Musician Willie K entertains those gathered in the State Senate chamber on Legislature opening day. - Photo: Liza Simon

Legislature opening highlights economic pressures felt by Native Hawaiian groups

By Liza Simon / Ka Wai Ola

Gusty winds blew through the state Capitol rotunda on opening day of the 2009 legislative session, but for the many who came to participate in the festivities, it did not feel like winds of change. Within Hawaiian groups present for the customary speeches, pomp and pūpū, many spoke of wanting to shore up legislative support for ongoing public programs vulnerable to cuts as lawmakers' first order of business is deciding how to deal with what is being called the state's worst-ever budget crisis.

Typical concerns of the were expressed by Sharon Pomroy, the Kaua'i representative of the 'Aha Kiole Advisory Committee, appointed two years ago by Gov. Linda Lingle to help the state use ancient Hawaiian practices to manage natural resources. "We want to extend (the committee) beyond the scheduled sunset time at the end this fiscal year, so we've come to tell legislators about how much more needs to be done to restore mauka stream flows that were interrupted when the sugarcane (irrigation) system was shut down," said Pomroy, who added that December's severe flooding in Kaua'i's Westside river valleys was a direct result of inaction in addressing a growing watershed crisis in the Islands.

An interest in preserving good relations drew large groups of union members – clad in easily identifiable uniforms, to lunchtime parties customarily held in the offices of lawmakers. Dressed in palaka shirts reflective of their heavily Native Hawaiian membership, representatives of the Hawai'i Firefighters Association said they were grateful that many public officials appreciate their profession's history of service that dates back to Kamehameha III, who founded the state's first all-volunteer fire department. "But in addition to saying thank you, we've come today to educate our lawmakers about some the new challenges we face … to the point where spouses of our younger members aren't eligible for health benefits under new rules," said the union's Todd Hugo. Noting that his profession includes a significant number of Kamehameha Schools graduates, Hugo added that he is concerned that fewer will be attracted to the profession if employee benefits continue to be slashed.

The throngs who earlier listened to speeches by Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and Speaker of the House Calvin Say browse legislative offices and partake of food. - Photo: T. Ilihia Gionson

Like many others in line at lawmakers' reception areas, Hugo and his colleagues had come to make the rounds with officials rather than to push for a single bill. This was in contrast to last year's opening day when a spirited demonstration by Hawaiian charter school students and several native organizations highlighted a measure – which did not eventually become law – to impose a moratorium on research on genetically engineered taro. A push for a similar bill is getting a grassroots push this year, with some taro farmer backers working with members of the Native Hawaiian Caucus to ramp up support for the cause.

Meanwhile, members of the Hawai'i Crop Improvement Association, which represents 35 corporations in favor of biotechnology research on locally grown crops, including taro, were making the rounds to "familiarize leaders" with the goals of the association – not to seek legislative action, said association president and Native Hawaiian Adolph Helm. "If the community consensus is that there should be a ban on GMO, (the association) can accept that, but our concern is that if we keep having issues, this could hinder our industry's ability to operate in Hawai'i, which is critical place for our continued investment," said Helm, who is also planning an informational presentation in February to the Native Hawaiian Caucus.

Many in the crowd speculated that the absence of a Hawaiian-focused demonstration this year could be attributed to the weekend rally in support of a moratorium bill to halt ceded lands sales. Some said the outpouring of civic sentiment by several thousands sent a message about what is arguably the highest Native Hawaiian legislative priority this session; the moratorium bill was debated the very next day at a Native Hawaiian Caucus meeting.

If there were an award for best attendance on opening day, it would go to groups on opposite ends of the age spectrum: Throngs of students from a Wai'anae schools enrichment program in TV production videotaped interviews with passersby to document the public participation that goes into lawmaking every year. Meanwhile, those who have spent decades living by those laws were out in full force. Some were in wheelchairs alongside their advocates, hoping to hammer home the point that aging citizens make up a large population vulnerable to public program cutbacks and have limited resources to help themselves if the state's safety net of public assistance shrinks significantly with the anticipated budget slashing of 2009.

Lani Akee, a Native Hawaiian and president of the Adult Foster Home Association of Hawai'i, – successful last year in helping pass four legislative measures, said one concern this year is that Hawaiians are under-represented in the elder-care profession, making it hard to service the growing numbers of kūpuna whose children have left the Islands to live on the U.S. continent. "The bad economy is responsible for this," she said. "We can't keep children here to care for their parents, but we plan to ask lawmakers to support a bill that will reduce certain requirements and make it easier for licensing (certified nursing assistants). So if we're lucky again this year, just this one bill could make a difference to a lot of people."