Tuesday, October 19, 2010

 

Sovereignty, Economic Self-Sufficiency & Home Ownership: The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) 9th Annual Meeting


By Henry Curtis

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) 9th Annual Meeting, held October 12-14, 2010 at the Hawai`i Convention Center served as an opportunity for a number of affiliated and interrelated organizations to show case their activities under the auspices of CNHA. These included the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL), the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), the University of Hawai`i Hawai`inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge and the Native Hawaiian Economic Alliance (NHEA).


The Next Generation


On Monday, the day before the official opening, Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa, Professor at the Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, chaired the second annual Native Hawaiian Next Generation conference, with about 40 people in attendance.

Luke Williams, PhD, University of Hawaii’s School of Architecture, spoke about how urban sprawl is inefficient and that we should be “increasing density” (building higher) in urban areas. I asked him if he opposed low density rural areas and he told me no. He only opposes low density suburban areas. Clarifying, I asked him if he supported urban and rural areas but not suburban areas and he agreed. It is interesting that CNHA sponsors the Native Hawaiian Next Generation meetings and much of the CNHA Annual Meeting was about suburban home ownership.

The Next Generation attendees then broke into four groups based on their own interests. They create wish lists in the areas of sovereignty, education, land and water. Some of the subgroups sought to build consensus while others just strung together a list of concerns raised by individual attendees.

Representative Faye Hanohano stated that “we need to involve more of the future generation, because it’s their future.”

Activities

Maoli Art in Real Time and Na Mea Hawai`i sponsored an exhibit room full of Maoli Art featuring paintings, sculpture and even “Bonzai Taro” by local artist Kahi Ching.

Hui Ku Maoli Ola Native Plant Nursery had one of the many booths at the Convention. They also provided plants for the meeting rooms. Started in 1992, Hui Ku Maoli Ola now sells over 100 different species of native plants.

Kumu Leina'ala Kalama Heine gave a workshop on oli (chant).


The Office of Hawaiian Affairs sponsored a debate between Duke Aiona and Neil Abercrombie.


The CNHA Convention


Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka was a keynote speaker at the CNHA Convention: “I look at the signs that are around, look at the people, I would tell myself ten years ago, we didn’t have all of this, but today, it’s coming together, and its coming together, in what we call a pono way. ...What me feel good, is that, this mana`o, that the thinking of the future, is being done in the community, and not, in the offices up there, and so it’s good to come from the community with ideas that can change, shape our future. And also I want to complement the Convention for your theme Kukulu Aupuni, Kukulu Ea, building on greatness ... Sovereignty in action, which means, the people, in action.”

Robin Danner: “I can think of ...pieces of legislation that Senator Akaka has quietly, strongly pushed through, with the patience of Job and the ferocity of a lion.”

The number of people who registered for the conference was about 540 with perhaps most of them showing up for a few events. In general, about 200-250 attended the meetings and another 100 were visiting the Trade Show events. Almost 70% of the attendees were women, and apparently that has been true for past conventions.

The only meeting where men outnumbered women was the NHEA Business Meeting, where 25 of the 40 attendees were men. About 80% of convention attendees were residents of Hawai`i. Many of the others were American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders. In a plenary session with 190 people present, one speaker asked how many people worked for the State, only 2 hands were raised.

CNHA Pacific Islanders Policy Forum

Robin Danner: “President Obama ...has appointed a team, through Executive Order, launched the White House Initiative on Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans and appointed a team, fully dedicated to our issues, and this team led by Executive Director Kirin Ahuja, and the Deputy Director Christina Lagdameo... have come, with their team, and federal agencies, all the way to Hawaii across the country, came this way, to spend this entire week, they actually have been here about 10 days, visited over 50 organizations here is Hawai`i. Also, they brought with them, an Assistant Secretary in the Department of the Interior, over the Insular Affairs, the highest appointment of a Pacific Island leader in the Obama Administration, and I want you to remember his name, Anthony Babauta. He is a Chamorro native. ...He does not need to be brought up to speed, he knows you, he lived you, he is you.”

