Akana shares info
To the Forum:The journey to clarify the political relationship between
Native Hawaiians and the federal government is underway. Recently, Senator
Daniel Akaka announced his plan to introduce a fast track short form bill in
Congress. It recognizes that Hawaiians are indigenous peoples, that our people
have a special relationship to the United States, and that self-determination
should be restored to Hawaiians under federal law.
This bill is the first
step, as it only deals with the issue of achieving federal recognition. It does
not discuss lands, reparations, or blood quantum. These important issues will
be implemented in the second phase of this critical process, which will deal
with the legislation of a process for Native Hawaiians to form an
organizational entity.
This measure includes the proposed creation of an
office to focus on Native Hawaiian issues within the U. S. Department of the
Interior. There has been rumors circulating in the community that this proposed
agency would be a mirror image of the OHA, only at the federal level. Let me
emphasize that this is not the case, and that the rumors are unsubstantiated.
Rather, the purpose of the office is to have a presence in Washington DC, that
is focused on Native Hawaiian issues, and to monitor and enforce the trust
responsibility that the U.S. bears toward Native Hawaiians. This federal office
would in no way be connected to OHA.
Also at a June 1 board meeting,
trustees clarified the role of the proposed Office of Native Hawaiian Affairs
by approving amendments that would task this office with implementing a process
of reconciliation in accordance with the Apology Resolution. It would also
“effectuate and coordinate trust relationship policies between Native Hawaiians
and the U.S. … coordinate its efforts through full, regular, and appropriate
consultation with indigenous Native Hawaiian peoples … and assist Native
Hawaiians in facilitating a process for self-determination.”
These events
are precedent setting. The Hawaiian community must come forward to express its
feelings on this bill, as it will undoubtedly become a permanent thread in the
fabric of our people. Becoming involved may involve some traveling. I am urging
Hawaiians to be prepared to go to Washington, DC to support this very important
measure. Whether by charter flights, through Hawaiian Civic Clubs, or via other
Hawaiian organizations, Hawaiians need to be in the nation’s capitol to show
strong support for this bill. Currently, preparations are being made for an
Aloha March in August in Washington D. C. This event will feature an
educational seminar on Hawaiian rights and entitlements planned at the
Smithsonian Institution, as well as a 24-hour prayer vigil at the U.S.
Capitol.
Results from a recent media poll indicate that the majority of
those polled are in support of restitution to the Hawaiian people by the U. S.
as a result of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. In addition,
three-quarters of those polled said they “want something new, a kind of
representation that guarantees Hawaiians self-determination, and one crafted by
Hawaiians to meet the needs of Hawaiians.”
This proposed federal bill is
the framework from which Hawaiians’ special political status will be
constructed. Now is the time for all Hawaiians to step to the forefront and
take part in the reestablishment of our Hawaiian nation. We have waited too
long to not be part of this important and historic process.
For those with
Internet access, log on to my website at http://ww.rowenaakana.homestead.com
for more information.
Rowena M. N. Akana, Trustee-At-Large
Office of
Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
To the Forum:
The journey to clarify the
political relationship between Native Hawaiians and the federal government is
underway. Recently, Senator Daniel Akaka announced his plan to introduce a fast
track short form bill in Congress. It recognizes that Hawaiians are indigenous
peoples, that our people have a special relationship to the United States, and
that self-determination should be restored to Hawaiians under federal
law.
This bill is the first step, as it only deals with the issue of
achieving federal recognition. It does not discuss lands, reparations, or blood
quantum. These important issues will be implemented in the second phase of this
critical process, which will deal with the legislation of a process for Native
Hawaiians to form an organizational entity.
This measure includes the
proposed creation of an office to focus on Native Hawaiian issues within the U.
S. Department of the Interior. There has been rumors circulating in the
community that this proposed agency would be a mirror image of the OHA, only at
the federal level. Let me emphasize that this is not the case, and that the
rumors are unsubstantiated. Rather, the purpose of the office is to have a
presence in Washington DC, that is focused on Native Hawaiian issues, and to
monitor and enforce the trust responsibility that the U.S. bears toward Native
Hawaiians. This federal office would in no way be connected to OHA.
