Honolulu Star-Bulletin
General Election GuideOffice of Hawaiian Affairs We asked candidates in this race to address the following subject areas. Their responses are below.
1) What is OHA's role in the Hawaiian sovereignty movement?
2) What should be done with the huge sums of money from ceded lands, which the court has ordered due to native Hawaiians?
3) How would you resolve the chronic bickering among various Hawaiian factions?
4) Has OHA fulfilled its commitment to the Hawaiian people? Why or why not?
5) What role should non-Hawaiians play in the sovereignty issue?
"Edwina" Moanike'ala Akaka Hawaii
Age: 52
District: Hawaii
Occupation: Hawaii Island Trustee, OHA1. OHA should facilitate and support the Hawaiian sovereignty movement to help the process financially along with state, as Hawaiians are taxpayers. OHA must support workshops statewide on different sovereignty models before election of delegates to a Hawaiian Constitutional Convention. All parties who were against Hawaiian vote are needed and should participate.
2. Monies should be spent in Hawaiian community on: Truly affordable housing and rentals, domestic violence programs, youth programs, a supplemental Hawaiian health plan so that every Hawaiian has adequate health care, especially children and kapuna, education scholarship, job training programs with upward mobility and homeless programs.
3. We as Hawaiians must pull together and attempt to resolve some of our difference and become more united for the sake of present and future generations of Hawaii's people. Those against "Hawaiian Vote" should be encouraged to participate in sovereignty for their energy is essential e Huli a mahi!
4. First OHA had to establish a financial base. I was part of OHA's negotiating team. Retroactive package of $128 million and $12 million annually since 1990. Judge Heely ruled the state owes $170 million more. We must spend some of these resources on programs and services.
5. Non-Hawaiians should appraise themselves of historical facts of events that led to today's problems. They must be supportive of the Hawaiian struggle for Justice. On the personal level they must learn the meaning of Aloha 'Aina as the land-use philosophy for these islands.
Loveymae Akamu-Scott
Age: 56
District: Hawaii
Occupation: Housewife, mother, grandmother1. OHA's role has always been positive to provide funds to educate native Hawaiians in their cultural and historical past, and to provide information and to support sovereignty movement for the Hawaiian people. OHA needs to focus on promoting independence, self-determination and betterment of conditions for all native Hawaiians.
2. Take care of native Hawaiian needs with funds from ceded lands. Create programs that directly benefit the household of the beneficiaries, rent supplements, public food assistance programs, a discount food and merchandise warehouse similar to Costco, and become self-insured, cover beneficiaries for all health and auto coverage.
3. I believe Hawaiian factions should elect leaders to come together for a meeting of the minds. I'm sure all factions want the same positive outcome for native Hawaiians. Elect officers, set up constitutional convention, discuss goals and purposes, work to attain common goals which is betterment of conditions for Hawaiian people.
4. OHA struggled for funds due beneficiaries succeeded in fighting diligently and maintaining 20 percent for beneficiaries. Needs to improve ways to take care of needs of native people. Rent, food assistance, regain non-revenued lands to provide homes and create an open-door policy for needed communications between OHA trustees, beneficiaries and other Hawaiian factions.
5. They must have absolute support for sovereignty for Hawaiian people. Total acceptance that other people have come to this land and have ignored and diminished the rights of the native Hawaiian people. We only want to take care of our families and homes. This is Hawaiian lands. Let us emerge.
Bruddah Hank Fergerstrom
Age: 47
District: Hawaii
Occupation: disabled - master technician computers/telecommunication1. OHA's present role in the Hawaiian sovereignty movement is limited by its states connection. However, it could play a greater rule by providing information on the many sides of the sovereignty movement. OHA could and should be funding other Hawaiian organizations and perhaps trade schools that would help prepare Hawaiians for the enormous task of running a government.
2. It's tragic those funds are being routed through banks and stock brokers and invested in the stock market. Those funds are ordered to benefit native Hawaiians and not for the perpetuation of OHA. These funds should be used as assigned and promote cultural appreciation, and provide opportunities for Hawaiian businesses.
3. Perhaps a basic change of philosophy - from that of "I'm chosen to guide my people" to "We are commanded to by our people to" - would help them be reassured that the task is not self recognized, but to encourage constructive dialogue, open discussions, on how to unite our people.
4. OHA should advocate more for rights of Hawaiians . . . perhaps fund advocacy groups that will (help) the Hawaiian people know who they are and their relationship to the state. OHA has fulfilled its commitment to the state but just scratched the surface with regards to the people.
