More than 150 Native Hawaiians from throughout the state have spent the first part of February on Oahu discussing a path to self-governance.
Hawaii Island representatives in attendance at the convention, or aha, said they could not speak for the body as a whole, but the process had thus far been inspiring for them.
“It’s not my kuleana to talk about what’s been going on, but it is my kuleana to say it’s been great,” said Lei Kihoi of Kailua-Kona, one of 24 delegates from the Big Island. “My whole perspective was, ‘How are you going to get 150 people together and build something from the ground up?’ and you know what — it’s possible.”
The aha was organized by nonprofit organization Na‘i Aupuni and concludes Feb. 26. It is being hosted at the Royal Hawaiian Golf Course in Kailua, Oahu.
A purpose statement for the four-week convention was adopted last Thursday, listing the advancement of “self-governance of kanaka maoli” as its primary goal.
According to the statement, this goal is to be accomplished by drafting a governing document “for ratification by our Native Hawaiian people that establishes a Native Hawaiian government,” affirming national identity and preserving rights, and “advancing the hopes of our people around land, language, culture, justice and economic and political identity.”
Early aha sessions were facilitated by the Mediation Center of the Pacific.
“At the end of the first week, a leadership developed from the body itself,” said delegate Amy Kalili of Hilo.
Attendees sat in on community presentations and explored current and past documents, including those from the international community as well as those from the Hawaiian Kingdom. In more recent sessions, according to the aha’s daily bulletins, committees were set up to begin structuring and writing.
“We’re getting into what people would argue is the meat of trying to pull together a governing document,” Kalili said.
“For me, personally, one of the highlights has just been how there is such a diverse representative of opinion and strategy, and hopes and aspirations for moving forward with the models of governance,” she said. “Honestly, I think the different mana‘o and the different strategies is making for a more robust conversation.”
Kihoi, who is Hawaii County’s Native Hawaiian Roll Commissioner and an attorney, also lauded the backgrounds of the participants.
“We have fishermen, we have cultural practitioners, we have professors, PhD students, other lawyers,” she said. “What’s beautiful about it is it’s all different people, and this is what the Hawaii community is. Not just the Hawaiian community, but Hawaii.”
“Even the younger generation is getting involved,” Kalili said. “There is so much knowledge in the room.”
A drafting committee was set to begin writing portions of the governing document today. The document, once completed, is expected to be presented to voters on a Native Hawaiian roll for ratification.
Na‘i Aupuni was created in December 2014 to organize the aha, which was initially intended to include just 40 delegates who would be elected by Native Hawaiians.
Last year, the election process was challenged by a group arguing that because Hawaii residents without Native Hawaiian ancestry could not participate in the election, they were being denied constitutional rights.
In October, a U.S. district court ruled the election was a private one and could proceed. The case currently is before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
In December, the Supreme Court granted an injunction to the plaintiff group, comprised of Native Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians, and blocked election votes from being counted.
Na‘i Aupuni then opened up the aha to all 200 candidates, and 152 accepted the invitation.
The process continues to draw criticism from groups that say Na‘i Aupuni does not represent all Hawaiian people.
Olelo Community Media, an Oahu-based community access television provider, is streaming live coverage of the aha at www.youtube.com/olelocm. Coverage also is available at www.olelo.org/olelonet.
Daily bulletins for the proceedings are posted at www.aha2016.com.
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