Also at
a June 1 board meeting, trustees clarified the role of the proposed Office of
Native Hawaiian Affairs by approving amendments that would task this office
with implementing a process of reconciliation in accordance with the Apology
Resolution. It would also “effectuate and coordinate trust relationship
policies between Native Hawaiians and the U.S. … coordinate its efforts
through full, regular, and appropriate consultation with indigenous Native
Hawaiian peoples … and assist Native Hawaiians in facilitating a process for
self-determination.”
These events are precedent setting. The Hawaiian
community must come forward to express its feelings on this bill, as it will
undoubtedly become a permanent thread in the fabric of our people. Becoming
involved may involve some traveling. I am urging Hawaiians to be prepared to go
to Washington, DC to support this very important measure. Whether by charter
flights, through Hawaiian Civic Clubs, or via other Hawaiian organizations,
Hawaiians need to be in the nation’s capitol to show strong support for this
bill. Currently, preparations are being made for an Aloha March in August in
Washington D. C. This event will feature an educational seminar on Hawaiian
rights and entitlements planned at the Smithsonian Institution, as well as a
24-hour prayer vigil at the U.S. Capitol.
Results from a recent media poll
indicate that the majority of those polled are in support of restitution to the
Hawaiian people by the U. S. as a result of the overthrow of the Hawaiian
monarchy. In addition, three-quarters of those polled said they “want something
new, a kind of representation that guarantees Hawaiians self-determination, and
one crafted by Hawaiians to meet the needs of Hawaiians.”
This proposed
federal bill is the framework from which Hawaiians’ special political status
will be constructed. Now is the time for all Hawaiians to step to the forefront
and take part in the reestablishment of our Hawaiian nation. We have waited too
long to not be part of this important and historic process.
For those with
Internet access, log on to my website at http://ww.rowenaakana.homestead.com
for more information.
Rowena M. N. Akana, Trustee-At-Large
Office of
Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
To the Forum:
The journey to clarify the
political relationship between Native Hawaiians and the federal government is
underway. Recently, Senator Daniel Akaka announced his plan to introduce a fast
track short form bill in Congress. It recognizes that Hawaiians are indigenous
peoples, that our people have a special relationship to the United States, and
that self-determination should be restored to Hawaiians under federal
law.
This bill is the first step, as it only deals with the issue of
achieving federal recognition. It does not discuss lands, reparations, or blood
quantum. These important issues will be implemented in the second phase of this
critical process, which will deal with the legislation of a process for Native
Hawaiians to form an organizational entity.
This measure includes the
proposed creation of an office to focus on Native Hawaiian issues within the U.
S. Department of the Interior. There has been rumors circulating in the
community that this proposed agency would be a mirror image of the OHA, only at
the federal level. Let me emphasize that this is not the case, and that the
rumors are unsubstantiated. Rather, the purpose of the office is to have a
presence in Washington DC, that is focused on Native Hawaiian issues, and to
monitor and enforce the trust responsibility that the U.S. bears toward Native
Hawaiians. This federal office would in no way be connected to OHA.
Also at
a June 1 board meeting, trustees clarified the role of the proposed Office of
Native Hawaiian Affairs by approving amendments that would task this office
with implementing a process of reconciliation in accordance with the Apology
Resolution. It would also “effectuate and coordinate trust relationship
policies between Native Hawaiians and the U.S. … coordinate its efforts
through full, regular, and appropriate consultation with indigenous Native
Hawaiian peoples … and assist Native Hawaiians in facilitating a process for
self-determination.”
These events are precedent setting. The Hawaiian
community must come forward to express its feelings on this bill, as it will
undoubtedly become a permanent thread in the fabric of our people. Becoming
involved may involve some traveling. I am urging Hawaiians to be prepared to go
to Washington, DC to support this very important measure. Whether by charter
flights, through Hawaiian Civic Clubs, or via other Hawaiian organizations,
Hawaiians need to be in the nation’s capitol to show strong support for this
bill. Currently, preparations are being made for an Aloha March in August in
Washington D. C. This event will feature an educational seminar on Hawaiian
rights and entitlements planned at the Smithsonian Institution, as well as a
24-hour prayer vigil at the U.S. Capitol.
