Eye on The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)

State of OHA

2005-12-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

Here is the full text of Haunani Apoliona’s speech:

OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS

State of OHA and the Native Hawaiian Community

Remarks of Trustee Haunani Apoliona, MSW

Chairperson, Board of Trustees

Wednesday December 7, 2005

Kawaiahao Church

Aloha mai kakou e na oiwi olino mai Hawaii a Niihau a puni ke ao malamalama.

Aloha e na kupuna, na makua, na opio, na keiki a me na kamaiki e akoakoa mai nei, ma keia hale pule laahia o Kawaiahao a maloko i ko kakou mau hale ohana a puni ke ao malamalama.

Aloha e na kamaaina a me na malihini kekahi. Aloha no kakou a pau loa.

Oiai e hiki koke mai ana ka hopena o keia makahiki, he wa kupono keia e helu a e hoomanao i na hana nui a koikoi o na mahina i hala aku nei a ke Keena Kuleana Hawaii, a me ke kaiaulu oiwi Hawaii kekahi.

No laila, e hoomaka kakou.

Translation Greetings to our esteemed fellow Native Hawaiians from Hawaii to Niihau and around this brilliant world. Aloha to the elders, adults, youth, children and toddlers who have assembled here at mid-day at this sacred church, Kawaiahao. Greetings to long time residents and newcomers alike. Aloha to you all!

As the year quickly comes to a close, this is a fitting time for us to collectively recall the many important accomplishments over the past months of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Native Hawaiian Community, our beneficiaries. Therefore, let us begin.

Aloha and welcome to all who have taken the time to gather with us, in our homeland and elsewhere, to hear this message.

When we talk about the State of OHA, we are also talking about the state of the Native Hawaiian people and the challenges and opportunities for the Native Hawaiian community. We are also talking about the state of the soon-to-be Native Hawaiian nation and OHA’s role in relation to this Native nation. Since “State of OHA 2004” twelve months ago, much has occurred. We have accomplished some important tasks along the way but there remain several issues of great concern. This morning I will focus on a few key areas and suggest how we, Native Hawaiian people and all the people of Hawaii, can move forward from here, sustaining our host culture by bringing the best of our values and tradition from the past with us into the future.

Our tradition teaches us that there is power in the “word” – i ka olelo ke ola, i ka olelo ka make. That is why we are taught to be careful of how we use our words, cautious

about what we promise by our words, and respectful of what we declare by our words. Through theolelo, our kupuna (ancestors) continue to inspire, guide and teach us through olelo noeau. It is our kuleana to apply their timeless wisdom to do good and make a positive difference. I share three olelo noeau with you to set the context for my remarks today.

I. E kaupe aku no i ka hoe a ko mai. (Put forward the paddle and draw it back.)

This olelo noeau urges us to go on with the task that is started and finish it.

When the Office of Hawaiian Affairs was created in 1978, it was tasked with bettering the conditions of Native Hawaiians, a broad mandate covering many areas of priority and need. While some improvements are occurring, Native Hawaiians continue the struggle to surmount dismal socio-economic statistics in terms of education, health, homelessness, substance abuse, incarceration, and similar outcomes of dispossession.

Bettering the conditions of Native Hawaiians in the socio-economic, political, legal, cultural, native rights, natural resource, and environmental areas has proven to be a daunting task over the past 25 years, not just for OHA but for all public and private trusts established to serve Native Hawaiians.

Today’s pause in our journey gives us a chance to look back over the last twelve months, and I would like to share with you a few highlights of how the Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have addressed these areas of mandate in the year 2005. (A detailed 14 page summary is attached to the copy of this speech.)

In the area of education, OHA awarded 22 grants and 91 scholarships totaling $7.2 million. This includes a total two-year funding of $4.4 million, $2.2 million per year for two years, to Hawaiian-focused charter schools. Of this $7 million total, more than $5 million is for programs occurring in Department of Education public schools.

In the area of housing, OHA awarded $1.5 million to Habitat for Humanity to help 75 Hawaiian families with a “no interest” 20-year mortgage with monthly payments averaging less than $275 per month.

In addition, OHA maintains a program with First Hawaiian Bank and Bank of Hawaii, which provides mortgage loans for 103% of purchase price to cover down payments and closing costs.