5. I believe that everyone who considers Hawaii their home should play a role in Hawaii's future. Hawaii's future is inclusive of the sovereignty movement. Hawaiian sovereignty is a reality - how, to what degree, its direction is still being conceived and therefore important to all who call Hawaii their home.
Francis N. Kauhane
Age: 51
District: Hawaii
Occupation: Independent consultant1. OHA must assume a lead role in sovereignty. It should serve as a vehicle of consensus by reaching out to Hawaiians and the broader community. Sovereignty is a Hawaiian responsibility but all of Hawaii has a stake in the outcome. A sovereign Hawaiian government must be open to all of Hawaii.
2. The governor continues to resist the fact that Hawaiians have a different legal status than others. The state holds title to stolen lands. Money due to OHA from these lands is rent, allocated to Hawaiians for lands stolen from the Hawaiian kingdom. Hawaii deserves solutions that bridge our difficulties.
3. Bickering can be observed between the Republican and Democratic parties but these involve differences that distinguish political perspective and platforms. Hawaiians have been without a political platform since the overthrow. Hawaiians face issues relating to governance that require consensus and accountability. Hawaiian parties are the missing link.
4. OHA and Hawaiian Homes have been dealing with half a deck of cards. Their commitment is limited by a legal qualification that defines Hawaiians as half blood. This definition of native Hawaiian serves as a wedge to keep Hawaiians politically divided. Hawaiian families must be made whole.
5. Hawaiian sovereignty is inevitable. It is a just solution for a wrong that has scarred the life of our islands. I see it as an opportunity for all of Hawaii to explore options that protect the unique environment, cultures and economy of our islands. The process will be a healing.
Frank K.Kipilii
District: Hawaii
Did not respond.
Hannah Kihalani Springer
Age: 44
District: Hawaii
Occupation: Homemaker; ethnographer1. The responsibility of OHA is fiduciary to all of the Hawaiian people and to all of our resources, natural, cultural, and financial. The people and the resources are the cornerstones of ea. The office needs to use all available tools, including the recent native Hawaiian vote.
2. Having properly met immediate program and service needs and requirements, the majority of the money should be invested prudently to assure long-term growth and consistent returns. A lesser amount may be applied to high income earning strategies. The gains would allow increased independence from the state Legislature.
3. By not bickering. By modeling mature behavior. A discussion may be animated and incisive without being bitter and demeaning and such full-bodied discussions are proper and necessary. If we achieve a critical mass where respect becomes the norm, those that insist on bickering with and sniping at one another will be eclipsed.
4. The fulfillment is clearly a work in progress. The office is still reactive rather than proactive. Case by case address of matters has yet to mature into well reasoned policies. The beneficiaries have yet to be provided with a consistent and concise means of evaluating trustee performance.
5. The burden is upon the sovereigntists to demonstrate how sovereignty is in the best interests of non-Hawaiians, morally as well as practically. When that best interest is made clear, their place will be clear also. We need to advance together pursuing social and environmental justice for all.
Bene Hakaka K. Kaiwi Kauai
District: Kauai
Did not respond.
Moses K. Keale Sr.
Age: 58
District: Kauai
Occupation: Trustee, OHA1. OHA should have a supporting role only, providing financial as well as other technical aid.
2. The OHA board has got to make a decision on how much to spend, how much to invest. After preparing our operational budget, we must create a budget with guidelines for service. At the present time we have nothing of this nature.
3. To stop the bickering, you must stop all Hawaiian factions from thinking. Do we want all "YES" men? Bickering or a difference of opinion creates ideas, ideas create progress.
4. NO. As the mandate is written, OHA must be everything to all Hawaiians and if we are to be everything, we still do not have enough money.
5. All non-Hawaiians should remember that we Hawaiians never had a choice. We did not choose to lose our land, our language, or our culture. The time has come for us. It is our turn, non-Hawaiians, please help us to attain a better life.
Robert N. "Lopaka" Mansfield
Age: 52
District: Kauai
Occupation: Hotel manager1. OHA must take the lead in the sovereignty movement. It has the resources to do so and it should use its positions to cultivate active participation amongst all Hawaiians.
2. (In partnership with OHA,) if there is an agency or entity that can provide programs and services in accordance with prescribed parameters then such an investment is prudent. Education, health, land issues (legal), preservation and conservation, and social issues, and housing issues are priority items for these revenues to address.
