Sovereignty
Self-determination, by definition, means that the voice of the people must be heard. We cannot allow that to be subverted by special interests—and that includes OHA. We really need a process that ensures that trustees engage in community education before they make decisions that will have a significant impact on their beneficiaries. They need to seek the free, prior and informed consent of their peoples.
We have seen what happens when they do not do so: the long history of efforts by OHA to shape and resurrect a Hawaiian National structure. Tens of millions of dollars and over 10 years pursuing the failed Akaka bill which only had one state hearing. Several years and tens of millions of dollars spent on the Kau Inoa initiative. That was then followed by the Kanaʻiolowalu initiative, which terminates in 2014, and is now being replaced by the Kāmau a Ea initiative. Hawaiians never approved the Kau Inoa, Kanaiolowalu or Kāmau a Ea efforts by either a plebiscite or a referendum.
In the past, instead of determining what the beneficiaries want and supporting those initiatives, OHA trustees have sometimes substituted their own planning efforts. There is no substitute for the will of the people. They must be heard.
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We have seen what happens when they do not do so: the long history of efforts by OHA to shape and resurrect a Hawaiian National structure. Tens of millions of dollars and over 10 years pursuing the failed Akaka bill which only had one state hearing. Several years and tens of millions of dollars spent on the Kau Inoa initiative. That was then followed by the Kanaʻiolowalu initiative, which terminates in 2014, and is now being replaced by the Kāmau a Ea initiative. Hawaiians never approved the Kau Inoa, Kanaiolowalu or Kāmau a Ea efforts by either a plebiscite or a referendum.
In the past, instead of determining what the beneficiaries want and supporting those initiatives, OHA trustees have sometimes substituted their own planning efforts. There is no substitute for the will of the people. They must be heard.
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