Assistant Secretary Anthony Babauta (U.S. Department of the Interior): “The lesson of Collapse that [Jared] Diamond articulates, is that societies, as often as not, aren’t murdered, they commit suicide, they slit their wrists, and then in the course of many decades, stand by passively and watch themselves bleed to death. Diamond is largely contentious because he glosses over at times and grossly omits the external historical factors that influence ones society survival over another. Whether you subscribe to Diamond’s conjectures or reject theory all together is not the issue. There is however a very subtle underpinning argument that I believe merits our consideration this morning. And that is our role, our own personal responsibility in shaping our environment and ensuring our cultures never collapse. Will we be the civilization that chooses to survive or will we engage in blatant systematic decimation of our own society, the culture. The title of Diamond’s book largely gives it away, and that is, that there is an option. There is a choice to be made, we must pertinently, we must determine what faith, that we choose for ourselves. That is the crux of it all. That is why we are here.”


“While on travel I’ve learned that while customs and traditions and cultures and practices may vary from island to island, no matter where I go there exists a pervasive appetite, to want to protect and conserve what’s distinctly indigenous to each island. My sense is larger than the cogency and the exigency of that desire that’s most ardently evidenced in the communities, that increasing face the threat of assimilation, westernization and acculturation.”

“The Virgin Islands ...in recent years ...this particular way of life has increasing come under siege as developers have sought legal ownership of land. Hawai`i is no stranger to wealthy developers, looking to invest in tropical vacation homes, beach side resorts. Nor are the native Virgin Islanders, many of them who feel they are callously being asked to abandon, and call into question their customs, cultural heritage, and their way of life.”

“A thousand years ago, our ancestors were relentless on the canoes, traversing ocean swells, united by the stars, and by their Gods, until they reached the shores we now call home. They faced perils which we will never know, we never understand. But they survived, and so will the Pacific Islander of today, for thousands of years to come.”

Kirin Ahuja, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI): “Our focus has been, at making clear at White House meetings, about the focus on underserved in our communities, whether it is low income Chinese Americans in Chinatown in San Francisco or New York City, or the southeast Asian communities -- Vietnamese fisherman in the Gulf, or addressing the challenges of High School dropouts, health disparities, disproportionate number of Native Hawaiians in the criminal justice system.”

Washington, D.C. (Sept. 17, 2010) – The White House Initiative On Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders welcomed newly appointed Advisory Commission members [including] Kamuela Enos ...currently the Director of Community Resource Development at MA`O Organic Farms, where he works with low income communities to combat major health issues and promote sustainable agriculture. He worked previously at Empower Oahu on economic and community development initiatives and with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, where he served as a research assistant in the Office of Youth Services Strategic Planning Process. He is a Director of the Hawaii Rural Development Council. Mr. Enos holds a B.A in Hawaiian Studies and a M.A. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawai`i at Manoa.”

Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) History and Structure

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) is a non-profit which was founded in August 2001 by Raynard Soon (Department of Hawaiian Home Lands), Hardy Spoehr (Papa Ola Lokahi), Tara Lulani Arquette (ALU LIKE, Inc.), Mahealani Wendt (Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation), Melody MacKenzie, and Robin Puanani Danner.

CNHA is an organization of associations. Currently there are 155 voting members including: 111 Hawaii-based Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs), 23 Mainland-based Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs), 16 For Profit Native Hawaiian Businesses, and 5 Native Hawaiian Public and Ali`i Trusts.

Several voting members overlap, such as the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club and the Mainland Council Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

The Papakōlea Community Association, Kalawahine Streamside Association, and Kewalo Hawaiian Homestead Association are each members, and along with Kula No Na Po'e Hawaii have formed the Papakōlea Community Development Corporation (PCDC), which is also a member. PCDC sits on the CNHA Board and its representative is Harold Johnston, a Director of Sandwich Isles Communications.

CNHA members include Akimeka Technologies LLC, a Native Hawaiian owned military technology company.