In the area of economic development, OHA distributed $1.5 million this year:

17 business loans to Native Hawaiian businesses, totaling $917,000;

62 personal loans totaling $240,000; and

12 grants to community-based organizations totaling $350,000.

In the area of native rights, OHA responded to more than 600 requests for comments on land-altering activities and environmental issues concerning water use, cultural impacts, special management areas, land use, and protection of burial sites and iwi.

Of particular note is our collaboration with the Pele Defense Fund, Trust for Public Land, State Department of Land and Natural Resources, and USDA Forest Legacy Program to purchase and protect 26,000 acres of conservation land, Wao Kele O Puna, the last lowland rainforest in all of Hawaii nei.

Of equal significance, is that when title to these lands is conveyed to the Office of Hawaiian of Affairs in 2006, it will be the first parcel of crown or kingdom land returned to Native Hawaiian control, since the 1893 overthrow of the kingdom.

As mentioned earlier, more details on OHA’s funding, including initiatives in the areas of health and human services, grant awards and accomplishments these past twelve months can be found in the summary sheets attached to these written remarks.

Another fact of note, for fiscal year 2005, is OHA’s investment portfolio increase by approximately $55 million due to prudent actions taken under our investment policy. On September 30, 2005, our portfolio was valued at $363.9 million, slightly better than the reported all-time high of $359.7 million on June 30, 2000.

Our Trustees’ goal in growing the portfolio is to increase the annual allocation of funds, as permissible by our spending policy, for grants and awards OHA can distribute to relevant community-based initiatives and projects that: (1) enhance the quality of life for Native Hawaiians, and (2) strengthen capacity in our communities and families. We also need to assure adequate funding to continue ongoing advocacy efforts that will result in systemic changes to achieve positive impact for Native Hawaiians and in turn, improve conditions for all in Hawai’i. Concurrently, we keep our eye on the horizon for the time when a matured Native Hawaiian Governing entity will assume responsibility to administer and grow the assets transferred to it by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Hawaiian Homelands. A lot of work has been done. But indeed, there is much more to do.

Of particular concern this year are the continuing legal attacks designed to end Native Hawaiian programs and funds by dismantling OHA and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and unraveling the missions of our Alii Trusts. Plaintiffs and attorneys, unified in their purpose and mindset, seek to eliminate the Native Hawaiian admission preference policy at Kamehameha Schools.

Two adverse decisions this year from the 9th Circuit, Arakaki v. Lingle and Doe v. Kamehameha Schools, underscore more than ever the need for us to come together and support formal U.S. congressional recognition of Native Hawaiians as an indigenous people.

These plaintiffs and their attorneys are linked to well-financed and politically-connected special interests. These parties intend to continue filing lawsuits until they succeed in dismantling all Native Hawaiian rights and programs.

As a community, we cannot let these two 9th Circuit decisions stand. We must challenge these decisions, in court and in Congress, because they seek to undermine all that we are and eliminate all the gains we have made in the past 112 years. If we do not stand up now, we can expect these plaintiffs to eventually seek to eliminate tuition waivers at the University of Hawaii; stop all federal funding for health, education, job training, and economic development; and challenge the survival of the other Alii Trusts.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, along with DHHL and our Alii Trusts, must and will vigorously defend against these efforts ---- whatever it takes.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been in the Federal Courts since the year 2000. We have been to District Court, the Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. We do not relish the thought of spending any more time in these courtrooms. Nor do we relish deploying any more trust assets in the remaining half of this decade to Federal court battles when we could redirect these same resources to needs and priorities of Native Hawaiians.

We are only in the Federal Courts because a few file the legal complaints to hold hostage the many while concurrently attempting to rewrite history and instill fear in the community in which we live.

This is a battle that Native Hawaiians and ALL who support justice and fairness intend to finish and win.

II. Aohe hana nui ke alu ia. (No task is too big when done together by all.)

This second olelo noeau reminds us that nothing is impossible, no task is beyond our successful reach, when there is unified effort.

The task I am referring to is the building of a Native Hawaiian nation. This is our best legal and political option at this time in our history to, once and for all, affirm Native Hawaiians as an indigenous group of people. Native Hawaiians are not a “racial minority” as the “special interest opponents” would like you to believe. As an aboriginal people indigenous to these islands, Hawaii paeaina, we are a special political class entitled to certain protections under United States law.