3. Trustees' roles have not been clearly defined. On one hand they are at odds with the source of the revenue and on the other they appear to be putting out fires too numerous for so few. The board needs leadership. The board needs basic training in conflict resolution, goal-setting, etc.
4. Until OHA involves itself actively in the cultivation of registered OHA voters it is powerless. Until OHA's trustees are empowered with this kind of participation each trustee will most likely proceed unfocused and without a plan.
5. Non-Hawaiians have already participated in the movement with the enactment of the trust. Non-Hawaiians are here because they have made Hawaii their home. Everything to preserve and conserve this unique island community is a native Hawaiian issue. All those who seriously call this home must see the wisdom in Hawaii's preservation and conservation.
Eric J. Na'ea Sr.
Age: 33
District: Kauai
Occupation: Student, Kauai Community College1. OHA has to insure the Hawaiian people that their interest comes first, not the state's interest. OHA's duty is to dissolve the state and federal government's interest and trusts toward the Hawaiian people. Force the state to treat Hawaiians as a sovereign people and not just wards of the state.
2. First of all OHA has to prove itself accountable and trustworthy by having an independent auditor audit its books. Only then will the Hawaiian people know the truth behind OHA's past actions. Then let the Hawaiian people decide what to do with their money.
3. I would have all the factions understand that monarchy is of the past. And stop being selfish, because if your group gets to be King, the Hell with the rest. Who wants to live under a dictator? Hawaiians are equal amongst each other and a Democratic Nation of Hawaii is needed.
4. No. OHA is now 18 years old. The Hawaiian people are still separated because of the quantum law. Either you're native 50 percent or over; or Hawaiian less than 50 percent. And benefits for natives, its a joke! Currently people are dying on the list, suicide in their homes and being evicted.
5. Non-Hawaiians should mind their own business. The Hawaiian people did not ask to become citizens of the United States, they were forced to. Queen Lili'uokalani's foresight to cede the land is the reason behind the right of the Hawaiian people to reinstate the Nation of Hawaii.
Warren C.R. Perry
Age: 47
District: Kauai
Occupation: Attorney1. OHA's most important role in the Hawaiian sovereignty movement has been 50 percent funding of HSEC's work in order for the Hawaiian people to make an informed decision on the matter. OHA should continue this.
2. That money should be used in whatever way a comprehensive needs assessment and prioritization dictates. Some of the areas which I think would be addressed are education, parenting skills, employment, housing, sovereignty, and land and water rights.
3. I would do it the same way anyone would resolve bickering between Americans, Japanese, Filipinos, or anyone - by trying to make the parties work together on a matter that is beneficial to all, or to try to find a common goal toward which the parties can work.
4. OHA has not done all that it could for Hawaiians because of impediments set up by the state and trustee in-fighting. However, OHA's work is not done; and with proper leadership, more can be accomplished for the benefit of not only Hawaiians, but all people in the state.
5. Non-Hawaiians should support it. The land stolen from the Queen are held in trust by the state. One of the ways of fulfilling that trust obligation is to let the indigenous people of Hawaii control those lands to allow traditional, ahupuaa-type living and the gathering of resources that are important to our culture.
Randy S. Naukana Rego
Age: 37
District: Kauai
Occupation: Retail store manager1. With its available assets and resources, OHA should guide and assist the sovereignty movement and not try to dominate and control it. The sovereignty movement has many diverse ideas and strategies which should be incorporated to form a consensus and provide a foundation to build on for sovereignty.
2. Use it like any government would. Establish, manage, and maintain departments and programs to provide for the general welfare of your people. OHA should purchase lands. On Kauai recently, 1,000 acres sold to foreigners for about $2 million. These lands can be held and eventually transferred to the Hawaiian Nation.
3. This question is like asking - How would you resolve the chronic bickering among various American political parties? You can't. They disagree, separate like the Democrats and Republicans. But unlike the Democrats and Republicans, Hawaiians do not yet have that cohesive bond of pride and loyalty of a "nation".
4. OHA has made some progress but much more can be done to benefit the Hawaiian people like buying land and/or establishing our own financial institutions. It is difficult when you have "others" controlling your assets.
5. A supportive role. If you believe in human rights and justice, you cannot but support the Hawaiian cause to re-establish themselves and their nation.
Henry E. Smith Jr.
District: Kauai
Did not respond.
Samuel Lyons Kealoha Jr. Molokai
District: Molokai
Did not respond.
Colette Piipii Machado
District: Molokai
Did not respond.