Prior to the convention -- 15 member groups sat on the Board of Directors. Each group is represented by a representatives and 0-2 alternates. There are a total of 31 representatives and alternates. At the Annual Meeting held at the CNHA Convention, the number of positions on the Board was expanded to 18 including one Vacant position.

CNHA has a number of affiliated entities including the Hawaiian Homestead Technology, Inc (job creation and community capacity building initiative), TiLeaf Group (Native advocacy and communications), Pueo Group Contracting (a federal government contracting firm delivering telecommunications, construction, and information technology services), Native Hawaiian Economic Alliance, and the Hawaiian Way Fund.

CNHA has launched a Homestead Energy Program. Grants and loans are given for the installation of Solar Water Heating Systems and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL).

CNHA has also focused on increasing the number of Native Hawaiians who take advantage of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

CNHA has and is seeking funding from multiple revenue streams (federal, state, private, venture capital, individuals) to support a wide range of economic, social and cultural activities (workshops, networking, incentives, loans, grants) with the aim of increasing the economic well-being of the Native Hawaiian people.

The major focus of the conference was accessing federal funds, with secondary focuses on awards, networking and increasing the section of the federal pie that is available for Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs), Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs), and American Indian Tribes.


Conference Sponsors

The Ninth Annual Conference was sponsored by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), American Savings Bank (HEI), Bishop Museum, Hawai`i Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL), Hawai`i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), First Wind, Hawaii Convention Center, Hawaii Homestead Technology (CNHA for-profit subsidiary), the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), and the U.S. Department of Commerce: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) partners with CNHA as part of HTA’s “effort to support and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and community.”

Housing

Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) was founded in Maui in 2000 to develop a mortgage broker operation within a nonprofit. HCA developed a Hawaii HUD-approved homeownership and financial literacy curriculum, adapted from standard Mainland and Native American curriculum to reflect local culture and values. HCA moved its headquarters to Honolulu in 2006. Until this year, 99% of their work dealt with homeowners on DHHL properties. This year HCA has decided to expand to rentals, transient housing and non-DHHL properties.

HCA decided to fill the void needed to get Hawaiian families into homes. “Over the more than 80 years since Hawaiian Home Lands were created, less than 25% of the 200,000 acres have been settled, and nearly 20,000 Native Hawaiians are still on the waiting list to receive a homestead. Slow settlement of the Home Lands over so many decades resulted from a combination of inadequate federal and state funding with a population poorly prepared for homeownership.”

The Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) is building two new subdivisions: the 92-acre Känehili development in the ‘Ewa Plains, and the 71-acre Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai development in Anahola, Kauai. DHHL has teamed up with CNHA’s Hawaiian Way Fund community development fund and the Hawaiian Community Assets (Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and non-profit mortgage broker) to offer about a dozen lots in each subdivision as self-help housing.

These houses are built by a group of families under the supervision of a construction expert and with the assistance of electricians and other specialists. Each family must attend meetings which focus on loan applications, financial management, etc.

The Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai homes have 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1858 square feet, with a total cost of $158,000 and a monthly mortgage of just under $800. The Känehili homes have 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2480 square feet, with a total cost of $185,000 and a monthly mortgage of just under $900.

Keynote Speaker Senate President Colleen Hanabusa stated: “Home ownership is self-determination.”

Awards

At each CNHA convention there are a number of awards given out by various member groups.

The Native Hawaiian Economic Alliance presents the Native Hawaiian Community Champion Award. Last year Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) was one of the two winners and in 2007 the award winner was Lockheed Martin.

The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation presents the Native Hawaiian Advocate Award. Past winners included Puhipau & Joan Lander, and Eric Enos.

Papa Ola Lokahi presents the Native Hawaiian Health Award. The winner in 2007 was Dr. Richard Kekuni Blaisdell.

Akaka Bill

CNHA believes they are the organization which will bring about federal recognition of Native Hawaiians through the Akaka Bill. OHA’s Clyde Namu`o stated that when this occurred, OHA, and perhaps DHHL, would merge into the resulting organization.

CNHA believes that if there are groups that oppose the Akaka Bill that these groups should join CNHA and work through the system to get their views heard. A few people at the Convention mentioned to me that they were there because of the positive energy and networking that CNHA has promoted and developed, while choosing privately not to agree with the political views of CNHA.

Some Kanaka Maoli organizations have an alternative set of values and world view frame. They have chosen not to participate through CNHA. These groups believe that CNHA is increasing federal dependency, and promoting a state within a state model which Alaskan Natives and American Indians currently have, while talking about ending that dependency in the long run by becoming economically self-sufficient. These groups believe that it would be more effective to cut that dependency now and to regain an Independent Hawai’i.

Sole Source Contracts

The Native Hawaiian Economic Alliance (NHEA) met to discuss Small Business opportunities. The HNEA meeting also serves as a networking tool and to give out awards. Last year the award winner was Hawaiian Electric Company.

As a result of the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010 (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2010, the head of any federal agency which awards a sole-source contract award to a Native Organization in excess of $20 million must file additional paperwork justifying the award. The federal law changed a provision of general applicability to all sole source contractors to a specific provision which applies only Native 8(a) contractors, that is, Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs), Alaskan Native Corporations (ANCs) and Indian Tribes.

In effect this provision has been to killed large sole-source contracts to Native Organizations.

The provision was written by Senator Claire McCaskill (Missouri), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight (SOCO), a subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs chaired by Senator Joseph Lieberman (Connecticut).

The House Senate Conference Committee had started deliberations on this bill on October 8, 2009, just 20 days before the President signed the bill into law. This provision targeting Native Organizations was not part of either the House or the Senate version.

Agricultural and Energy Self-Sufficiency

At the CNHA conference, the purple orchids, the leis and much of the food were imported. A USDA official stated that USDA grants could fund ambulances and recreational water parks but not agricultural irrigation projects.

The only discussion of energy self-sufficiency was provided by Blue Planet Foundation’s Gary Gill. Blue Planet received an Award from CNHA and CNHA’s Robin Danner was featured on the Blue Planet’s TV Show.

Gary Gill (Blue Planet Foundation): “When I was in High School what did we have, we had Kaho`olawe as the target island, right, embarrassing. ...A few very courageous people started a movement that transformed our society and faster than I ever thought was possible. Like in 10 years practically the island was returned to the people by itself, sovereign Hawai`i, fast eh? Can do it right? Progress!

So when were saying, let's get off of oil and coal, let's not ship $10M everyday overseas for our energy use. Can! Can do it! And just like in Kahoolawe, when the people take the lead, the politicians come along. I know I was one, I'm in recovery now. But I remember.

You know there's a reason, and I want to point this out, when we talk about sovereignty and self-determination, what does it mean? It means typically, strategically, or historically, sovereign country has geographic borders, this is us and that's them, okay, it has a common language and culture, it has a common army, usually, unless you are Costa Rica and they don’t have any army, and it has a common economy; the laws that are set up to govern that economy. Look at our economy now.

What is the point of having political sovereignty by choosing our own leaders if our economy is actually controlled by foreign powers because we are dependent upon them for energy. What is the point of that?

When we talk about the ahupua`a system, Hawaiians led the world, living on islands and sustaining a population, and thriving and growing on the limited resources that were right here, managing them, they made mistakes, there was famine, there were birds that went extinct, it’s not perfect ...

How are we going to control our own energy? How are we going to keep jobs here, making energy that we need here from the resources that we have here instead of sending $10M ... part of it is personal choices now, when I tell you I’m a little ashamed, I rode my bike here two days in a row, two days in a row my bicycle is the only one in the bike rack out front. ...

I’m always embarrassed ...beautiful Convention Center, what have we done? We’ve blocked out the sun so we can use electricity to make light? We’ve blocked out the wind so we can use electricity to make cold air. ...

Wind, kind of makes some noise sometimes, got to be careful where you put it, how you do it. Do the people of Moloka`i and Lana`i want all those wind turbines on their islands just so that O`ahu can have air conditioning? Not going to be easy to make that decision. Geothermal, there’s culture issues, sure.

