RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, by way of the State of Hawaii Constitutional Convention of 1978 and subsequent legislation and public ratification, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs was established by the people of Hawaii to better the conditions of all Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, in the November 4, 1980 general election, more than forty-three thousand native Hawaiian voters elected the first board of Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs comprised of nine members: Peter K. Apo, Roy L. Benham, Rodney K. Burgess III, A. Frenchy De Soto, Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr., Moses K. Keale Sr., Joseph G. Kealoha, Jr., Walter L. Ritte, Jr., and Dr. A. Leiomalama Solomon; and

WHEREAS, over the past twenty-five years, an additional thirty-three individuals have been elected or appointed as trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs providing leadership and trust management on behalf of the native Hawaiian community; and

WHEREAS, over the past twenty-five years, hundreds of individuals have served in the administration of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as leaders, experts, and support staff in such areas as economic development, housing, legal services, human services, education, culture, land, historic preservation, communications, health, native rights, and governance; and

WHEREAS, since 1980, the Hawaiian community has made substantial strides in such areas as Hawaiian cultural awareness and identity, Hawaiian language education, political activism, historic preservation, and higher education; and

WHEREAS, the visibility of native Hawaiian issues and history has significantly increased at the federal level with the passage of Public Law 130-150, the "Apology Resolution" in 1993; and the introduction of the "Akaka Bill" in 2000 and subsequent versions including the current "Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005" calling for federal recognition of indigenous Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, in its twenty-fifth year, the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is led by Chairperson and At-large Trustee S. Haunani Apoliona, MSW; Vice Chair and At-large Trustee John D. Waihee IV; At-large Trustee Rowena N. Akana; Oahu Trustee Dante Keala Carpenter; Kauai and Niihau Trustee Donald B. Cataluna; Hawaii Island Trustee Linda K. Dela Cruz; Molokai and Lanai Trustee Colette Y. Machado; Maui Trustee Boyd P. Mossman, retired judge; and At-large Trustee Oswald K. Stender; and

WHEREAS, currently, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs employs a staff of one hundred twenty-seven led by Administrator Clyde W. Namuo with offices statewide and in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs expends millions of dollars annually in Native Hawaiian Public Land Trust funds and state general funds on programs, services, community grants, and advocacy that help to better the conditions of the more than four hundred thousand Native Hawaiians who live in Hawaii and across the nation, and enhance the quality of life of all who call Hawaii home; and

WHEREAS, after twenty-five years, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs continues to serve as the State of Hawaii's lead agency in working on behalf of Native Hawaiians, in spite of numerous legal challenges and threats to Native Hawaiian rights and entitlements; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs be recognized for twenty-five years of outstanding service to the Hawaiian community and the State of Hawaii community at large; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii reaffirms its support of the many initiatives of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, including its work in advocating for federal recognition of native Hawaiians; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the members of the Hawaii congressional delegation, the Governor, the Mayor and Chairperson of the councils of each county, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Report Title:

Office of Hawaiian Affairs