'i Maoli, the non-profit arm of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, is the repository for the Kau Inoa database and insures confidentiality of information. We are closing in on 60,000 registrants. Though that is a signif-

icant number, our goal is closer to 200,000 Hawaiians across the U.S. and beyond. In 2007, our objective is to ramp up the registration, reach out in Hawai'i, across the U.S. and the world to register as many Hawaiians as possible and reach the 200,000 mark. The year 2007 is also the time when we ean begin our iniīial discussions on building a Native Hawaiian government. The summer of 2007 may mark the first milestone phase. Our effort will succeed or fail by the poliīieal will of our community. We must advance in this effort or we will recede. And the social, eeonomie, and political tides will not wait for us. Our kuleana and the kuleana of our 'ohana members is to get out and register family, friends and neighbors, young and old, here in Hawai'i or away from our shores. If the registration is weak in numbers it will be a foundation difficult to build upon for substantive and lasting results. Let eaeh of us commit today to do our personal best to register every Native Hawaiian. Let us by our actions give voice to our kūpuna, who have left the work for us to finish. Before her passing, Queen Lili'uokalani said, "The world cannot stand still. We must advance or recede. Let us advance

HA'I'ŌLELO MĪKOLOLOHUA • KEYN0ĪE ADDRESS

Recently elected Trustees Boyd Mossman, Rowena Akana, 0z Stender and Walter Heen are sworn into office by Associate Justice Steven Levinson. - Photo: Derek Fem

together. Hold thy breath . . . walk shoulder to shoulder." Prince lonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole, one who personally witnessed the demise of the Hawaiian monarchy, left these words of wisdom for us: "Stick together and try to agree to the best to meet the most important problem: the rehabilitation of our race." Mary Kawena Pūku'i reminds us: "An individual alone is unthinkable, in the context of Hawaiian relationships." What is the eonunon theme in these messages? It is for Hawaiians to unify and move forward in a "reality-based" context. As counseled by the theme of today's investiture, "Ho'okele Pololei: voyage ahead, navigate well, persevere," the success of our voyage will be measured by our capacity to be unified in our direction and disciplined in our actions. A unified direction is the biggest challenge we face today. In the absence of a clear, unified direction, we will continue to be vulnerable to those who wish to do us harm through the courts and through puhlie policy. An undeterred unified direction demands a commitment to forward momentum. As King Kamehameha I advised: "I mua, e nā pōki'i, a inu i ka wai 'awa'awa. 'A'ohe hope e ho'i mai ai." (Translation Go forward, brothers and sisters, and drink the bitter water. There is no retreat.) Indeed there is no retreat. If unified, we ean move forward

with assurance that the outcome will be pono (right). While moving forward, let us be imbued with the spirit of our ancestors as expressed nearly 30 years ago by kupunawahine Edith Kanaka'ole with these words that continue to inspire: Na ka 'uhane a nā kūpuna, e ho'okūpa'a iā kākou, me ka pūwalu mau kekahi me kekahi. 'O 'oukou nō nā kia'i o nā pua mamo no kēia wā a kēia wā aku ma lalo o ka malu o nā hulu mākua. 'O ke aloha, ka 'oia'i'o, ka pono, e pā aku ka makani i nā pu'uwai, i nā mana'o maika'i, i nā mana'o 'ike i kēia pae one, 'āina pae one 'ē a'e a pau. E ... a hui hou kākou me ke aloha o ka welina no ka 'āina aloha. Aloha nō. May the spirit of our ancestors keep us together, steadfast and unified always, eaeh with the other. Watch over our children, guide our sons and daughters, hold close our elderly. May the winds of aloha, truth, and righteousness be ever present in our hearts and nūnds and extend over the seas to touch the other shores. Until we meet again ... all of us ... we remain loyal to our homeland bound together by aloha. I extend these wishes from OHA to all of Hawai'i nei and to all within the hearing of my voice and the reach of the printed word. Mahalo and aloha. E3

HA'I'ŌLELO HĪKOLOLOHUA • KEYN0TE ADDRESS