Establishing ourselves as a Native Hawaiian nation will help to protect Native Hawaiian assets, federal funding and programs, and the Alii trusts.

To this end, OHA has helped to further nation-building by:

Supporting, since February 2004, and throughout 2005, the Native Hawaiian Coalition, an informal group of organizations and individuals tasked with determining the steps to be followed in the process of building a Native Hawaiian governing entity, inclusive of Native Hawaiians both in Hawaii and away from our shores, and to involve all Native Hawaiians in these steps going forward; and in fulfillment of their mission “to establish a process that will provide the Hawaiian people with a mechanism for achieving self-governance through self-determination” (NHC mission statement)

Supporting KAU INOA, a registration of all Native Hawaiians, wherever they may reside; and

Supporting passage of S. 147- The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005 (Akaka Bill), one of the few options available to us today to protect Native Hawaiian assets, programs, and funding.

We know there is disagreement within the Hawaiian community about S.147 and federal recognition. To that end, we encourage all Native Hawaiians to get involved and find out the facts. Be informed. Don’t rely on second-hand or third-hand information. Read the Bill for yourself, understand what it means, and share your manao with your ohana. We cannot let the hurt, anger, and mistrust generated by the past infect and spoil the renewed efforts to generate positive outcomes for Native Hawaiians and Hawai’i nei.

Building a nation cannot be done alone or by only a handful of people. All Native Hawaiians need to participate. OHA cannot do it alone. All Native Hawaiian organizations and Trusts need to step forward and discuss nation-building with their beneficiaries and constituents. Native Hawaiian families must get informed and encourage education on these matters within the ohana. We must seek and welcome support from non-Natives, as well, in our pursuits. Natives and non-Natives unified for this cause will insure success. In 2005, over 2,000 supporters of S. 147 courageously stepped forward to place their names in two full-page advertisements in the newspaper and over 200 gathered in unified voice at Iolani Palace on an August morning to declare, “S.147, AE”.

Native Hawaiians have a cultural and spiritual capacity to work toward resolution of problems and conflict. We have strength in reconciliation. Now is the time to use our ancestral wisdom and discernment to forge common ground among our Native Hawaiians, chart the course for the Native Hawaiian nation, and make it a reality.

With nation-building, we have the opportunity to revisit the words of Queen Liliuokalani who, in 1917, near the end of her life said, “I could not turn back the political change.” In 2005 going forward, we have the opportunity to redirect that political change into one that can be of benefit to present and future generations. We must succeed. Our degree of success will be weighed by our capacity to work in unified effort.

The OHA trustees and administrator established a Washington D.C. Bureau in 2003 to assure an ongoing national presence and advocate for more than 401,000 Native Hawaiians. The primary goal is to educate Congress and the executive branch on issues important to Native Hawaiians and secure passage of favorable legislation at the national level.

In 2005, our Washington Bureau developed national partnerships for OHA and facilitated OHA’s co-sponsorship in 32 events and represented OHA at over 50 D.C., Congressional, Departmental, Alaska Native, American Indian, national and pacific organization meetings and events; and hosted Native Hawaiians and visitors to increase awareness of issues important to Native Hawaiians.

Passage of S.147 (the Akaka Bill) is the primary focus of the OHA D.C. Bureau because Native Hawaiian public and private trusts, programs, assets, and cultural resources are likely to be lost to future generations as a result of hostile litigation and misinformation. Enactment of S.147 is a solution NOW, because it reaffirms and clarifies the United States’ political and legal relationship with Native Hawaiians and establishes a process for federal recognition of a reorganized Native Hawaiian governing entity.

In 2005, the OHA D.C. Bureau coordinated initiatives with OHA trustees and the administrator, legal advisors, the Hawaii congressional delegation and key staff, the Governor of Hawaii, State and County policy-makers, Native Hawaiian royal societies, homesteaders, Hawaiian civic clubs, other Hawaiian organizations, American Indians, Alaska Natives, various Pacific and Asian American organizations, and an array of civil rights organizations to increase national understanding of our distinct Native Hawaiian community and secure support for passage of S.147- the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005 (the Akaka Bill).

Our presence in Washington, D.C., has reminded us that most people DO NOT KNOW that Native Hawaiians and our Native Hawaiian culture exist today, NOR DO THEY KNOW the history of the overthrow of our sovereign Hawaiian nation. They do not understand we are a unique, indigenous community living as Native Hawaiians through our ohana, cultural practices, Hawaiian institutions and organizations, and churches, while also living life to succeed within Western priorities and values. Washington D.C. and surrounding areas may not know all there is, but with our unified and diligent efforts they are learning.

III. Aohe loaa i ka noho wale. (Nothing is gained by idleness.)

This third, and final, olelo noeau, shared this morning reminds us that success is not earned without hard work, joint effort and the commitment of energy and passion to strive.

In seeking to build a nation and protect what many have worked in the past 112 years to achieve, we need to take action NOW. Native Hawaiians, throughout this nation and the world, must step forward to be counted. We are fast approaching 50,000 KAU INOA registrations, and we have 8 times that number to go if we are to achieve the levels of outreach to Native Hawaiians counted by Census 2000. We need to rebuild and reorganize our nation NOW. We cannot sit idly by and wait for others to do it for us. We must not let a few, disgruntled voices misrepresent our history. Nor can we let loud voices of intimidation attempt to control the process. Individual personal agendas of self-service within our Hawaiian community must not be allowed to detract from moving toward the greater good.

Lastly, on this commemorative day for Pearl Harbor, December 7, we are once again reminded of the patriotism of people in Hawaii over these decades of world conflict. We know indigenous people nationwide serve in the U.S. military at rates higher than any other ethnic group in the U.S. We are respectful and proud of all of Hawaii’s daughters and sons who have served America with distinction over the years, some to whom we have said goodbye … in this very Church.

I challenge all Native Hawaiians, and non-Hawaiians who support us, to extend patriotism to the building of our Native Hawaiian nation. Let the principles of self-determination be applied to the domestic agenda for Native Hawaiians. Our survival as a unique group of people, nurtured by culture and values millennia old, depends on our ability to withstand these legal attacks. The survival of the host Hawaiian culture, the foundation of our unique Hawaii life style and multi-dimensional community, depends on the collective efforts of all of Hawaii’s people, kamaaina, and malihini.

Closing

In our journey to rectify the past, we continue to be helped by many native people along the way including Alaska Natives, Indian tribes and native nations across the U.S, native nations in the Pacific, and other civil rights organizations throughout America. Alaska Natives and American Indians share their wisdom so we can learn from their experiences. Therefore, in closing, I wish to use a quote from one of their leaders, Vine Deloria, a beloved Indian writer who died just a few weeks ago. In his book Custer Died for Your Sins, in discussing the years of mistreatment and injustice by the U.S., Mr. Deloria notes, “It is up to us to write the [next] chapter of the American Indian upon this continent.”[1]

We, today, have the same opportunity to write the “next chapter” for the Native Hawaiian (in Hawaiian history).

Let us build a nation, a Native Hawaiian governing entity, with leaders and members who will go forward to reconcile past injustices and build for the future. Let us build a nation that embraces all Native Hawaiians, wherever they reside. Let us build a Native Hawaiian nation that respects the many non-Hawaiians who call Hawaii home; who have embraced our host Hawaiian culture as theirs in the multicultural lifestyle that is unique to Hawai’i, remembering that the faces of our 21st century ohana mirror all these cultures.

When we have done all of this, charting justice for Native Hawaiians, aware of the challenges and significant strides of the last 112 years, crafting changes which remain to be done while being sensitive to the needs of all who call Hawai’i home, we will have begun to write the next chapter in Hawaiian history. We, collectively committed, can and will make profound and magnificent progress, and it will be a story for and about Native Hawaiians of which we will all be proud.

And finally, I want to say mahalo a nui loa to all the working hands of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, our staff and employees. Our foundation of work that serves Native Hawaiian beneficiaries is one built by your labor and dedication to the mission.

On behalf of the OHA Board of Trustees and our community we thank you and those who have supported our efforts. May 2006 and beyond continue to mark successful steps toward our promising future.

Nolaila……………………………………

I mua, e na pokii, a inu i ka wai awaawa. Aohe hope e hoi mai ai.

Indeed there is no retreat.

Mahalo and aloha!

