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Hawaii’s World
I dare to suggest the Hawaiian movement might best be served by focusing on two Rs instead of the S word: Dealing with
Hawaiian sovereigntyReconciliation.
Restitution.
In the Congress of the United States, where legislation and probably funding will be required, reconciliation and restitution are apt to have a far better ring than the S word -- sovereignty.
Members of Congress have their minds focused on what they consider far bigger matters -- primarily on the 433 other districts and 49 other states they represent. But they do have consciences (most of them, anyway). These might resonate better to talk of setting things right with Hawaiians rather than of making Hawaii an independent state. We had a Civil War when the South declared its independence.
We in Hawaii know that only a noisy handful of Hawaiians demand absolute independence from the United States, but people elsewhere can misunderstand because the S word is so widely used.
Even here there are numerous definitions of sovereignty, with the majority in favor of some form of limited self-government under the 50th-state umbrella.
Originally it was hoped the Office of Hawaiian Affairs might fill the bill. Now, however, OHA's Hawaiians-only voter list (100,163 registrants in 1998 with 64,806 voting) is under U.S. Supreme Court challenge. We will hear by June how that turns out.
Whatever is decided will mightily affect the future. Sideliners are guessing the court won't approve the present status. What it will demand by way of change is the question.
WHATEVER the ruling, most non-Hawaiians in Hawaii have on their consciences the disadvantaged plight of many Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians in their own land. This population majority will be favorable to reconciliation and restitution measures to improve Hawaiian welfare, even limited sovereignty over certain aspects of society such as Hawaiian Home Lands and additions thereto.
OHA Chairman Clayton Hee once suggested adding our famous landmark, Diamond Head. No way, says Governor Cayetano.
Myron Thompson, a Bishop Estate trustee in calmer days, and former state social services director, several years ago suggested building on existing entities -- the Kamehameha Schools for education, the Hawaiian Homes program for housing and the Queen Emma Foundation, which endows Queen's Hospital, for health.
OHA has enhanced its assets throughout the political turmoil within its board of trustees. State payments to OHA representing one-fifth of state rentals from lands of the former monarchy have grown in value to $350 million.
Pooled with the vastly richer resources of the Kamehameha Schools and the Queen Emma Foundation and added to a revitalized Hawaiian Homes program, this adds up to billions in assets already dedicated to Hawaiian betterment.
Much debate lies ahead in both our Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian communities. Even among Hawaiians there is a legal divide. The Hawaiian Home Lands Department estimates only 62,000 Hawaiians here and another 7,000 out-of-state have the 50 percent Hawaiian blood needed to qualify for its farm lands and homes.
There is a 19,000-person waiting list. The number of families on lands is 6,800, representing 28,000 individuals.
Funding at last is in hand for a steady expansion focused mostly on homes. In the 1990 census 138,742 people identified themselves as Hawaiian. The state Health Department thinks 200,000-plus is a better number. We will get a new census count this year.
A.A. Smyser is the contributing editor
and former editor of the the Star-Bulletin
His column runs Tuesday and Thursday.