OHA considering branch office in D.C.
| • | Proposal on new tribes rejected |
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
Office of Hawaiian Affairs officials hope that later this fall they can open a bureau in Washington, D.C., a move to improve communications with lawmakers handling bills on Native Hawaiian issues.
Advertiser library photo
The push for a presence in the nation's capital stems in part from a concern over the stalled bill for federal recognition of Native Hawaiians, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.
U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka sponsored a bill for federal recognition of Native Hawaiians, but it stalled.
"OHA adopted what it called its post-Rice strategy, and part of that was a presence in Washington," said OHA administrator Clyde Namuo.
But the initiative began 18 months ago, after Big Island rancher Harold "Freddy" Rice successfully challenged OHA's Hawaiians-only elections in the U.S. Supreme Court, said OHA administrator Clyde Namuo.
"OHA adopted what it called its post-Rice strategy, and part of that was a presence in Washington," he said.
Namuo acknowledged that at least one other agency, the Council on Native Hawaiian Advancement, has indicated interest in opening a D.C. office. Council staff could not be reached for comment. Namuo said he feared that multiple offices might add to the confusion for members of Congress, lobbyists and others who need a clear point of contact on Native Hawaiian issues.
OHA is in negotiations with the National Congress of American Indians to rent a portion of its office at 1301 Connecticut Ave. for about $1,000 a month, he said. The council is agreeable but now is checking its own lease agreement to determine whether OHA could sublease the space or should simply reimburse the Indian congress for its use, Namuo said.
He also said he is checking how much money is available for hiring one person to staff the office, a position that would pay in the $50,000-$60,000 range, and for part-time clerical help. The full-time job description is still being written, but Namuo said the staffer would serve as a liaison, tracking the progress of legislation and communicating with OHA's home office.
"Clearly, for what we're willing to spend, they're not going to be able to be a lobbyist, but they'll have to communicate with lobbyists and Congress," he said.
"There are many, many many issues that arise, and having somebody closer makes it easier for members of Congress to contact you," he said. "And you build credibility once you form connections with them."
