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By David D. Maika'i Hana'ike, Special to the Star-Bulletin
Arthur Hoke, newly elected chairman, conducts the assembly.

Native Hawaiians
come up with two
models for nation

Convention delegates offer
an integrated and an
independent model

---

By Leila Fujimori
Star-Bulletin

As delegates to 'Aha Hawaii 'Oiwi Native Hawaiian Convention wrapped up a weekend workshop yesterday, they planned to begin taking two models of a Hawaiian nation out to native Hawaiian communities today.

Delegates, who come from various Hawaiian organizations and sovereignty movements across the state and the mainland, adopted two conceptual models to explain their relationship with the United States -- one independent, the other an integrated relationship, said the newly elected chairman, Arthur Hoke.

"I'm hopeful that our efforts will help to generate more testimony for the Senate hearings on Aug. 28," Hoke said. He was referring to statewide hearings planned by the Senate Indian Affairs and the House Resource committees on proposed legislation known as the Akaka bill, which is meant to clarify the political status of Hawaiians and set up a sovereignty process.

Most delegates support an independent nation, which Hoke says will "include more than exclude" in terms of who makes up the nation. None supports a blood quantum to define native Hawaiians.

The independent government would have one branch of government for indigenous Hawaiians. Another would govern the remaining citizenry.

Under this independent model, control of ceded lands would return to native Hawaiians. Whether they choose to use it for a traditional lifestyle or otherwise, it would reflect a respect of the environment.

Concept of pono

Poka Laenui, also known as Hayden Burgess, chairman of the convention's international relations committee, said foremost would be the concept of pono, or righteousness, as well as cooperation and a respect for human rights and freedoms.

Such freedom would extend to non-native citizens and others to own property, but may prohibit foreign ownership.

Hoke emphasized the need for community input on the proposals.

The constitution contains a "lot of holes intentionally," said Ikaika Hussey, who helped draft the document. "We can ask people what rights they want to see protected."

The delegates remained undecided as to who non-native citizens would be.

Others supported the integrated model of a nation within a nation, similar to the Akaka bill. This would give Hawaiians similar political status to American Indians and natives of Alaska.

Roy Benham, a delegate and member of Sen. Daniel Akaka's task force, supports the integrated model within the American system.

"The key is a land base," Benham said, referring to ceded lands, which can provide needed revenues.

"I doubt Hawaiians want to go back to living off the land. The Hawaiian people can get a lot of help from the federal government," Benham said.

Bureaucratic nightmare

But Becky Kawaihae, who opposes the bill, said, "We would get caught up in the bureaucratic nightmare of the Department of the Interior."

And a Windward Oahu subgroup objected to the Akaka bill because it says the Secretary of the Interior will get the final say in native Hawaiian self-governance and native Hawaiians would have little input into the process of sovereignty.

"The bill allows the United States to make the final decision on our right to choose political status on our own terms," said Keoni Agard, the leader of the Moku o Ko'olaupoko and Ko'olauloa.

Solomon Nalua'i, a member, said: "This would put us in a lower position than the American Indian tribes. They don't have all these controls."

He also believes passage of the bill would preclude any claims on rights to sovereign independence.

The convention will gather input from the community after completing its outreach programs and, based upon the responses, it will refine the models. Delegates plan to attend the hearings on the Akaka bill, which run Aug. 28 to Sept. 1.