
March 13, 2010
Native Hawaiian government may become reality
By MARK NIESSE
Associated Press Writer
Associated Press Writer
Their kingdom long ago overthrown, Native Hawaiians seeking redress are closer than they've ever been to reclaiming a piece of Hawaii.
Native Hawaiians are the last remaining indigenous group in the United Statesthat hasn't been allowed to establish their own government, a rightalready extended to Alaska Natives and 564 Native American tribes.
With a final vote pending in the U.S. Senate and Hawaii-born President Barack Obama on their side, the nation's 400,000 Native Hawaiians could earn federalrecognition as soon as this month — and the land, money and power thatcomes with it. They measure passed the U.S. House last month.
Many Native Hawaiians believe this process could help right the wrongsperpetuated since their kingdom was overthrown in 1893. The also pointto the hundreds of thousands who died from diseases spread by foreignexplorers before the kingdom fell.
Native Hawaiians never fully assimilated after the first Europeans arrived in 1778: They earn less money, live shorter lives, get sent toprison more often and are more likely to end up homeless than otherethnicities, said Clyde Namuo, CEO of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the state-funded agency founded to improve the conditions of Native Hawaiians.
"It's about correcting the injustice," Namuo said. "When you look veryclosely at the numbers — prison, health, wealth, education — we are notat the level that our colonizers are at."
However, just what Native Hawaiians would receive if the federal recognition measurepasses Congress is uncertain. The bill sets up negotiations between anew Native Hawaiian government, the state of Hawaii and the federalgovernment, but it doesn't specify what resources Native Hawaiianswould receive.
Namuo said he hopes the lives of Native Hawaiians would be improved if they had more control of their own destiny.
A disproportionate share of Native Hawaiians find themselves homeless,huddled beneath plastic tarps in beach camps or living in shelters.Native Hawaiians make up 28 percent of the state's homeless whoreceived outreach services, while accounting for about 20 percent ofthe population, according to last year's report by the University of Hawaii Center on the Family.
"It's been far too long for the Hawaiian people to be suffering," said BertBeaman, a Hawaiian who lives at Keaau Beach Park. "Whatever Hawaiianscan get, get it and be grateful."
Opponents of the legislation say it would give Native Hawaiians special treatment at the expense ofother taxpayers. One study commissioned by a group opposed to a NativeHawaiian government predicted it would cost $343 million a year in losttax revenue if 25 percent of the state's lands were transferred.
"It is not the role of government to try and make up for past wrongs," saidJamie Story, president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, whichpromotes free markets and small government.
Supporters view the proposal as a way to provide reconciliation to the Hawaiian people thatwas urged in the 1993 Apology Resolution, in which Congressacknowledged the United States' role in the Hawaiian Kingdom'soverthrow 100 years earlier.
They hope Native Hawaiians could eventually get greater access to affordable housing, their ownculturally focused education system, health centers and full-time jobsthat would include teaching hula or Hawaiian language if the bill passes.
"Things would get better for Hawaiians," said Jade Danner, vice president ofthe Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. "When Native Hawaiians aretruly empowered to make their own decisions, it's not that we'll makebetter decisions than anybody else. It's that we know our communitiesand we know what will work."
Others are skeptical, including some of the homeless, who wonder whether any of these changes would help them.
"I don't think it's going to be enough. Even if we get money, the homelessstill need more help after living on the beach for so long," said AliceGreenwood, who lives in transitional housing.
The amount of money and land at stake could be substantial.
About $338 million is held in trust for Native Hawaiians by the Office ofHawaiian Affairs. In addition, University of Hawaii law professor JonVan Dyke, who wrote "Who Owns the Crown Lands of Hawaii?", said aHawaiian government should receive about 1 million acres — about 20percent of the state's land mass that was once monarchy property.
How the trust money and land would be used is a big question, said KaulanaPark, chairman of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which provideshousing to Native Hawaiians on former kingdom lands.
"Where that goes nobody knows, whether it's housing, economic development or health," Park said. "The first hurdle is to get it passed."
A majority of Native Hawaiians favor this process of federal recognition,Namuo said. But it is opposed by pro-independence groups who want theHawaiian kingdom restored.
About 109,000 Native Hawaiians have registered for Kau Inoa, a signature drive run by the Office ofHawaiian Affairs to establish a list of voters who would be eligiblefor elections associated with a Native Hawaiian government entity.
A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, said the legislationcould reach the Senate floor this month, but because of other nationalpriorities, Akaka's goal is to get the vote by August.
"This is the moment of truth," said Van Dyke. "I'm optimistic that we're going to see it passed, andthen it will be exciting to see what happens," Van Dyke said.
In this photo taken March 9, 2010, a large sign posted on a fence in the town of Waianae located on the Leeward Coast area of Honolulu on the island of Oahu voices it's displeasure with the United States government. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
In this photo taken March 9, 2010, Alice Greenwood is shown in Honolulu. Greenwood used to live on the beach is currently living inthe Ulu Ke Kukui Transitional Shelter located in Waianae on the LeewardCoast area of Honolulu on the island of Oahu Tuesday, March 9, 2010.Greenwood said "I don't think it's going to be enough. Even if we getmoney, the homeless still need more help after living on the beach forso long." (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
In this photo taken March 9, 2010, Bert Beaman is shown in Honolulu. Beaman is a Hawaiian, homeless and lives with his wife at Keaau BeachPark which is located in Makaha on the Leeward Coast area of Honoluluon the island of Oahu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
In this photo taken March 9, 2010, Alice Greenwood is seen in Honolulu, Hawaii. Greenwood used to live on the beach is currentlyliving in the Ulu Ke Kukui Transitional Shelter located in Waianae onthe Leeward Coast area of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. (APPhoto/Eugene Tanner)

Comments
" Native Hawaiians make up 28 percent of the state's homeless" !
HOME OF THE GREED, LAND OF THE SLAVES ,SUCKERS ARE BORN EVERY DAY "THANKS TO THE U.S.A."
Native Hawaiians are the last remaining indigenous group "in the United States" that hasn't been allowed to establish their own government, a right
already extended to Alaska Natives and 564 Native American tribes.