“Why Hawaiians Won’t Go Away”

By Lei Kihoi, Esq.
(Kailua Kona resident)

Today, I took food and water to kokua our Protectors of Maunakea at Pu’uhuluhulu—the Pu’uhonua at Maunakea. This is the “encampment” of Native Hawaiian Protectors of Maunakea for both Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians who believe, as I do—that our Maunakea is sacred.

At this site, volunteers provided cooks, food, water, shelter, care for the elderly and young, traffic control, legal observers, food and water runners, first aid, masseurs. These volunteers are devoted to the task of providing a comfortable, stable environment to all Protectors so that they can continue the struggle for justice. Most importantly, everyone, Hawaiian or non-Hawaiians were embraced with “Aloha.”

Approximately, 600 people and their cars were lined up, along the highway with children and adults gathered in groves on Maunakea Access Road— the entry to Maunakea. The mood was happy, serious, somber, jovial, intense.

It was an extremely emotional day for me. Why? As a young law student in the mid-70’s during the Kaho’olawe movement, I was one of the “background Protectors” of Kaho’olawe.

Yes, we considered and consider Kaho’olawe sacred. To see the United States of America use our Kaho’olawe for bombing practice. was painful and sacrilegious to me and all of us!

The frontline people were the real heroes:. Walter Ritte, George Helm, Kawaipuna Prejean, Ian Lind, Dr. Emmett Aluli, , Stephen K. Morse, Kimo Aluli, Ellen Miles, and Karla Villalba. By occupying our beloved Kaho’olawe to prevent further bombing and desecration, they risked their lives for justice.

The rest of us, kept the momentum alive “on the ground.” No cell phones. No Facebook. No Instagram. No “go fund” me. No computers. But we did it. Together, We stopped the “feds” from bombing Kaho’olawe.

Do I have hope that we will stop the desecration today? Yes, I do. Why? Because, Hawaiians, will never go away.

About 20 to 30 notable front line kupuna (elders) lined the ranks today Among them, Walter Ritte, Momi Greene, Gwen Kim—who are kupuna, among others, who are not new to standing up for what is pono (what is right). Our kupuna represent our past and our future. Seeing our beloved kupuna, laying their lives on the line was a heart wrenching experience for me, today.

And what about our ‘opio? Our youth? A significant number of them were present today. Happiness. These young people— continue to be well versed in our history, culture, traditions, and our language, and more importantly, what is pono. They are our past and our future, as well. This is why Hawaiians will never go away.

General Meeting & Executive Committee

All meetings are held at the Democratic Party of Hawaii headquarters, commencing at 6:00 p.m.  Members may recommend agenda items for consideration by not later than 14 days prior to the meeting.  Send to leimomikhan@gmail.com.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAWAI‘I

HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS CAUCUS

627  South Street

Dial in number:  (712) 451-0200, access code 938390

Executive Committee Meeting

June 5, 2019, 6:00 p.m.

AGENDA

• Download PDF version of agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Pule Wehe
3. Quorum (5)
4. Secretary’s Minutes (Apr 2019)
5. Treasurer’s Report: No change
6. SCC Representative Report:  (Kainoa and Ken) 
7. Platform and HAC Uniform Report (Jacob)
8. Unfinished Business

Government Relations (Raytan) 2019 Legislative Initiatives

HAC 2019 Plan Update

9. New Business

Presidential Preference Poll and Delegate Selection Plan

PPP Fundraiser Hui $1000 club

O’ahu County Convention Results

DPH and HAC websites:  Notification of Meetings; Meeting Minutes

Member Request for Membership List

June and July General Membership Meeting Agenda

HAC July DPH Deep Cleaning

10. Announcements

Joint HAC/Environmental Caucus Presentation:  Pohakuloa, July 8, 6:00 p.m., DPH

Pupu & Politics, Aug 31, 5:00 p.m., Pikake Room, Blaisdell, $50 donation

Glenn Ida Memorial Golf Tournament, Sep 12, Pearl City Country Club

11. Adjournment
12. Pule Ho‘oku‘u

Chair, Leimomi Khan; 1VC, Raytan Vares; 2VC, Melodie Aduja; Secretary, Benton Pang; Treasurer Juanita Brown Kawamoto, O’ahu At-Large Female Rep, Rhonda Roldan; O‘ahu Male At Large, Jacob Aki; Hawai‘i Island At Large, Lei Kihoi; Maui Island At large (vacant), Kauai Island At Large, Jean Iida; SCC Reps Ken Farm and Kainoa Kaumeheiwa Rego