But these are decisions that we have the honor, to have the ability to make them. You go anywhere else in the planet they don’t have so many options as we do. We can do it and we are going to do it in 10 years.”

Robin Danner: “Blue Planet stepped forward and agreed to help CNHA figure out a way that we can go out to the community and not just figure one house but neighborhood by neighborhood, homestead by homestead.”

Anna Marie Arceo, President/CEO of the Guam-based non-profit Hurao Inc. (Chamoru Immersion Programs, Language & Culture Consultation) advocated demilitarizing Guam.



Sustainability and Economic Self-Sufficiency

Blossom Feiteira: ``As our Hawaiian people pursue greater self-determination, a Hawaiian-controlled bank will be a valuable community resource,'' she said. ``Economic self-sufficiency has always gone hand in hand with true political self-determination.''

A term used at the conference was “economic self-sufficiency.” This term can be interpreted in many ways.

The Hawai‘i 2050 Sustainability Task Force Report states: “When the Hawai‘i 2050 Sustainability Task Force first asked the public what “sustainability” meant, it received a variety of answers. To some, it was about protecting the environment. To others, it meant creating agricultural self-sufficiency and self-reliance – living in a self-contained system. Others viewed it as a matter of economic resilience. We needed a common language and understanding. ...The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and the University of Hawai`i (UH) believe that one indicator of sustainability is the ‘dollars spent in locally owned businesses. Measuring economic activity for locally owned businesses is one aspect of economic self-sufficiency.’ DBEDT and UH believe that another indicator is the ‘value of goods and services imported and exported. Our economic self-sufficiency is critical. If we get most of our goods and services from elsewhere, we are vulnerable.’”


Hawaiian Homes Commission Act: “The principal purposes of this Act include ...Providing financial support and technical assistance to native Hawaiian beneficiaries of this Act so that by pursuing strategies to enhance economic self-sufficiency and promote community-based development, the traditions, culture and quality of life of native Hawaiians shall be forever self-sustaining.”

Akaka Bill (House of Representatives Final Version) “Congress finds that ...the Hawaiian Home Lands and other ceded lands provide an important foundation for the ability of the Native Hawaiian community to maintain the practice of Native Hawaiian culture, language, and traditions, and for the survival and economic self-sufficiency of the Native Hawaiian people”

Economic Well-Being in Hawai‘i: Family and Individual Self-Sufficiency was developed by Aloha United Way in collaboration with the Center on the Family and Hawai‘i Kids Count ...We define economic self-sufficiency as having the amount of money individuals and families require to meet their basic needs without governmental or other subsidies.”

According to the Department Of Housing And Urban Development “Economic self-sufficiency program means ‘any program designed to encourage, assist, train, or facilitate the economic independence of HUD-assisted families or to provide work for such families. These programs include programs for job training, employment counseling, work placement, basic skills training, education, English proficiency, workfare, financial or household management, apprenticeship, and any program necessary to ready a participant for work (including a substance abuse or mental health treatment program), or other work activities.’”


CNHA Native Hawaiian Policy Center

The policy center is chaired by Hawaiian Community Assets Executive Director Michelle Kauhane.


The 2009-2010 Policy Priorities are:  

Local Policy Priorities - OHA & DHHL State Agencies

1. DHHL – Community Revenue Sharing (2007): Dedicate a set percentage of commercial income from general leases to the Native Hawaiian Rehabilitation Fund for a DHHL administered grant program for beneficiary organizations implementing community and cultural projects.

2. DHHL/OHA - Beneficiary Consultation Trust Resources (2008): Implement consultation on trust resources, agency budgetary processes and seek beneficiary recommendations on how trust funds are deployed.

3. DHHL - Commercial & Non Homesteading Leases (2008): Distribute “intent to lease or license” notifications to beneficiary organizations when DHHL intends to issue general leases and/or licenses to non-beneficiary organizations wherein trust lands will be used for non-homesteading purposes.