Seen at http://www.oha.org/content.asp?ContentId=463

Unfortunately their email and their fax numbers do not work on their website at www.oha.org

Haunani Apoliona

2005-12-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

"In her 25-minute state of OHA and the Hawaiian community address at Kawaiaha'o Church, Haunani Apoliona said the solution to "well-financed and politically connected special interest" groups is to unite and build a Native Hawaiian nation. It is the best legal and political option available."

She failed to mention that like Kamehameha... unity was achieved AFTER Hawaiians fought with each other. Unfortunately she and the other trustees are trying to shove the Akaka Bill down Hawaiians' throat. We do not want it. Too bad they have spent approximately one million dollars on marketing instead of spending the million dollars combatting diabetes or for medical care for Hawaiians.

In the mean time we hope that the trustees spend more money on bettering the conditions of ALL Hawaiians... not just for themselves and/or for their relatives and/or to sell us something (i.e. the Akaka Bill) that we do not wish to buy.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs gives $2.2M for Hawaiian charter schools which totals about 13.62372% of three administration costs

2005-10-11T17:55:00.000-07:00

In the Honolulu Star-Bulletin it was reported that OHA will give $2.2 million to 14 public charter schools that operate with a Hawaiian cultural focus:

Calling it one of its largest-ever funding awards, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs said it will give $2.2 million to 14 public charter schools that operate with a Hawaiian cultural focus.

OHA said the money is intended to help make up for chronic under-funding of charter schools by the Legislature, which has left many Hawaiian-focused schools in dire financial straits.

Many schools lack adequate or permanent facilities, and some "face the tragic prospect of closing entirely in the near future," OHA's grant announcement said.

"We hope that other community partners will also help increase funding for the schools," said Haunani Apoliona, chairwoman of the OHA board of trustees.

Of the state's 27 charter schools, 14 are considered "Hawaiian-focused" by virtue of Hawaiian language or other strong Hawaiian cultural aspects in their instruction. [...]

The funding will be distributed based on each school's size and proportion of Hawaiian students.

Seen at http://starbulletin.com/2005/10/11/news/story07.html

In their 2004 Annual Report, page 49, OHA's funding amounted to $382,651,518.

That is 382 million, 651 thousand, 518 dollars. $2.2 million accounts for about .0522669 or... 5.2269% of their 2004 budget.

What about doing more. Doing better. What they are doing is NOT enough as it is.

Furthermore, a closer look at their administration costs on page 46 shows the following in administration costs:

Support services: $9,163,087
Beneficiary advocacy: $5,285,651
Board of Trustees: $1,699,567

versus

$2,200,000 for Hawaiian charter schools

If you add these together they compose $16,148,305 which is about EIGHT times what they gave towards education. So for these three administration figures... they exceed the $2.2 million and the $2.2 million accounts for only about 13.62372% of these three administration costs. Not good in our book. It should be the other way around.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs needs to step it up a notch.

What has OHA done with the $317,552,336 that it received in 2003?

2005-08-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

In 2003 they had $317,552,336 appropriated for Hawaiians

see http://www.oha.org/pdf/AnnualReport03.pdf

What have they have done with this money?

The Kau Inoa Native Hawaiian Registration Program

2005-07-16T23:49:00.000-07:00

Don't be fooled!

The Kau Inoa Registration Program was created by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. By registering, we Hawaiians are not determining our destiny. Instead the Office of Hawaiians Affairs is and that is why Hawaiians should REFUSE to register.

OHA and our Hawaiian elders should stop pushing it onto the younger Hawaiians. In the past, we have trusted our Hawaiian elders to look after us, to protect us, and to make the right choice. Kau Inoa is not the right choice. No i.d. defines us as Hawaiian. Instead it is in our iwi and that is why it's not right for us to have an i.d. card. That is, it goes against our culture.

That is, no I.D. card defines us as Hawaiians nor should it nor should we allow the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to allow Hawaiians to register on the grounds that being Hawaiian is in our iwi (or "bones.)

Ku'e. Resist. Stand differently.

Say No to Kau Inoa

2005-03-05T22:48:00.000-08:00

So far, as of March 5, 2005 69.57% of those who took part in an online poll have not registered for OHA's Kau Inoa program. They've made a good choice.

Source: http://www.oha.org/list_surveyresults.asp?survey_id=12

Enough is enough.