Executive Committee Meetings:  June 5, July 10, August 7, September 4, October 2, November 6, and December 4; General Membership Meetings are: Jun 28 or June 29 (makeup for April);  July 24, October 23, and December 11 (Holiday Party); Special Presentation in partnership with the Environmental Caucus:  July 8, 6:00 p.m., Pohakuloa Hawaii Supreme Court Case, featuring Attorney David Kimo Frankel

Aloha,

1. SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS CAUCUS:

February 6, Wednesday, 6:00 p.m., at the Democratic Party of Hawaii (DPH) headquarters, 627 South Street. Dial in number is (712) 451-0200, access code 938390. Purpose: To determine our position on several bills as listed in paragraph 2 below and on the confirmation of Ms. Jobie Masagatani, Chair, Dept of Hawaiian Home Lands. Note: While all Democrats may attend meetings, only those registered as members of the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus may vote. Application to join the caucus can be found at www.hawaiianaffairs.org.

February 19, 2019, 6:00 p.m., DPH Headquarters, Dial in number is (712) 451-0200, access code 938390. Purpose: To receive a presentation from the Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM) on the management of Mauna Kea and future plans.

2. LEGISLATIVE BILLS:

The following bills were discussed at the recent general membership meeting. At our February 6 meeting, we will decide on our position to support, oppose, or kanalua (monitor). Also, Ms. Masagatani has requested an opportunity to meet with us to provide information on DHHL and to answer any questions, thus, she will be our guest speaker at this meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting and wish to have your comments considered, please email Raytan Vares, Chair, HAC Legislative Committee, raytanv@gmail.comwith your comments, citing the specific bill number and title.

HB 1067, Relating to Mauna Kea, that prohibits any development on conservation lands of the Mauna Kea summit at 6,000 feet above sea level and higher.

HB1119, La Ku‘oko‘a Holiday, that reestablishes La Ku’oko’a, Hawaiian Recognition Day, as an official state holiday.

SB727, Relating to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. 1) The bill subjects OHA employees in the State’s civil service and public employees to a collective bargaining system; 2) Sets term limits for members of the Board of Trustees to no more than three terms or twelve years; 3) Increases partial public funding for candidates running for seats on the board of trustees of OHA to match the partial public funding provided to the lieutenant governor as these are statewide elections; and 4) Requires that names of candidates running for seats on the board of trustees of OHA to be listed on the ballot in random order, rather than the current alphabetical order.

HB 954, Relating to Public Lands, that clarifies that lands set aside to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation by the Governor or leased to the Corporation by other State departments and agencies are exempt from the definition of “public lands”

HB 998, Relating to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, that excludes from the definition of “public lands” in section 171-2, HRS, lands set aside by the governor to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) or lands to which the HPHA holds title. Requires legislative approval of the sale of lands to which the HPHA holds title.

HB 478, Relating to Public Lands, clarifies that lands set aside to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation by the Governor or leased to the Corporation by other state departments and agencies are exempt from the definition of public lands.

SB 212, Relating to the Hawaiian Home Lands, that provides that a lessee of Hawaiian Homelands may use the value of the lease as collateral for a loan to build a dwelling on the tract of leased land; provided that a lender who does not qualify to be a lessee of Hawaiian Homes under this Act shall not become a lessee of the respective tract of land. During membership discussions, it was noted that currently banks don’t count the value of the land in loan applications; this bill would open up opportunity to do that. Loan can only be used to build on that particular land. If someone is foreclosed, then opportunity for that house goes to people on the HHL list. Also, loan is only for houses/dwellings, not commercial development people.

