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Editor’s note: For Hawaii’s Aug. 10 Primary Election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following came from Patty Kahanamoku-Teruya, candidate for Office of Hawaiian Affairs at-large trustee. The other candidates include Keli’i Akina, Lei Ahu Isa, Peter Apo, Leona Kalima, Larry Kawaauhau and Brendon Kalei’aina Lee.

Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot.

1. What do you see as the most pressing problem facing Native Hawaiians, and what will you do about it?

Native Hawaiians face many issues today. Some of the most concerning are chronic disease, substance abuse, high incarceration rates, displacement due to rising costs of living in Hawaii and securing affordable, safe and reliable housing. Among these, I feel the most pressing problem is affordable housing.

We must provide traditional affordable housing through effective proposals and address years of delays with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. DHHL has not met its obligations to distribute the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act’s 200,000 acres set aside to Native Hawaiians. There are over 29,000 people on the waitlist and most beneficiaries wait for decades to be considered for an award. 

As a former DHHL Oahu commissioner, I will continue to support DHHL and other related agencies in addressing this problem. By focusing on the abandoned homes in the DHHL inventory and increasing the awarding of vertical undeveloped lots, while simultaneously creating more access to financial capital for home construction and repair, we can help Native Hawaiians alleviate housing concerns. I will work to unify state and federal agencies, nonprofits, financial institutions and community stakeholders to find comprehensive approaches to find viable solutions.      

2. Should OHA be subject to oversight by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission? 

I support the current oversight the State Ethics Code provides. Like all state agencies, OHA must be accountable to constituents and those they serve.

Employees and organizations need to function within boundaries provided by a code of conduct and acceptable standards. However, it is also important to maintain the ability of the agency and staff to have a right of appeal when violations occur. 

3. Do you support the construction of the TMT atop Mauna Kea? Why or why not? Could the new management structure help to resolve long-standing disputes?

As a former DHHL commissioner, I am familiar with the discussions regarding DHHL’s access road to Mauna Kea and how this project has impacted all communities. It was painful to witness the quick decision made by the state to remove kupuna, keiki and beneficiaries while they peacefully expressed their opposition. 

Mauna Kea is a sacred place and will always be worshiped by all peoples. It must be preserved for future generations and our kuleana to protect part of the ceded land trust needs to be protected.

Let us not forget that the state failed to resolve the management of Mauna Kea. Our roles as trustees are to provide oversight and support community engagement for all parties involved in this long-standing dispute by honoring cultural practices of preserving aina and our religious rights to worship. 

4. What role should the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands play in reducing homelessness?

The responsibility of DHHL is to assist in rehabilitating Native Hawaiian beneficiaries by distributing the 200,000 acres set aside by awarding long-term land leases. DHHL can reduce homelessness by focusing on the utility infrastructure of undeveloped lands and rapidly awarding leases to beneficiaries on the waitlist. This can be accomplished by the redirection of state and federal funding mechanisms.

Also, DHHL must continue to fund rental and mortgage assistance through their current programs. This approach will expand access to the 29,000 beneficiaries on the waitlist and mitigate future out-of-state displacement and homelessness. 

Since the act was implemented thousands of beneficiaries have died waiting, creating a systemic cycle of beneficiaries and successors being withheld access to the act’s intent. This cycle has fueled displacement, homelessness and other social and economic disparities impacting all communities in the state.

5. Why do you think Hawaiians are disproportionately represented in our prisons and jails? What can be done about it?

Our Native Hawaiians are overrepresented in Hawaii’s criminal justice system, a disproportionate percentage of the state’s prison population. Many in corrections will hurt our communities and have impacts on low-income families and of color, simply because they can’t afford bail or representation, which is sometimes years away from their families and community.

OHA can provide funding in expanding cultural programs which can prepare them for housing, bus transportation, jobs and other programs such as GED high school equivalency or higher education programs in prison. We need to empower incarcerated Native Hawaiian culture to help Native Hawaiians return to their families and community.

OHA can also assist in the many rehabilitation programs statewide in funding and supporting inmates to be relocated in structured clean and sober transitional homes prior to returning to their families. OHA’s community engagement program should advocate in reducing the negative impacts of Hawaii’s criminal system of Native Hawaiians in their communities statewide by working with the State Department of Public Safety and other agencies.

6. What are your views regarding Hawaiian self-determination?

There are many that would like their own statehood and its form of allegiance and government, but changes cannot be made until the country’s right to self-determination is recognized including people choosing and setting their own goals, self-advocating and working hard to reach their goals.

I believe indigenous people have the right to exercise their right to self-determination in matters relating to their internal and local affairs.

7. Is OHA getting its fair share of ceded-land revenues from the state?

More discussions must happen with the state regarding the long disagreement about the Public Land Trust, with the underpaid PLT revenues. The State of Hawaii has underfunded OHA with PLT revenues as OHA works to better the lives of our Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.  

8. Is OHA fulfilling its mandate to serve the Hawaiian people?

OHA’S mandate is to advance education, health and housing for our Native Hawaiians. I believe OHA is working with Native Hawaiian communities and building up its community engagement team in being more transparent and hearing the concerns from beneficiaries in its outreach programs and public support for Hawaiian issues.

OHA will continue to do better — as a trustee at-large for OHA my fiduciary responsibility is to ensure a good working relationship with staff and leadership toward the betterment of conditions of our Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.

OHA has supported many great organizations through grant funding in continuing successful cultural events, programs for our state and the quality of life for many. We will continue to build a better future by navigating together.

9. Is Hawaii managing its tourism industry properly? What should be handled differently?

Hawaii has done better in our tourism industry due to our cultural organizations such as OHA, CNHA and HTA working together in providing more culture and traditions of Hawaii and being mindful of cultural protocols. They have been providing a unique culture, memorable in enriching our visitors islandwide, which relates to supporting a vital and sustainable economy. 

10. How would you make OHA more transparent and accessible to the public and the Hawaiian people?

OHA can be more transparent with more community engagement in rural Native Hawaiian communities and participation by programs offered, education/employment opportunities, open meetings, engagement in community meetings, keeping meeting agendas and minutes, mailing list of all board meetings and island meetings, grants information for smaller nonprofit organizations, participating in cultural community events with information booths and encouraging community involvement in its upcoming budget and legislative packages.

OHA needs to work closely with communities and leaders, beneficiaries and organizations to share information and build public support for Hawaiian issues.

Mahalo nui loa.