Community coalition to lead nation-building process

Keoni Agard published a paper summarizing a meeting held on February 28, 2004, attended by over 60 people, at which it was agreed to support the organization of a community coalition to build the Hawaiian nation, replacing the advisory council of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and OHA representatives agreed to "allow" the community to take control of the process, and provide only funding, logistics, research and clerical support. The coalition is inclusive of all positions regarding political status, including independence and integration (federal recognition).

It remains to be seen how broadly this coalition will form, who will participate, whether even this level of involvement by OHA will be acceptable to some, and whether it is able to move forward constructively. Plus Agard also doesn't address the issue of participation by Hawaiian nationals who are not Native Hawaiian, which has to be addressed if participation is inclusive with regard to political status. But Agard feels strongly that this is the "real deal."

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For The Good of the People

Will OHA pass the torch for the good of the people? OHA invited a select group of Hawaiian organizations to attend a nation building meeting on February 28, 2004. However, pursuit of nationhood means inviting all parties to the table, not a select few. We must be fair to all. To avoid mistrust and to encourage participation as broad as possible, we must take steps to invite all parties to the table, regardless of their political status positions. Failure to do so will undermine our efforts to successfully pursue our mission. If we debate in separate arenas, federal recognition advocates in one area and independence groups in another area, we will never succeed. All must agree to come under one roof. This is what all other nations do. They gather all political views and groups under one roof, then debate the merits of each position (Republicans and Democrats). In this way, all views are heard and dissected in a way that permits scrutiny of each political position. The goal is to achieve a political strategy together that serves the best interests of the whole. Protection is the key. While we debate the merits of each position, we must have adequate protection to air our differing positions, and be safe doing so. We must unite under one ahu’ula. Let us utilize the mana of our ancestors as we proceed. The foregoing was an excerpt of a document distributed to the participants below.

What is it that I, as a Native Hawaiian, should know that occurred on February 28, 2004?

In an extraordinary move to shift the control of the self-determination movement from the state instrumentality, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, to instead a coalition of Native Hawaiian groups and individuals, history was made at the First Coalition Meeting
held on February 28, 2004 at the Honolulu airport- Interisland Terminal – 7^th floor conference room. There were over 60 people in attendance from various Hawaiian groups and organizations as well as individuals. The meeting was guided by facilitator Kahu Kaleo Patterson. Concerns were raised that no governmental entity of any kind should control the process, including OHA. There was a consensus that the nation building process be controlled and steered by the community, not OHA. Any future decision making will be left to our community to determine, not OHA.

The morning session covered two general areas. First, “kuleana and responsibilities” in an effort to define OHA’s role in the process of nation building. OHA gave all attendees the assurance that OHA will not control the process. Instead, OHA suggested its role as being limited to (4) four areas including: l) funding, 2) logistics, 3) research and 4) clerical/staff support, as needed. Second, “participation” meaning who should be at the table. How is community participation to be maximized? Some suggested we invite all Hawaiian groups and accommodate individuals, as no one should be excluded from participation. Discussion was begun but not completed. In that light, key action was taken by the group as follows:

Action Items: OHA advisory council is replaced with community coalition

Motion: offered by Keoni K. Agard: “We agree to organize ourselves as a Native Hawaiian coalition to build a nation.”

Amendment to Motion: offered by Winona Rubin; after objections were raised, she withdrew her motion to amend; she attempted to define what groups would be included, and excluded others

Amended Motion- offered by several attendees- Approved by Consensus
“We agree to support the organization of a coalition of Native Hawaiians to build a Hawaiian nation”

Question: What is this author’s assessment of recent events?

1) The Hawaiian Nation must start off PONO. Allowing all groups to participate legitimizes the self determination process and sets the proper legal foundation for the creation of the nation. Credibility is enhanced when diverse political views are included in the process. Accordingly, the community coalition will be inclusive and invite all those who wish to participate to do so.

2) OHA should be commended for legitimizing the Native Hawaiian self determination process by allowing our community to take control of the process of nation building, and for recognizing that this is the proper way to give a solid legal foundation to add credibility to the process.

3) It is important to recognize that the community coalition formed on 2/28/04 is NOT predisposed to any one political status position. This coalition will afford the Native Hawaiian community the opportunity to consider and debate all political status positions including: a) independence, b) free association and c) integration (Akaka Bill).
OHA’s pre-determination to support federal recognition as its desired position will NOT be a mandate for the coalition. 
4) OHA, through Trustee Dante Carpenter and its administrator, Clyde Namuo, have agreed to limit its role based on the desires of community members in attendance on 2/28/04.

5) Many of us have experienced several preliminary proceedings in preparing for nation building. All existing sovereignty groups must be applauded for their positive efforts. However, to assure legitimacy, we must lokahi under one roof. Once we are under one roof, it creates an atmosphere of legitimacy and others will know that Native Hawaiians are unified. This circumstance will notice the world that the Hawaiian nation is legitimate; we are for real. Now is the time for Native Hawaiians to unify to create a nation which is pono, one of our own making.

6) Some of you may ask why should we join this new community coalition. In response, make no mistake, this time it is different. This is the opportunity that we have been waiting for to bring all sides to the table under one roof without OHA controlling the process. OHA has agreed to step back and allow the community to take the lead. OHA is finally willing to empower the Native Hawaiian community in its efforts to reinstate the nation. This is a historical milestone allowing our community to form a coalition of all Native Hawaiian groups and individuals of all political persuasions under one ahu’ula. As a participant in the Hawaiian self determination movement over the past 30 years…..This is the REAL DEAL. We remember well all the trials and tribulations our community have experienced; however, the preliminaries are over, and this the main event. OHA will allow the community to control our own destiny and set the course of our future direction. Don’t be left behind.

The stage is now set for all Native Hawaiian groups and individuals to come together under one ahu’ula. Come and be a part of this new beginning. IMUA!

Keoni Kealoha Agard is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Chaminade University and Wm.S.Richardson School of Law, an attorney at law specializing in real estate and business law, co-author of a book entitled “A Call for Hawaiian Sovereignty”, past Vice Chairman for Aha Hawai’i ‘Oiwi, member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I and Queen Emma Hawaiian Civic Club, and currently employed as an executive loan officer with New Horizons Financial mortgage firm.
Note: Published by permission from the author; please send comments to the author at huialohaaina@hawaii.rr.com

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Posted: Sat - March 13, 2004 at 11:47 PM

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Community coalition to lead nation-building process

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