by Trustee Peter Apo

There is a seafaring term to describe a churning storm condition at sea when winds, currents, and waves all seem to be coming from different directions. The term for this condition is a confused sea. I think we have a confused sea condition with the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission.

In my humble attempt to navigate the confusion I begin by directly quoting the law. The purpose of this chapter is to provide for and to implement the recognition of the Native Hawaiian people by means and methods that will facilitate their self-governance, including the establishment of, or the amendment to, programs, entities, and other matters pursuant to law that relate, or affect ownership, possession, or use of lands by the Native Hawaiian people, and by further promoting their culture, heritage, entitlements, health, education, and welfare. … The publication of the initial and updated rolls shall serve as the basis for the eligibility of qualified Native Hawaiians whose names are listed on the rolls to participate in the organization of the Native Hawaiian governing entity. So, before we leave the main road and travel the back roads let us understand that the law seems clear and is no more, or less, than stated above.

As a Trustee out in the community, I have been asked why there is a Roll Commission and how it relates to Kau Inoa. Here’s what I know. First, Kau Inoa was a community initiative involving many organizations, including the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and OHA. On the other hand, the Roll Commission was established by the Hawai‘i State Legislature. Even though they are separate programs, the people who registered for Kau Inoa will be contacted and asked if they wish to have their names transferred to the new Roll Commission registry. Second, the Roll Commission has its own governance authority of 5 commissioners led by former Governor John Waihee. OHA was deliberately positioned at a distance by the Legislature so as to avoid contaminating Roll Commission operations as simply being an extension of OHA. The Roll Commission should not be saddled with OHA’s political baggage. Third, the Roll Commission is not an initiative designed to support the Akaka Bill. The political anticipation is that the Akaka Bill will not survive Congressional Republican opposition. The Roll Commission signals a new political strategy toward self-determination. The Roll Commission is a virtual voter registration process. It anticipates a Native Hawaiian Governing Entity by identifying the citizenry to be governed. Fourth, in spite of some of the trumpeting describing the Roll Commission as steps to forming a Hawaiian nation, pursuit of federal recognition, nation within a state, and other pre-registration notions, such outcomes are far from being a given. So that, once the blood quantum required citizenry is defined, it is up to them, through some hopefully democratic process, to re-visit the question “if there be a nation, who shall be its citizens” that might include non-Hawaiians who have genealogical histories of being citizens of the Hawaiian Kingdom at the time of the overthrow in 1893 – explosive stuff. Further, the citizenry should also give serious deliberation and thoroughly vet the pros and cons of federal recognition and whether or not it truly provides self-determination.

In the end, I would encourage Hawaiians of all persuasions to sign up. We need your voice. From my aging perch I would also reach deep into our brilliant youth to engage and challenge us old dogs with a future that you and your children will live to see long after we are gone. Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono.