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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Tuesday, September 10, 2002

Coalition to push for ceded lands money

 •  Audit raps Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
 •  Hawaiian issues debated

Advertiser Staff

A coalition of Native Hawaiian organizations has put state lawmakers on notice that they will be lobbying hard to restore the cash flow from ceded-lands revenue back into the coffers of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Legislators "have chosen to ignore their fiduciary and trust obligations" to OHA since July 1, 2001, when the state stopped paying money from ceded lands, said Haunani Apoliona, who chairs the OHA board of trustees.

Apoliona took the helm at yesterday's announcement of the "Hawaiian Rights and Entitlements Education Campaign," but she was joined by representatives of Bishop Museum, several Hawaiian civic organizations, the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp, the 'Ilio'ulaokalani Coalition, the State Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations, Alu Like Inc. and other groups.

Ceded lands are nearly 2 million acres of former crown and government lands transferred to the state under the 1959 Admission Act, to be held in trust for public benefits, including improving the lot of Native Hawaiians.