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Nainoa Thompson
says UH turns corner
on Hawaiian concerns

Now that a tuition hike has
been rejected, attention turns
to Mauna Kea observatories

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

University of Hawaii regent Nainoa Thompson sees the last two days as a turning point for native Hawaiian issues at the institution.

For over a year, the UH Board of Regents has listened to hours of testimony from students -- many of them native Hawaiians -- who protested proposed tuition increases, development of Mauna Kea observatories and use of ceded lands.

On Thursday night, the regents heard the message. They turned down an administration proposal to increase tuition. And the following morning, board Chairman Donald Kim appointed committees to look more carefully at the Mauna Kea development and ceded-lands issues.

Thompson, who led the vote against tuition increases, said that kind of commitment has not happened in the past.

"We have to deal with the university's usage of ceded lands," said Thompson, a leader in the renaissance of native Hawaiian culture for the past 25 years. "We're being proactive, beginning with a commitment to the education of native Hawaiians."

Native Hawaiians have protested development of more observatories on lands on Mauna Kea that they consider sacred. And the university sits on ceded lands -- property of the Hawaiian monarchy that the U.S. government took after the kingdom was overthrown. Some protesters have demanded free tuition for native Hawaiian students, suggesting income from Mauna Kea could fund such tuition.

Kim said the regents have always been committed to native Hawaiian concerns, but he wants to be clear on the financial and legal restrictions surrounding such issues, especially in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling in Rice vs. Cayetano.

The ruling said it was unconstitutional to hold Hawaiians-only elections for Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees. It raised calls for civil disobedience among native Hawaiians, and students held a "sleep-in" Wednesday night to protest tuition hikes and other issues.

"From the university's perspective, how can we help the Hawaiian cause, especially in the education area?" Kim asked yesterday. "I'd like to see native Hawaiians get a good education and excel in computers, engineering, medicine, and elevate their status in the community. That is our job."

Kim emphasized that development of Mauna Kea observatories is strategic to building the state's economy. Plans for Mauna Kea may be voted on at next month's regent meeting.

UH President Kenneth Mortimer said recently the UH has held two years of discussion on development of more observatories. "That is probably the biggest economic decision the state will make this year," Mortimer said, emphasizing that any development would proceed with cultural and historic sensitivity.

"We need to keep up to speed. In 10 years there will be antiquated facilities."

Thompson agreed with Mortimer on Mauna Kea's importance. "Mauna Kea has to succeed, but we can't have any victims. This is really a pivotal point in the change of our society. Sacred sites have to be respected, but knowledge is sacred, too."

Regarding the defeat of proposed tuition increases, Mortimer said the biggest impact would be on individual campuses that may have counted on the extra money to fund programs. The administration wanted increases of 3 percent to 4 percent systemwide over each of the next five years, which it considered modest.

That translated to an extra $48 a semester at UH-Manoa for resident undergraduates and $24 at community colleges, and would have brought in an extra $2 million to $3 million in annual revenue.

Regents told Mortimer to look for money elsewhere and cut any inefficiency and waste still at UH before increasing tuition.

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University of Hawaii
UH Institute for Astronomy
Ka Leo O Hawaii