Candidate Q&A: Office of Hawaiian Affairs Molokai-Lanai Trustee — R. Kunani Nihipali
“Hawaiians aren’t asking for anything more than any other host culture would in their own ‘home.'”
Editor’s note: For Hawaii’s Nov. 5 General 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 R. Kunani Nihipali, candidate for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Molokai-Lanai trustee. His opponent is ܲԲ貹.
Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot.
Candidate for Office Of Hawaiian Affairs Molokai-Lanai Trustee
1. What do you see as the most pressing problem facing Native Hawaiians, and what will you do about it?
Economic and social parity/equality. Continue to create solutions through reconciliation as promised by America’s Apology Law Act 103-150 Sec1(4)&(5), 31 years ago and substantiated by numerous reports, surveys, studies, findings and recommendations.
Begin by carrying out the rest of the steps of reconciliation: not just recognition of an empty apology, but take responsibility, do its due diligence through reparation and restoration as guaranteed by the U.S. Congress and its president to support reconciliation with the Native Hawaiian people, not the state, not any organization or association, but with the Native Hawaiian people at the table equally as the decision-makers.
2. Should OHA be subject to oversight by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission?
No less, no more than any other state agency..
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?
Aole. It’s been long established in recent demonstrations, history that mauna is a wahipana and and there are other venues that are less contentious, cheaper to build that can fulfill the needs of those who desire to persist on pursuing a telescope there.
There are many issues that thus far the present commission or actions have not resolved and until amiable solutions are resolved, aole pono.
4. What role should the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands play in reducing homelessness?
DHHL as a state agency is in conflict as a native trust as averse to the Public Lands Trust and has never lived up to its role of the HHC Act since accepting that in 1959 as a precondition to statehood.
Housing is but one part of the HHC Act mandate.
5. Why do you think Hawaiians are disproportionately represented in our prisons and jails? What can be done about it?
Better public awareness and understanding of the impacts of American/Hawaii history and cultural rehabilitation methods may provide solutions.
6. What are your views regarding Hawaiian self-determination?
Hawaiians aren’t asking for anything more than any other host culture would in their own “home.”
7. Is OHA getting its fair share of ceded-land revenues from the state?
OHA has never gotten nor continues to be provided with its mandated 20% of the Public Lands Trust funds
8. Is OHA fulfilling its mandate to serve the Hawaiian people?
If OHA is not provided equity in revenues, how can it fulfill its mandate?
9. Is Hawaii managing its tourism industry properly? What should be handled differently?
Based on the recent shift of funding to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, the Hawaii Tourism Authority obviously has not been promoting Hawaii effectively.
Thus, given those resources, only time will tell if that’ll improve.
10. How would you make OHA more transparent and accessible to the public and the Hawaiian people?
OHA should be subjected to no less or no more than other public entities are accessible or transparent.
Let’s not get confused here, OHA is a state agency accountable to all the people of Hawaii since everyone can vote for its trustees
