Hawaiian Affairs Caucus

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.

###

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.

A HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION – YES OR NO?

On November 6, 2018, the General Election ballot will contain the question, “Shall there be a convention to propose a revision of or amendments to the Constitution?”

• A “yes” vote supports holding a constitutional convention to explore proposals for changes to the state constitution.
• A “no” vote opposes holding a constitutional convention to explore proposals for changes to the state constitution. 

Here is a listing of resources to become informed on this important question:

• Hawaiian Affairs Caucus/‘ŌleloVote Informed: Several Native Hawaiian leaders share their perspective on the pros and cons of a constitutional convention.  Panelists include: Mr. Jacob Aki, Mr. Ikaika Hussey, Ms. Lei Kihoi, Dr. Jonathan Osorio, and Ms. Mahealani Wendt.

Broadcast on ‘Ōlelo Channel 49 on the following dates and times:  10/23 at 5:30 PM,  10/24 at 10:30 PM, 10/25 at 8:00 AM, and 10/27 at 12:00 PM.  Also, the broadcast can be found on Youtube at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYoyCFqjRnM.

• CNHA: Con-Con discussion from the 17th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention with Former Governor Neil Abercrombie and U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa can be found on the CNHA Facebook page www.facebook.com/hawaiiancouncil

• Citizen’s Jury: A jury of 18 Hawaii voters who met on three occasions to discuss the pros and cons of a Hawaii State Constitution.  At the last meeting, panelists deliberated amongst themselves and articulated the primary reasons for both supporting and opposing the Constitutional Convention and listed the generally agreed-upon facts about the issue. As a final step, participants voted in a straw poll whether they support or oppose holding a Constitutional Convention.  The results of those meetings and supporting materials can be found at:  http://www.publicpolicycenter.hawaii.edu/projects-programs/con-con-citizens-jury.html.

• The Hawaii State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse: https://hawaii.concon.info contains articles, events and so much more concerning the pros and cons of a Hawaii State Constitutional Convention.

Tune in to ‘Olelo Channel 49. to hear the views of candidates for the position of Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee.  Hosted by the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus, Democratic Party of Hawaii.  Featured candidates:  At-Large Seats:  Lei Ahu Isa, William J. Aila, Jr, and Brendon Kalei’aina Lee;  Maui Seat:  Kapu Ke’eaumoku and Carmen Hulu Lindsey; O’ahu Seat:  Kalei Akaka.

Broadcast dates on ‘Olelo Channel 49:  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.

• HAC Nomination Form DOCX

Download and submit this form to nominate someone for the At-Large Maui and At-Large Kauai seat. Deadline Oct. 20.

Aloha e nā hoa,

The HAC’s legislative committee will begin to prepare for the 2019 legislative session with a meeting next Wednesday, September 26. You’re invited to attend.

My goals for this meeting are to briefly recap the successes and failures of this past session, discuss ways we can strengthen our advocacy efforts, and lay the path for the approval of our legislative agenda before the end of the year.

What: HAC Legislative Committee Meeting
Where: DPH Headquarters (627 South Street)
When: Wednesday, September 26, 6-8 PM
Teleconference: (563) 999-2090, 544701

Mahalo,
Raytan Vares
Chair, HAC Legislative Committee