Autonomy proposal was a mistake, Case says
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief
State Rep. Ed Case publicly apologized last night for outrage he caused among Hawaiians in 1998 when he introduced a bill to create an autonomous Hawaiian entity outside of state government.
Case's proposal triggered protests at the state Legislature that year by Hawaiians who thought his bill amounted to a non-Hawaiian imposing a model of sovereignty on Hawaiians.
The bill failed, and Case said at a forum on Native Hawaiian issues at the State Capitol yesterday that he erred when he failed to consult with the Hawaiian community. The forum last night featured candidates for governor, and was sponsored by the O'ahu Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.
Case said when he proposed his bill in 1998, he was worried about legal challenges to the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and proposed his "Native Hawaiian Autonomy Act" to protect the programs by combining their assets and severing their connection with state government.
"I want to say to you today, e kala mai, I'm sorry for what I did, and I hope you can see now that my intentions were only to help," Case said.
Democrats D.G. "Andy" Anderson, Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and Case all said that they support Native Hawaiian self-determination, and that they intend to use state resources to fend off court challenges to federal and state programs for Hawaiians.
Anderson said there will be a major debate over how to settle claims by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs against the state for past uses of ceded lands.
"I don't know whether the state's going to get $600 million or $500 million or $300 million or $1 billion to pay any Hawaiians because there's no money in your economy," Anderson said. "The state is basically bankrupt, there is no money to settle claims unless we give you all land."
Hirono vowed to support health programs that target Hawaiians, and to search for ways to help more Hawaiians gain access to higher education.
Case, Hirono and Anderson also said they support the bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka to establish a process for federal recognition of the Hawaiian people. Republican John Carroll, who was at the forum, opposes the Akaka bill, while Republican Linda Lingle favors the bill. Lingle was at another event in Kailua and did not attend.