Saying No to the Kau Inoa program means that you

Say No to the State of Hawai'i controlling Hawaiians
Say No to OHA being used to control Hawaiians

Say No to Kau Inoa.

Names of OHA trustees from 1980 to 2005

2005-03-05T22:01:00.000-08:00

Manu Boyd wrote, "OHA: 25 years of serving Hawaiians." In it he lists the names of all OHA trustees since 1980:

Peter Apo

Roy ‘Ilikea Benham

Rodney K. Burgess III

Adelaide K. “Frenchy” De Soto,

Joseph Kealoha

Moses Keale Sr.

Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr.

Walter Ritte Jr.

Malama Solomon

Sonny Kinney

Rockne Freitas

Pi‘ilani Desha

Hayden Burgess

Moanike‘ala Akaka

Louis Hao

Manu Kaha‘iali‘i

Gard Kealoha

Clarence Ching

Kevin “Chubby” Mahoe

Abraham Aiona

Rowena Akana

Clayton Hee

Kamaki Kanahele III

Kïna‘u Boyd Kamali‘i

Samuel Kealoha Jr.

Billie Beamer

Haunani Apoliona

Herbert Campos

Colette Machado

Hannah Kihalani Springer

Gladys K. ‘Ainoa Brandt

Mililani Trask

Donald B. Cataluna

Ileialoha Beniamina

Nani Brandt

Dante Keala Carpenter

Nalani Olds

Charles Ota

Linda Dela Cruz

Oswald Stender

Boyd Mossman

John Waihe‘e IV

Source: http://www.oha.org/content.asp?ContentId=357

What have they done for Hawaiians?

Hawaiians are still disadvantaged.
Hawaiians are still homeless.

Hawaiians are still fleeing Hawai'i.

Has OHA been aiding and abetting the State of Hawai'i and/or the U.S. government in systematically destroying us so that the aforementioned can forever take control of Hawai'i without having Hawaiians protesting their mistreatment? Makes you wonder.

Hypocrits at OHA

2005-02-25T10:45:00.000-08:00

* In today's Honolulu StarBulletin, a majority of Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees allegedly say they have "serious concerns" with the leadership of Peter Young, director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. They seem to be hypocritical considering that many Hawaiians have serious concerns with the leadership of Haunani Apoliona, Chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. That is, they are hypocrits. Then again they want to focus on others instead of themselves while Hawaiians continue to comprise approximately 38.7% of the homeless population in Hawai'i which outnumber other ethnic groups: see page 24 at http://www.hcdch.state.hi.us/03homelessstudy.pdf

Anyway in today's article six of OHA's nine trustees agreed at a board meeting yesterday to send a strongly worded letter to Gov. Linda Lingle saying that they do not think the department has been fulfilling its mandate to manage the state's public lands for the benefit of native Hawaiians and other state residents. Why aren't they doing enough for Hawaiians?

Here is the article:

OHA criticizes state land director: The agency votes to express concern to Lingle and call for a department audit

By Diana Leone

A majority of Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees say they have "serious concerns" with the leadership of Peter Young, director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Six of OHA's nine trustees agreed at a board meeting yesterday to send a strongly worded letter to Gov. Linda Lingle saying that they do not think the department has been fulfilling its mandate to manage the state's public lands for the benefit of native Hawaiians and other state residents.

All six trustees at the meeting said they want an audit of the department, as proposed in House Concurrent Resolution 60 by state Rep. Brian Schatz (D, Makiki). Three trustees said they also want Young to resign or be fired.

A draft version of the OHA letter to Lingle noted that "from the times of the Kingdom through the present, the lands and resources now managed by DLNR are of vital importance to Hawaiians." These include historic and sacred places, forests and streams, habitats for threatened and endangered species, and resting places for the bones of ancestors.

Twenty percent of the income from ceded lands managed by the DLNR are OHA's source of funding. But beyond its income, OHA is concerned with the health and quality of the lands themselves, the draft letter says.

Trustee John Waihee IV was the most vocal in calling for Young's departure, saying that Young is "not representing his mandate well at all."

"Maybe if he was head of the desecration of Hawaiian culture and unbridled irresponsible development, I'd be the first to say he's fulfilled his mandate wonderfully," Waihee said.

