Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 12, 1 December 2011 — Civic clubs display unity in action at annual convention [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Civic clubs display unity in action at annual convention

By Naomi Sodetani They eame from all walks of life, eame from across the islands and a continent, gathering together for a eommon purpose. Opening thick binders filled with the mana'o and concerns of their diverse communities, these men and women rolled up their sleeves and worked. Fruitful dialogue resulted from their dedicated efforts at the 52nd annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (AHCC), held Oct. 24-30 at Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku. The event brought together 536 delegates representing their civic clubs to discuss the business of the association as well as a broad spectrum of issues impacting Native Hawaiians. "Our membership is truly dedicated to the cause," said AHCC President Soulee Stroud, who is affiliated with Hui Hawai'i o Utah civic club. "It was impressive to see everyone engaged

in this process of civil dialogue, wanting to make a difference in in their communities as well as the state." For Stroud, a Big Island-born business owner living in Utah: "Hawaiian civic clubs are a way for me to connect to my roots. With family living here, I treasure those ties." The Office of Hawaiian Affairs was a major sponsor of the convening of the civic clubs, the oldest Hawaiian community-based grassroots organization. Many OHA Trustees and staff members, active in their respective civic clubs, participated in the event. This year's gathering included a Constitutional Convention, held onee a decade to consider amendments to the AHCC Constitution and its bylaws. A panel discussion also explored the significance of Act 195, whieh recognizes Native Hawaiians as "the only indigenous, aboriginal, maoli population of Hawai'i." Panelists were State Sens. Clayton Hee and Malama Solomon, OHA Trustee Peter Apo and former Gov. John Waihe'e III. Former AHCC President Bruss Keppeler served as moderator. "We are the true native people of this land, no one needs to tell us that," said Solomon, who, with Hee, led the charge in the Fegislature to SEE CIVIC CLUBS ON PAGE 10

Grassroots governance

Soulee Stroud, President of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, fourth from right, and others celebrate three new clubs that were chartered at convention. From left are: Kahu Ryan Kalama, Kailua HCC President; Maulili Dickson of HCC of Waimea; Bucky Leslie, AHCC Second Vice President; Geri Bell, Second VP of the Hawai'i Council; Kehau Shintani, President of the newly chartered 'Ahahui Sīwila Ke Aloha 'Āina; Skippy loane, President of the newly chartered Hui Pū Laka o Moku 0 Keawe; Keali'i Lum of Ali'i Pauahi HCC representing new club īulipa HCC; Māhealani Cypher, O'ahu Council President; and Kaniela Sharp of Ali'i Pauahi HCC. - Photo: Plaine Fergerstrom

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Continued from page 5 pass Senate Bill 1520 into law as Act 195. "But to have formal recognition by the people of Hawai'i as accomplished here through legislative aehon is allimportant to the process as we embark on our journey together." OHA Trustee Peter Apo said state recognition "signals a major shift in the ground. It will bring the effort home by answering the first question in nation building, whieh is, 'Who are its citizens?' " The new state law provides for a process of enrolling qualified Native Hawaiians who meet various criteria certifying their maoli ancestry. Established within OHA for administrative purposes only, a five-member Native Hawaiian Roll Commission appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie will prepare, maintain, update and publish the Native Hawaiian Roll. Enrollees will be able to participate in a convention for Native Hawaiians to organize themselves. After publication of the roll, the commission will be dissolved, having completed its work. The enrollment process is "not intended to be any kind of voter registration at this time," Apo said. "But it will tell us who the Hawaiians are and where they are - and that is the first solid step toward nationhood." Act 195 is "an acknowledgment of the Hawaiian people's unrelinquished sovereignty, said Waihe'e, who chairs the Roll Commission. The formerGovernor called for Native Hawaiians to step forward and take part in the "reunification" process. "Sovereignty belongs to us; we need to exercise it, because the next stage is the restoration of the nation." For Hee, Native Hawaiian nationhood, past and future, is as close as blood. "My grandfather was born in 1888, five years before the overthrow. My grandmother was born in 1900. Both of them are two generations from me," said Hee, a former OHA Trustee. "I ean touch them. I remember them. They are indelible marks in me. That's how close the Kingdom of Hawai'i is to us." State recognition strategically dovetails with ongoing efforts to achieve federal recognition for Native Hawaiians, said Solomon. "More than 20 other states have recognized native entities, tribes, clans and puehlo, and a number of state-recognized entities have gone on to gain federal recognition. And this is our intention." With the federal recognition bill pending in Congress, Sen. Daniel Akaka told the gathering he is "reviewing and looking for ways to streamline" the bill and realign it with the state recognition process. The Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Akaka vowed to "eonhnue to fight to ensure Native Hawaiians are afforded the same rights as the other indigenous peoples in this country, and (I'll) use all avenues available to me to make parity a reality." Proclamations honored Senator Akaka and OHA Chief Executive Clyde Nāmu'o for their distinguished service. Many other community leaders, cultural