4. DHHL/OHA - Buy Local ~ Buy Hawaiian Preference (2008): Establish a Buy Local – Buy Hawaiian policy of contracting, grant making and land use that values the experience and talent of beneficiary controlled organizations, which also maximizes opportunities to leverage trust funds with non-trust fund resources.

5. DHHL/OHA - Trust Agency Transparency (2009): Implement broader access to monthly OHA Board of Trustee and Hawaiian Homes Commission Board Packets prior to scheduled meetings. Increase transparency and accountability of trust agency grant making processes, scoring, recommendations and final awards.

6. DHHL - Beneficiary Input on DHHL Appointments (2009): Follow the example of President Obama when making appointments, by increasing accountability through a commitment by the Governor to make appointments to the Hawaiian Homes Commission from a list of recommendations made by beneficiary organizations.

7. DHHL/OHA - Foreclosure Prevention Advocacy (2009): Engage foreclosure prevention advocacy with an experienced and trained beneficiary serving nonprofit to ensure lenders are providing all options required under the law to assist beneficiary families to retain their homes. Outsource loan processing of trust agency loan portfolios.

8. OHA – Agricultural & Pastoral Homesteading (2009): Establish an OHA Agricultural and Pastoral Homesteading program with technical resources, loan funds and grants.

State and Federal Policy Priorities

1. Sovereignty: Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act (2002): Extend the federal policy of self governance and self determination to Native Hawaiians.

2. Business: SBA Native 8(a) Business Development (2005): Preserve and enhance this successful economic development program encouraging community enterprise for Native Hawaiian Organizations (nonprofits), Alaska Native Corporations and American Indian Tribes.

3. Financing: FHA 247 Amendments (2006): Engage a new HUD MOU to reverse 75% LTV ratio limitation on beneficiary borrowers, and include FHA 247 in national reserve fund pool.

4. Donor Giving: Expansion of State of Hawaii Work Place Giving Program (2008): Revise 30-year policy by state government to restrict state employees to a single charity giving option, to open opportunities to charities across the state, and in particular to culturally based charities.

5. Education: Public Charter Schools (2009): Support Equity in Education to ensure our public charter schools survive and thrive in Hawaii.

6. Housing: NAHASDA Community Self Determination (2009): Designate a minimum of 20% of the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant annual funding allocations to fund community based sub-recipient grantees and intermediary delivered training and technical assistance for beneficiary serving community organizations.

7. Capital: CDFI Resources (2009): Increase outreach, training and technical assistance to Hawaii organizations to increase access to CDFI Fund programs, tax credits, and capital, including Bank Enterprise Awards.

8. Federal Administration: Elevate Native Hawaiian Issues at White House (2009): Advocate for a White House Initiative on Native Americans, including Pacific peoples to effectively share the knowledge of our community leaders with the Obama Administration.

New Program Priorities for CNHA Network

1. Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (2009): Directly impact families in decreasing home energy costs.

2. Native Unity & Solidarity (2009): Increase working relationships among the Native peoples in the 50 states through a joint project to mentor next generation emerging leaders and build collaborative organizational partnerships including but not limited to the following: Next Generation Leadership Project – administration of internships, fellowships and mentorships among Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native and American Indian peoples. Federal Programs Unity Project – 6 year strategic plan to strengthen Native Hawaiian and Tribal programs nationally.

3. Community Loan Fund (2009): Operate a community loan fund certified under the U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund to bring capital resources and tax credits to Native Hawaiian communities, organizations and charter schools.

4. Native Hawaiian Culture & the Arts (2009): Support projects, policies, resources and initiatives that promote Native Hawaiian culture, arts and traditions.


Non-Member Supporting Organizations

Advancia Corporation
Ahtna Government Services Corporation
Alaska Federation of Natives

Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF)
Bay Clinic, Inc.
Bishop Museum

Build Systems International (Hawaii), Inc.
Enterprise Honolulu
Enterprise & Development Resources for the Pacific (EDRP)

Family Life Center
First Alaskans Institute
First Hawaiian Bank

First Wind LLC
General Growth Properties - Ward Centers
Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED)

Hawaii Charter School Network
Hawaii County Resource Center (HCRC)
Hawaii Home Ownership Center

Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and Arts
Hawai‘i Technology Institute
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.