Walter Ritte
Age: 51
District: Molokai
Occupation: Hunter1. OHA has a major responsibility and role in the movement. It should use its resources to create a process to bring all Hawaiians in. It should be a gradual process of understanding and agreement. OHA's broad mandate "the betterment of Hawaiians," dictates OHA's participation in this important issue.
2. Should be used to get other partners to join into building our own schools, communities, economic development, health transportation etc. Use it as seed monies to build our nation.
3. Raise these sights of OHA to visions of the future and the building of our nation instead of short-sighted individual problems.
4. No. OHA is an excellent tool to be used to help Hawaiians. The tool is good. Those using it have not done a good job. With it's broad mandate, OHA is in good shape to provide the base from which all of our other resources (Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Alu Like etc.) can work.
5. A supportive role. The leadership and direction must come from the Hawaiians. Non-Hawaiians need to wait and be called for their kokua. Non-Hawaiians need to begin to make room to accommodate sovereignty.
Haunani Apoliona At Large
Age: 47
District: At Large
Occupation: President and chief executive officer of Alu Like Inc.1. OHA's role is to help facilitate education, discussion and evaluation of all aspects of sovereignty among Hawaiians looking seven generations ahead. Through an education process that touches families and all age generations, embracing the greatest number of Hawaiians from the broadest geographic base as possible.
2. OHA trustees should use the 1982 master plan to focus OHA's objectives into functional plans for 1997-2003 with input from Hawaiian (sectors) to produce policies that establish/expand partnerships to enhance services to Hawaiians, to protect current or secure new entitlements while impacting political, economic, cultural, health and education systems to benefit Hawaiians.
3. My candidacy along with Machado, Molokai/Lanai; Perry, Kauai/Niihau; and Springer, Hawaii; is steered by the values of respect, cooperation, humility, civility, and balance, as our collective vision for OHA's board of trustees. Debate on issues, when discussed, deliberated within a context of aloha, for beneficiary benefit, produces positive outcomes.
4. As recent as April 1996, OHA surveys of Hawaiian and non-Hawaiians find that OHA's public perception is poor due to trustee behavior. I along with Machado, Perry and Springer believe in the unique potential OHA offers and that new trustee leadership in 1996 is required.
5. Non-Hawaiians should educate themselves and others to a full history of Hawaii, appreciating tradition and its contribution to contemporary times, embracing the elements of man, nature and spirituality, paying special attention (to) facts in the years 1800-1900 impacting the Hawaiians, recognizing that future decisions will impact Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike.
Deldrene Nohealani "Deedee" Herron
Age: 48
District: At Large
Occupation: Full-time OHA candidate1. OHA's sole purpose is to facilitate our people's wishes and not allow the state to orchestrate our sovereignty movement. Ha Hawaii (aka HSEC) in no way represents the Hawaiian majority. The time is ripe for decolonization, and the wardship of America under their policy of Manifest Destiny.
2. We need to get it out of Cayetano's hands and First Hawaiian Bank and into our own bank. My priorities are food, shelter, land and water for our people. Trustees must stop bragging about the beneficiaries' portfolio and begin fulfilling basic needs in education, housing, agriculture/aquaculture and business.
3. I think diversity is healthy. A gang mentality approach is unhealthy. Hawaiians once were warriors but now our frustration is being channeled against one another. OHA lacks the leadership now that should be pulling our people together. Again; puwalu, hooponopono, and focus will cost, but it will be monies well spent.
4. Not yet. a) Communication is the key in fulfilling commitment to our people. Trustees must go to the people on a full-time basis. Listening is just as important as speech making; b) Fiscally OHA needs to get their act together; c) OHA lacks the will to move toward independence.
5. Educate themselves about Hawaii's history, and why the United States now apologizes for our overthrow. All of you who came here from independent nations should support our movement. We are not out to throw private property owners out; the paranoia is unfounded.
Dwayne Kaiakoili Kalani
Age: 33
District: At Large
Occupation: Primerica Financial Services, Fort Shafter Elementary1. I believe OHA's role is to support the Hawaiian people whether it be legal counsel, financially or both.
2. It should be used for education, health care, housing, putting lands back in Hawaiian hands and evenly distributed to all the Hawaiian people.
3. I would resolve bickering through education, let the people know in layman's terms what the issues are and what's going on and allow the majority to make the decision.
4. No, because only part of the Hawaiian people have benefited from OHA's decisions. I also believe OHA has not been prudent in their management of funds. They have hired ten money managers and out of the ten, only three made money, the rest lost and one lost the entire investment. To fulfill commitment all Hawaiians should benefit.