Trustees Colette Machado and Donald Cataluna agreed that they would support a call for Young to step down.

The resignation earlier this month of Yvonne Izu, a former DLNR deputy director for water resources, triggered OHA's decision to write Lingle, trustees said. But there appears to be a pattern of DLNR actions that oppose the interests of native Hawaiians, they said.

Izu resigned after refusing to support legislation that would have shifted the duties of the state Water Commission, which she administered, to the counties. Though Senate Bill 503 appears dead for the session, OHA trustees oppose it or any other attempts to eliminate the Water Commission, they said.

Three of the six trustees at yesterday's meeting -- Chairwoman Haunani Apoliona, Dante Carpenter and Linda Dela Cruz -- said that while they shared concern about department management, they did not think it was proper to suggest to the governor who should head a department.

Trustees Rowena Akana, Boyd Mossman and Oswald Stender were not at the meeting and could not be reached for comment.

Lingle will not respond to the letter until she sees it, spokesman Russell Pang said yesterday.

Young also said yesterday that he will not respond to the letter until he sees it.

Seen at http://starbulletin.com/2005/02/25/news/story10.html

It's time the Office of Hawaiian Affairs stepped to the plate and do something to help Hawaiians instead of trying to deflect blame onto the governor. Help Hawaiians first then they can criticize the state of Hawai'i... if and when they have extra time to do so. In the mean time... help Hawaiians FIRST.

On the Top Killers of Hawaiians and Haunani Apoliona

2005-02-06T07:27:00.000-08:00

According to the CDC, heart disease and diabetes were in the top five leading causes of death in the U.S. in 2001 for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

See http://www.cdc.gov/omh/Populations/NHOPI/NHOPI.htm

In addition, Hawaiians are 2.5 times more likely to have diagnosed diabetes than white residents on Hawaii of similar age:

see http://www.cdc.gov/omh/AMH/factsheets/diabetes.htm

What does Haunani Apoliona do as Chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian AFFAIRS?

- Where is the program used to educate Hawaiians about the consequences of diabetes?

- Where are the television ads urging Hawaiians to manage their diet and manage their activity?

- Where are the grants from OHA to be used for educating Hawaiians about the complications from diabetes?

- Where is Haunani Apoliona?

Why hasn't OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona helped the Hawaiians who comprise the top ethnic group of homeless people in Hawai'i?

2005-02-05T22:03:00.000-08:00

As of 2003:

According to the Homeless Point-in-Time Count Report, 2003, prepared for the State of Hawai'i by SMS Research Marketing Services, Inc. which can be seen at

http://www.hcdch.state.hi.us/03homelessstudy.pdf

On page 24:

Hawaiians = 38.7% of the homeless people
Caucasians = 34%
Filipino = 5.1%
Black = 3.6%
Chinese = 2.0%
etc.

Where is Haunani Apoliona?

As Chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, why hasn't she helped these Hawaiians?

What is she doing?

What are you doing, Miss Chairperson Haunani Apoliona?

Auwe!

Haunani Apoliona does not speak for ALL Hawaiians.

2005-01-28T09:15:00.000-08:00

* Haunani Apoliona is the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the
Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Unfortunately Haunani Apoliona mistakenly thinks that she can speak for all Hawaiians and that she speaks for all Hawaiians. She does NOT speak for all Hawaiians. Therefore, she needs to stop acting as though she is speaking on our behalf and instead devote some of her time asking Hawaiians for their opinion instead of acting like one of the colonizers:

Lingle to talk to McCain about Akaka bill support

Gov. Linda Lingle says that when she travels to Washington, D.C., in February, she plans to talk to U.S. Sen. John McCain about his opposition to legislation that would allow native Hawaiians to seek federal recognition.

McCain, who took over yesterday as head of the Indian Affairs Committee, said rather than pass the Akaka bill, he would prefer to increase funding for existing native Hawaiian programs.

"When Hawaii became a state, there was an implicit agreement at that time that native Hawaiians would not receive the same status as native Americans," McCain told Stephens Media Group's Washington bureau.

"I would be much more supportive if there was an increase in the budget which would reflect the needs of native Hawaiians than take it from the federally recognized tribes," McCain said.

Lingle said, "I haven't talked to him about this, but he is certainly someone on my visit list in February."

