Hawaii’s World
I am glad to see Clayton Hee back as chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Hee may be the
leader OHA needsIt's not because we are old pals. We aren't. But I do know him -- and know he has a quality other chairmen have lacked -- savvy and experience in elective politics.
He is the only trustee with state legislative experience -- two years in the House (1982-84), four in the Senate (1984-88) during which he headed the important Judiciary Committee. He lost out for re-election to the Senate from his Republican-oriented Kaneohe district in 1988, but in 1990 led the ticket by a mile for the Oahu seat on the OHA board, and soon was chosen OHA chairman.
When he was re-elected chairman in 1997 by a board with new members elected in 1996, I felt OHA, a creation of the 1978 Constitutional Convention, at last was stabilizing under strong leadership.
I was wrong. Due to internal discontent he was unseated in a few months by A. "Frenchy" DeSoto, the "mother" of OHA through her chairmanship of Hawaiian Affairs in the 1978 Con Con. DeSoto, in turn, was ousted by Rowena Akana in November 1998.
Both are laudable persons but were loose cannons politically. Hee, who kept his peace during his exile, has been close to Gov. Ben Cayetano ever since they served in the Senate together. I'll eat my shirt if Cayetano fills the vacant ninth spot on the OHA board (he must appoint a member this month) with someone who can't work with Hee.
To some people "politics" is a dirty word. Maybe this is so even with some OHA trustees, but good politicians we need more of. In a democratic society they have the job of bringing together people of different persuasions to get things done. The best do more than read the polls and follow. They lead and help shape opinion.
In state politics, the Hawaiian restitution movement, more than just about any other, is in need of strong, visible leadership to get things done and incite support from the state Legislature and Congress.
We have a lot of diverse organizations working for agreements, including an underfunded convention of Hawaiians chosen in a statewide election with a light voter turnout. It has talked of taking seven years to conclude. Diverse other groups also are talking things out. But a wake- up call may be needed. Time to pull together a consensus may be shorter than many think.
Last month I quoted Stuart Ho, an astute sideline observer who was once a state legislative leader himself, to the effect that only Sen. Dan Inouye has the ability to bring federal money to the table if it is needed as part of a Hawaiian solution.
Ho continued: "If federal money is needed, it's a good guess that the Treasury window slams shut after 2005 unless Mr. Inouye decides to forgo a well-earned retirement and seek re-election."
Inouye, elected to serve through 2004,will turn 80 that year and has said this Senate term may be his last. He has achieved leadership clout in the Congress that none of our other three members can duplicate.
Hee, I am sure, works well with Inouye, too. Thus he has a chance and the ability to be the significant Hawaiian leader-politician badly needed to get parties to the table to agree on a program that conceivably could be endorsed by both essential parties -- the state Legislature and Congress.
A.A. Smyser is the contributing editor
and former editor of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
His column runs Tuesday and Thursday.