5. As far as sovereignty for Hawaiians, none at all. Let the Hawaiian people govern themselves. As for non-Hawaiians they should learn their sovereign rights given them under the Constitution of the United States of America and exercise it.
Kina'u Boyd Kamali'i
Age: 66
District: At Large
Occupation: Retired administrator, state Health Planning and Development Agency1. To continue to provide the broad base of support for enhancing Hawaiian self-determination. This base includes the funding, education, and the will to make the Hawaiian nation a reality. The recent vote of the Hawaiian people to take the next step of electing delegates and calling a convention to draft the governance document of a renewed nation must be honored.
2. As a trustee, I have the duty to invest this money in programs which will heal the Hawaiian people and assure the integrity of the trust assets. Over the last four years, our board of trustees has approved and adopted responsible and responsive social and financial policies for long-term gains.
3. Honest disagreement - rooted in mutual respect - is healthy. That's how we learn what is right and wrong, and how we make informed decisions. I hate the personalized attack style of some groups and certain individuals. I refuse to use my OHA column or committee meetings as "public whipping posts".
4. Commitments - along with the Hawaiian people they reflect - change over time, and in response to differences in resources aspirations. The constant challenge to OHA is to recognize these changes in commitments and continue to grow with the differences. I believe that OHA is generally successful in meeting this challenge.
5. At a time when all major polls are showing a severe disenchantment by citizens for the quality and effectiveness of government, Hawaiians are seriously discussing and structuring a new government. Based on Hawaiian values and (island) beliefs . . . native sovereignty could inspire a broad re-working and re-thinking of governing for Hawaiians and others.
Aloha Velma Kekipi
Age: 54
District: At Large
Occupation: Cashier, resource person for Na Mea Hawaii1. I believe sovereignty will become a reality. What form it takes will be up to the majority of the people to decide. Until such time, I believe OHA should be involved in advocating native Hawaiian rights and entitlements.
2. I would like to see those monies "invested" back into Hawaii as opposed to the New York Stock Exchange.
3. I'm hoping that the process of achieving sovereignty will have input from each of the Hawaiian groups, and that we all benefit from the interchange.
4. Not yet, it has come a long way, but there is much more to be done.
5. To be supportive of Hawaiian sovereignty. One very positive way is to vote "no" on the question of having a Constitutional Convention of 1998. That is also a census year, and I believe it to be very important to know where the Hawaiians are so that we can comply with the concept of "one man, one vote."
Carlos Mahi Manuel
Age: 54
District: At Large
Occupation: Heavy duty repairman/welder1. OHA's primary role is to take full control and administer all Hawaiian issues and affairs.
2. The possibilities are endless of what can be accomplished with such sums of money but too premature to discuss the matter due to the ongoing litigation.
3. Opportunity should be given to these various Hawaiian factions of whom many are beneficiaries (as defined under Chapter 10 of the HRS ) of the Ceded Land Trust under OHA's direction in order to satisfy their concerns.
4. OHA's commitment to the Hawaiian people has not been fully disclosed nor interpreted to formulate an answer to this question.
5. Just as the question implies, NON-HAWAIIAN (blood) NON-PARTICIPANT.
Bernadette "Bernie" Mokihana Watson
Age: 43
District: At Large
Occupation: Business manager and community activist1. OHA has millions of dollars with as much as $1.2 billion still owing from the state. As long as OHA is part of the state government, there will always be a conflict of interest. The only role OHA has in the sovereignty movement is to aid facilitation. Political initiatives must come from the Hawaiian community.
2. The plight of native Hawaiians today deals with being at the bottom of every socio-economic indicator. Those monies must help the native Hawaiians by providing economic programs through educational and vocational training. Further, health and housing programs must be implemented by involving other departments, agencies and experts.
3. The main factor is the state's involvement. If the state is a willing agent in the quest for sovereignty, it must remove itself from the picture. Once the state is out, those factions mentioned will be able to meet and address the concerns without the threat of the state working for its own self-interest.
4. No. More recently, considering the huge amounts of money OHA has, there is a definite failure to the Hawaiian people. I believe the mechanisms are in place for OHA to fulfill its commitment. However, the board of trustee leadership has played political havoc with money and control - to the point of ineffectiveness.
5. The political, social, cultural and economic impact which took place more than 100 years ago are still being felt by Hawaiians, depredations continue. Non-Hawaiians should educate themselves and help Hawaiians realize sovereignty. There is no threat to non-Hawaiians, only continuous threat to Hawaiians.
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