Historic Inalahan Foundation, Inc.
Ho‘okāko‘o Corporation
International Steel Concepts Corporation

Inter-Tribal Economic Alliance (ITEA)
Kealakehe Ahupua‘a 2020, Inc.
Lokahi Eternity-4-Life

National CAPACD
National Congress of American Indians
Pacific Gateway Center

Pacific Islander Community Development
PQ Architects
Referentia Systems Incorporated

Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)
SMS Research and Marketing, Inc.
The Rose Ensemble

The Trust for Public Land
Villa Roma Communications, LLC

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council
Youth Vision

# # #

Contact for Henry Curtis:
ililani.media@gmail.com

Comments:

Wow, very informative about CNHA, Henry.
 


Would there be enough space in this comment box to list all the acronyms of impersonal ʻnot-humanʻ organizations that are fighting to the top of the bucket to suck federal funds, Jade Danner being the lead crab.
This is truly pitiful and Clyde Namuoʻs description of Hawaiian cultural advocates as: " Some Kanaka Maoli organizations have an alternative set of values and world view frame. They have chosen not to participate through CNHA."

That statement, to me, was an indication of how out of touch this man is, not only to his ancestral culture, but to the present day words and goals of the aboriginal people of Hawaii.

Jade Danner does not belong here. She was planted to steer but it hasnʻt worked.She needs to take her pointing finger somewhere else.
 


Thank you, Henry, for yet another valuable report on what is taking place in these conferences.

As I read through the names of folks attending, I see some good people. But this network is tainted by opportunists at the core. There is a strong risk these good people will be entangled in the corruption of those guiding the process.

I am not Hawaiian and will not pretend my voice should have equal weight with those who are in discussions on sovereignty. I can support a version of the Akaka Bill as a means of Hawaiians choosing their own representatives to negotiate with the State and Federal government. Some of those who oppose the Akaka fear the influence of those eager to win contracts, control the resources. They are right to have such fears. But by refusing to participate, they yield the field to such forces. Some sovereignty advocates recognize their views are only supported by a small minority and rather than work to win the backing of a majority of Hawaiians, they seem content to remaining within their small grouplets, a small frog in a tiny pond, dreaming their utopian ("dystopian"?) dreams

On the other hand, looking at the dysfunctional elections for OHA (or BOE) or even the top-ticket races like Congress and Governor, who wants to place the future of the Hawaiian people in the hands of such a superficial, money and special interest driven process? I don't believe it is likely to produce "authentic," leaders representative of the Hawaiian people. Maybe its better to keep the moral claim of native Hawaiians in reserve to be re-asserted in a hypothetical future, when conditions are better? Will such a day ever come?

Finally, a formatting suggestion. Your blogging software allows you to put a small portion of a post on the main page of the blog, with a clickable link to the rest of the story. I would recommend long posts be broken up like that. It makes it much easier to navigate through the blog, skimming the lede paragraphs to decide whether to read the entire article. Thanks.
 


Actually, the Disappeared News blog template is long overdue for an overhaul. The current template does not provide for continuing a post. What I am thinking as a temporary measure is making a link to the bottom or to the next article. That's not perfect.

I'm very happy that Henry is posting comprehensive articles. The information is available nowhere else.
 


Thanks for listening, Larry. I guess I was wrong about your software!

Let me be clear, I am GRATEFUL for the amazing work Henry has put into his recent articles for Disappeared News. I rarely hear about these seminars and conferences, or if i do, I am rarely free to attend. I am very pleased that Henry is there and writes such detailed accounts of what transpired for the benefit of the rest of us.
 


Yes, it is amazing. And unique. It couldn't be done in a newspaper even if they wanted to do it.

I'm noticing that when I google for info on these meetings, it comes up with Henry's articles.
 

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Requiring those Captcha codes at least temporarily, in the hopes that it quells the flood of comment spam I've been receiving.





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