SB195, Relating to Hawaiian as an Official Language of the State of Hawaii, that requires that the Hawaiian version of a law be held binding if the law in question was originally drafted in Hawaiian and then translated into English. Requires the ‘okina and kahako be used, when appropriate, in documents prepared by or for state or county agencies or officials.

3. HAWAII STATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HEARINGS:

The Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs will be conducting hearings on the bills described below on the dates and times indicated. We encourage you, as individuals, to submit testimony on these bills. Please send a copy of your testimony to Raytan Vares, raytanv@gmail.comso that we can determine the sentiments of our Caucus members.

January 29, 2019, 1:15 p.m., Room 016, Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs

SB642, RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AS AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I. Inserts article thirteen of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Requires that the Hawaiian version of a law be held binding if the law in question was originally drafted in Hawaiian and then translated into English. Requires that ‘okina and kahako be used, when appropriate, in documents prepared by or for state or county agencies or officials.

SB195, RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AS AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I. Requires that the Hawaiian version of a law be held binding if the law in question was originally drafted in Hawaiian and then translated into English. Requires that ‘okina and kahako be used, when appropriate, in documents prepared by or for state or county agencies or officials.

January 31, 2019, 1:15 p.m., Room 016, Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs

SB282, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS. Appropriates funds for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

SB695, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to digitize its applicant, beneficiary, and lessee records. Companion bill HB259 was heard by the House Water, Land and Hawaiian Affairs Committee on January 25, 2019. It was passed with amendment. The amended version has not yet been posted to the legislature’s website.

SB212, RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS. Provides that a lessee of Hawaiian Homelands may use the value of the lease as collateral for a loan to build a dwelling on the tract of leased land; provided that a lender who does not qualify to be a lessee of Hawaiian Homes under this Act shall not become a lessee of the respective tract of land.

February 5, 2019, 1:15 p.m., Room 016, Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs

SB728, RELATING TO OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS, Increases the amount of money available from partial public funding to candidates running for the board of trustees, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, to match the amount available to candidates running for the office of lieutenant governor.

SB729, RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS. Amends ballot requirements to display candidat3es for the board of trustees, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, by residency and non-residency requirements and to randomize the order of candidate names within those groupings.

SB730, RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS. Establishes term limits of not more than the lesser of three terms or twelve years for members of the board of trustees, Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

SB681, RELATING TO TERM LIMITS. Prohibits a member of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from serving more than two consecutive four-year terms. Permits reelection after an absence of a full four-year term.

At the time of this writing, the House Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs Committee had not yet posted hearing notices.

Copies of all bills or resolutions can be found on the Hawaii State Legislature website, www.capitol.hawaii.com. We also encourage you to register an account with the legislature at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/login/register.aspx As a registered user, you can track your own personalized list of measures, and get e-mail notifications for hearings on specific measures or for specific committees. Registered users can also submit online testimony more easily, since much of the information needed to send testimony through the website-date/time/place of hearing, etc.- will populate automatically by entering a bill/resolution number.

Me kealoha pumehana,

LEIMOMI KHAN, Chair

Contact: Amy Kalili and Adrian Kamaliʻi
Email: weloaloha@me.com
Phone: (808) 330-3342
Date: January 23, 2019

NATIVE HAWAIIAN LEADERS CALLING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
Condemning acts of violence against Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ staff on January 17, 2019

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – January 23, 2019 – A prominent group of leaders in the Native
Hawaiian community are calling for a greater level of accountability for entities, organizations
and their own communities and families in relation to the events that unfolded last week at the
Office of Hawaiian Affairs and will be making a joint statement at a press conference tomorrow.

PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS:
Date: Thursday, January 24, 2019
Time: 10:30am – Protocol
11:00am – Statement

Location: Nā Lama Kukui (OHA Offices), 560 N Nimitz Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96817
On January 17, 2019, 13 men stormed the OHA offices in a failed attempt to seize the agency
and its assets. In the process, they physically assaulted multiple staff (one whose ribs were
fractured), intimidated dozens more, and tried to take possession of trust assets that belong to
the Native Hawaiian people. Five of the 13 were arrested on minor charges and released on
nominal bail.

The group is calling for a higher level of accountability from those who committed the acts, law
enforcement to exact the appropriate punishment, and the Hawaiian community itself to hold
each other accountable to an even higher standing of conduct, honoring the hard work by man for decades who serve their boarder community and act upon their sovereignty.

“The harmful acts that took place days ago stand in stark contrast to the expressions by
hundreds of our people that gathered that very same day and time last week in peaceful
demonstration at ʻIolani Palace to remember the events of January 17, 1893,” notes Native
Hawaiian advocate, educator and practitioner, Punihei Anthony. “We are certain that our
Queen, who herself invoked a kapu maluhia or a decree of peace in the face of violence, would
not condone these violent acts and neither do we.”

Those standing in solidarity include well-respected Native Hawaiian advocates, educators,
lawyer, healers, and cultural practitioners from communities, organizations and institutions
across the state who are working in their own ways to pursue and act upon self-determination.
While they represent a cross section of a diverse set of beliefs, strategies and political
ideologies, they will stand united tomorrow to make this statement, calling for a higher level of
accountability and holding themselves to that same standard.

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DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAWAI‘I
HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS CAUCUS
627 South King Street
Dial in number:  (712) 451-0200, access code 938390
General Membership Committee Meeting 
January 23, 2019, 6:00 p.m.
 
Agenda
1.     Call to Order
2.     Pule Wehe
3.     Quorum 
4.     Secretary’s Minutes 
5.     Treasurer’s Report
6.     Legislative Committee Report (Raytan Vares)
–      Bills directly impacting Native Hawaiians
–      Mauna Kea measure (Healani Sonoda Pale)
–      La Ku‘oko‘a Holiday (Jacob Bryan Aki)
         _ OHA (Collective Bargaining, Term Limits, Random Order on Ballot) (Esther Kia’aina)
–      DHHL Bills
–      Confirmation Hearings
7.     Old Business
–      DPH Platform, Honoring Hawaiians – deferred  
–      Hawaiian Homestead Ad Hoc Committee 
8.     HAC Uniform – deferred
9.     New Business 
–      HAC Plans 2019
–      Office of Mauna Kea Management Presentation
10.  New Business 
–      Furlough on Federal Employees 
11.  Announcements
12.  Adjournment
13.  Pule Ho‘oku‘u

Hawaii Supreme Court Strikes Down Ballot Measure:  The Hawaii Supreme Court has struck down the question that was to have appeared on the General Election ballot, “Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on investment real property to be used to support public education?”   The surcharge (aka property tax) would have been used to fund education; however, the Supreme Court said the measure wasn’t adequately clear to let voters know what they would be voting on.  Thus, voters will not be voting on this question.

Vote for OHA Trustee Candidates (non-partisan race):  Vote!  Vote! Vote!  All voters can cast votes for the OHA Trustee positions.  Running for election are:  Delegates at Large (3 seats to be filled):  (D) Rowena Akana; (D) Lei Ahu Isa; (D) William Aila, Jr.; (D) Faye Hanohano; (D) Brendon Kalei’aina Lee, and (D) John Waihee IV.  For the O’ahu seat:  (D) Kalei Akaka and (D) Esther Kia’aina; and for the Maui seat, Carmen Hulu Lindsey and Ke’eaumoku Kapu.  Vote informed.  View the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus/Vote Informed OHA Trustee Candidate forum on ‘Olelo channel 49 on 10/30/18, 8:00 p.m.; 10/31/18, 10:00 p.m.; 11/1/18, 8:00 a.m.; and 11/3/18, 11:30 a.m.