practitioners and organizations were also recognized for their service and contributions, including OHA Trustee Haunani Apoliona and former OHA staffer Gladys Rodenhurst, who only missed one convention since the annual event began in 1959. Three new clubs chartered at the convention join the growing confederation of now-63 Hawaiian civic clubs located throughout Hawai'i and 15 other states and the District of Columbia, where the 2012 convention will be held. The association has grown not just in size, but in ability, observed Māhealani Cypher, President of the hosting O'ahu Council and a member and former President of the Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club. The delegates "really know what's going on, they understand the issues and they voted with a lot of intelligence and strength," she said. "Over the years, our conventions have gotten better, people are more knowledgeable about the breadth of issues that are our eoneem. It seems eaeh year they're even better informed than before." Delegates cranked nonstop through proposed constitutional and bylaw amendments, club and eouneil reports, open floor debates, plenary sessions, committee sessions, andvoting onproposedbills. "You could hear the passion on the floor, but we always talk to one another in a respectful way, vote up and down," said Annelle Amaral, Association First Vice President and a member of 'Ahahui Slwila Hawai'i o Kapolei. "This is the kind of deliberative structure and process, transparency and accountability we train our clubs to have." The diligent, disciplined and efficient conduct evident throughout the proceedings "belies every stereotype of Hawaiians as not having their act together," said Amaral, a former state legislator. Sixty-seven resolutions dealing with native rights, cultural preservation, health, benefits and trusts, eeonomie development, employment and housing, education and policies were adopted, including ones: » Encouraging AHCC members to support the Native Hawaiian Roll » Urging the City and County of Honolulu to halt Waimānalo Gulch Landfill operations and open a second munieipal solid waste landfill on O'ahu » Urging recognition of Kaho'olawe island as a sacred cultural land trust for the Hawaiian Nation, and Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana as the kahu 'āina for the island » Urging the Governor and Legislature to support sustainable, low-impact alternative energy that will make O'ahu self-sufficient rather than dependent on Lāna'i and Moloka'i for its energy. (The state is weighing proposals to transmit electricity generated from wind farms on Lāna'i and Moloka'i to O'ahu via undersea eahle.) » Urging the state to adopt an energy policy that moves the state toward independence by developing puhlie energy assets on ceded lands » Requesting that a 2,000-foot coastline setback XI GIVIG CLUBS ON PAGE 33

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Continued from page 10 easement be placed on all stateowned land on Hawai'i Island » Proposing county property tax of Hawaiian Homes Lands and structures be considered in a reassessment of county real property taxes » Requesting that Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and OHA consider the acquisition of lands in lieu of past non-payment of funds due these trusts » Requiring the state Board of Education to mandate that all public and charter high school students obtain credit for one year of Hawaiian language instruction » Urging the Mayor, Honolulu City Council and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit to commit and plan to avoid damage to all iwi and native burial sites

found in the path of the rail-transit system » Urging OHA to provide a Native Hawaiian heahh survey for Native Hawaiians living on the continental U.S. and Alaska Backed by the strength of the association, and meant to spur action, resolutions are distributed to the appropriate governmental agencies and often support testimonies to affect legislation. The civic club movement began in 1918, when Prince Jonah Kūhiō founded the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu with the vision and mission to enhanee the lives of Native Hawaiians through an organization that would serve community needs and promote informed civic engagement. ■ Naomi Sodetani is a freelance writer, documentary producer and former Publications Editor of Ka Wai Ola o OHA.

A pholo of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole casts a guiding eye over the proceedings. The Prince founded the first Hawaiian civic club in 1918. - Courtesy photo by Blaine Fergerstrom