Results from a recent media poll
indicate that the majority of those polled are in support of restitution to the
Hawaiian people by the U. S. as a result of the overthrow of the Hawaiian
monarchy. In addition, three-quarters of those polled said they “want something
new, a kind of representation that guarantees Hawaiians self-determination, and
one crafted by Hawaiians to meet the needs of Hawaiians.”
This proposed
federal bill is the framework from which Hawaiians’ special political status
will be constructed. Now is the time for all Hawaiians to step to the forefront
and take part in the reestablishment of our Hawaiian nation. We have waited too
long to not be part of this important and historic process.
For those with
Internet access, log on to my website at http://ww.rowenaakana.homestead.com
for more information.
Rowena M. N. Akana, Trustee-At-Large
Office of
Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
To the Forum:
The journey to clarify the
political relationship between Native Hawaiians and the federal government is
underway. Recently, Senator Daniel Akaka announced his plan to introduce a fast
track short form bill in Congress. It recognizes that Hawaiians are indigenous
peoples, that our people have a special relationship to the United States, and
that self-determination should be restored to Hawaiians under federal
law.
This bill is the first step, as it only deals with the issue of
achieving federal recognition. It does not discuss lands, reparations, or blood
quantum. These important issues will be implemented in the second phase of this
critical process, which will deal with the legislation of a process for Native
Hawaiians to form an organizational entity.
This measure includes the
proposed creation of an office to focus on Native Hawaiian issues within the U.
S. Department of the Interior. There has been rumors circulating in the
community that this proposed agency would be a mirror image of the OHA, only at
the federal level. Let me emphasize that this is not the case, and that the
rumors are unsubstantiated. Rather, the purpose of the office is to have a
presence in Washington DC, that is focused on Native Hawaiian issues, and to
monitor and enforce the trust responsibility that the U.S. bears toward Native
Hawaiians. This federal office would in no way be connected to OHA.
Also at
a June 1 board meeting, trustees clarified the role of the proposed Office of
Native Hawaiian Affairs by approving amendments that would task this office
with implementing a process of reconciliation in accordance with the Apology
Resolution. It would also “effectuate and coordinate trust relationship
policies between Native Hawaiians and the U.S. … coordinate its efforts
through full, regular, and appropriate consultation with indigenous Native
Hawaiian peoples … and assist Native Hawaiians in facilitating a process for
self-determination.”
These events are precedent setting. The Hawaiian
community must come forward to express its feelings on this bill, as it will
undoubtedly become a permanent thread in the fabric of our people. Becoming
involved may involve some traveling. I am urging Hawaiians to be prepared to go
to Washington, DC to support this very important measure. Whether by charter
flights, through Hawaiian Civic Clubs, or via other Hawaiian organizations,
Hawaiians need to be in the nation’s capitol to show strong support for this
bill. Currently, preparations are being made for an Aloha March in August in
Washington D. C. This event will feature an educational seminar on Hawaiian
rights and entitlements planned at the Smithsonian Institution, as well as a
24-hour prayer vigil at the U.S. Capitol.
Results from a recent media poll
indicate that the majority of those polled are in support of restitution to the
Hawaiian people by the U. S. as a result of the overthrow of the Hawaiian
monarchy. In addition, three-quarters of those polled said they “want something
new, a kind of representation that guarantees Hawaiians self-determination, and
one crafted by Hawaiians to meet the needs of Hawaiians.”
This proposed
federal bill is the framework from which Hawaiians’ special political status
will be constructed. Now is the time for all Hawaiians to step to the forefront
and take part in the reestablishment of our Hawaiian nation. We have waited too
long to not be part of this important and historic process.
For those with
Internet access, log on to my website at http://ww.rowenaakana.homestead.com
for more information.
Rowena M. N. Akana, Trustee-At-Large
Office of
Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
