Only one OHA Trustee willing to speak up in support of Interior Department …

OHA APPLAUDS FEDERAL RULE TO RECOGNIZE NATIVE HAWAIIANS’ INDIGENOUS STATUS, CREATE OPTION OF GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP

Statement Attributable to Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson Robert K. Lindsey

News Release from OHA

HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi (Sept. 23, 2016) – “The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) applauds the Obama Administration for bringing Native Hawaiians closer to having equality with other indigenous groups in the United States. Native Hawaiians have been the only major indigenous group in the 50 states without a process for establishing a government-to-government relationship with the federal government. This rule finally remedies this injustice. OHA will spend the next few days closely examining the rule to better understand how the Native Hawaiian people can – if they choose – pursue a government-to-government relationship.”

“As fiduciaries for the Native Hawaiian trust, the OHA Board of Trustees has supported federal acknowledgement of Native Hawaiian indigenous status in order to further strengthen and protect Native Hawaiian rights and resources. Having a federal rule available to Native Hawaiians is also an important step towards achieving Native Hawaiian self-determination and self-governance. During the 1978 Hawaiʻi State Constitutional Convention, these two goals served as bases for the creation of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Constitutional convention delegates in 1978 envisioned Native Hawaiians achieving ‘self-determination, methods for self-sufficiency through assets and a land base, and the unification of all [N]ative Hawaiian people.’”

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Lindsey August, 2016: “…the majority of respondents see nation-building as a bottom of the barrel issue. OHA must refocus, reboot, and rethink its basic priorities if it is to be in alignment with the wishes of our people.”

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OHA Trustee Lei Ahu Isa Sept 23, 2016: “Now a ...’tribe'!!!!”

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Robin Danner: “Excited as all get-out”

Star-Adv Sept 23, 2016: …Robin Danner, former founding president and CEO of the Council of Native Hawaiian Advancement and a commissioner on the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, worked with U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka for 15 years on the Akaka Bill. On Thursday she was “excited as all get-out” after getting word from Washington, D.C., about the Interior Department’s upcoming announcement.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has been 100 years coming,” Danner said. “I’m excited for my grandbabies. I’m excited for my people. I’m excited for all of Hawaii, Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians. My cheeks hurt I’m so happy for our people.”

But Native Hawaiians can choose to participate — or not — in whatever comes next toward forming a Native Hawaiian government that could seek a government-to-government relationship with the United States, Danner said.

“Federal recognition is a right and an opportunity that we don’t have to take, but have a right to take,” she said. “It doesn’t replace any history. It doesn’t replace any efforts for the restoration of the kingdom for those who want to do that.”

Asked how fragile the Interior Department’s position is given the upcoming presidential election, Danner said, “It’s as fragile as any policy in our democracy. It’s as fragile as the Civil Rights Act. No progress has ever been made by wringing our hands over what might be undone.” …

Flashback Sept 10, 2016: Robin Danner Group Calls on DHHL to Keep Al Hee's Scam Company

read … Danner

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State: No statement from Governor Ige nor from Legislators….

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Congressional Delegation: No statement from Hirono….

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Schatz Statement on Department of Interior Announcement on Native Hawaiian Rule

News Release  Friday, September 23, 2016

HONOLULU – Today, the Department of the Interior released a final rule on the administrative procedure and criteria for establishing a government-to-government relationship with the Native Hawaiian community.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following statement.

“This is an historic step towards doing what is right and just for Native Hawaiians.  For far too long, Native Hawaiians have been the only federally recognized native people without a government-to-government relationship with the United States.  Generations of Hawaiians and allies have worked to restore this relationship, and this rule is one of the most significant developments in making this a real possibility.

“Although the rule establishes formal procedures for a Native Hawaiian government to establish its governmental relationship with the United States, it leaves the Hawaiian community with the authority and responsibility to reorganize its governing entity.

“President Obama’s leadership and personal commitment to Hawai‘i was evident in the level of community engagement conducted by his administration and essential to ensuring this path forward for Native Hawaiians.”

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Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on DOI Rule Announcement

News Release Friday, September 23, 2016

Washington, DC—Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) released the statement below following announcement of the Department of Interior’s (DOI) Final Rule for Procedures for Reestablishing a Formal Government-to-Government Relationship with the Native Hawaiian Community. The rule incorporates and takes into account more than 54,000 public comments submitted to the Department of Interior from the Native Hawaiian community and other key stakeholders:

“For decades, many in the Native Hawaiian community have fought for the same rights and treatment as indigenous groups across the United States, like Native American tribes and Alaska Natives. The Department of Interior announcement today simply places the decision-making authority solely within the hands of Native Hawaiians to determine what, if any, government-to-government relationship they choose to have with the U.S. federal government. I had the great honor of working as a legislative aide to Senator Akaka, who dedicated so much of his life to creating this opportunity for our Native Hawaiian community. I look forward to continuing to engage and work alongside our Native Hawaiian brothers and sisters as they determine their path forward.” 

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2013: Hanabusa: Obama Considers Creating Akaka Tribe Without Congressional Approval