She will be attending the Bush inauguration later this month in Washington but will spend five days in Washington next month attending the annual National Governors Association conference.

Sen. Daniel Akaka said he was surprised by McCain's remarks and that he plans to talk to the Arizona Republican. Akaka said he still intends to reintroduce the bill.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairwoman Haunani Apoliona, who was in Washington this week with OHA administrator Clyde Namuo, said McCain is not informed about Hawaiian history.

"I don't know why he would separate Hawaiians from other indigenous groups," Apoliona said. "We are prepared to walk through the history and brief him or his staff on our perspective."

Seen at http://starbulletin.com/2005/01/07/news/story10.html

Letter For OHA

2005-01-21T21:03:00.000-08:00

In this letter to the editor of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs newsletter, "Ka Wai Ola," the writer shows a disdain for Edith Ellis who wrote about Trustee Rowena Akana:

Opinions of trustees

"I have nothing against Edith Ellis expressing her opinions about Trustee Akana in her December letter to the editor. What I do have a problem with is that she failed to mention that she is the sister of Winona Rubin, Trustee Haunani Apoliona’s aide who wrote a similar letter criticizing Akana in the November issue. A lot of people may not remember, but Ellis used to write letters attacking Apoliona’s rival, Clayton Hee, some years back. Coincidence?

I believe Rubin and Ellis are wrong for attacking Akana. As a trustee, Akana has every right to question what is going on at OHA. It’s her job, and it seems like she is the only one with guts to say something. She should be applauded, not attacked, for it.

It’s so obvious that Apoliona is using Ellis and Rubin to attack Akana indirectly. That’s not very honorable, is it? It’s time for Apoliona to stop hiding behind others and take on Akana personally. That’s definitely a debate I’d like to see. If Apoliona has done nothing wrong or has nothing to hide, then she has nothing to worry about.

I also feel Ellis was really out of line when she criticized Akana forthe kind of car she drives. What does that have to do with the quality of work Akana has done for OHA over the past 14 years? What this attack appears to be is unfortunately what Hawaiians get accused of often: the “crabs in the bucket” syndrome. When a Hawaiian moves ahead, the others pull him back.

And as for Akana’s many years of service, I believe it is a confirmation that Hawaiians appreciate her work on the board. I guess Ellis feels that esteemed and valued statesmen like Sens. Akaka and Inouye should step down just because they’ve served so many years.

Finally, Edith, you should learn to be less critical of other people."

Louise Peters
Wai‘anae, O‘ahu

Seen at http://www.oha.org/pdf/kwo05/0501/kwo0501.pdf

OHA's Mission Statement

2005-01-18T17:23:00.000-08:00

Mission Statement

To malama (protect) Hawaii's people and environmental resources and OHA's assets, toward ensuring the perpetuation of the culture, the enhancement of lifestyle and the protection of entitlements of Native Hawaiians, while enabling the building of a strong and healthy Hawaiian people and nation, recognized
nationally and internationally.
Seen at http://www.oha.org/cat_content.asp?contentid=20&catid=22
However they are lacking:
1. To malama (protect) Hawaii's people and environmental resources and OHA's assets:
So far little has been done to protect the environment. Case in point: A new shopping mall will be built in Kapolei: see http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jan/15/bz/bz03p.html
Are they protecting Kapolei? No.

2. toward ensuring the perpetuation of the culture:
Where is the poi? CNN reported in 2003 that the traditional Hawaiian staple, poi, was in short supply:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/05/16/poi.shortage.ap/
Instead of eating all the poi, they should be developing lo'i ai in the islands for the Hawaiian people.
3. the enhancement of lifestyle and the protection of entitlements of Native Hawaiians, while enabling the building of a strong and healthy Hawaiian people and nation, recognized nationally and internationally:
Diabetes is killing the Hawaiian people. OHA has no program educational or otherwise that helps raise awareness of diabetes: see http://www.oha.org/content_list.asp?keywords=diabetes&do_search=1
So far OHA gets an F for not doing enough for Hawaiians. They need to be doing more. Much more.

Analyzing OHA

2005-01-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

We will analyze the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to keep an eye on what they are supposed to do for Hawaiians and make sure that they better the lives of all Hawaiians. We will examine their annual reports. Are they doing enough to help Hawaiians? In other words... we are watching the OHA trustees: