OHA poll finds public favors federal recognition

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has taken both encouragement and instruction from a poll the office commissioned on Hawaiian issues, concluding that the public supports federal recognition but seems less enthralled with the push to organize a Hawaiian government body.

Ward Research was hired in July to conduct the telephone survey, in which 600 residents were contacted, about half of them Native Hawaiians.

Federal recognition won support from 86 percent of the Hawaiian survey bloc, and 78 percent of the non-Hawaiian participants.

However, the idea of creating a Hawaiian government drew 72 percent support from Hawaiian participants and 53 percent from non-Hawaiians.

OHA administrator Clyde Namu'o said he'd guess that the results signify a stronger educational campaign is needed on the Hawaiian nation-building process.

"I expected there to be greater support for that," he said. "Probably people don't understand what that means ... or they think it's the same thing as federal recognition.

"The survey results will help us to steer the education efforts," he said. "There is a need to educate people on the need to create a governing entity, and it helps to reinforce there is a groundwell of support for federal recognition."

OHA forwarded the results to Gov. Linda Lingle for background before her discussion of federal recognition with President Bush yesterday.

Also addressed to Bush, published in yesterday's Advertiser: the contents of a full-page ad that asserts that both Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians oppose the Akaka bill. It was placed by members of a group called Aloha for All, including Earl Arakaki and Sandra Puanani Burgess, two plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging the legality of OHA and other Hawaiians-only agencies and programs.

By contrast, the OHA poll indicates that about 85 percent of Hawaiian respondents and 75 percent of non-Hawaiians find the programs are legal, despite the so-called Arakaki case that is due for a hearing Nov. 17.

Other highlights from the poll:

• A majority of Hawaiians (71percent) are willing to enroll in a Hawaiian roster, a key component in an ongoing campaign to build a Hawaiian governing entity.

• The overwhelming majority of Hawaiians — 86 percent — disagreed with moves to admit non-Hawaiians to Kamehameha Schools. Among non-Hawaiians, 39 percent favored admitting non-Hawaiians, 57 percent were opposed and 4 percent were unsure.

• About 70 percent of Hawaiians and 51 percent of non-Hawaiians said they believe Hawaiians are entitled to special support because of loss of lands and culture.

• Virtually all the Hawaiians — 93 percent — believe that federally financed programs in health, education, employment, economic development and housing should continue. About 82 percent of non-Hawaiians felt the same way.

Researchers from Ward Research conducted the poll through two statewide telephone surveys, one among 303 Native Hawaiian residents July 16-25; and the other among 301 non-Hawaiian residents July 16-21. The margin of error is plus or minus 5.6 percent.

Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.