'Aina Mauna Legacy Project

This morning, the House Committee on Hawaiian Affairs held an informational briefing on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) "'Aina Mauna Legacy Program." The mission of the program is to protect over 56,000 acres of native Hawaiian forest that is ecologically, culturally, and economically self-sustaining for the DHHL beneficiaries and the community. The project is considered a legacy project because it will take several generations to come to fruition.

Picture courtesy of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

The initial phase of the program has three main goals: to restore and protect native forests, eradicate gorse (an invasive species of prickly brush), and eradicate ungulates, including cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs. Once these goals are realized, homestead and commercial development will begin on parts of the 'Aina Mauna lands.

The 'Aina Mauna Legacy Program is part of the DHHL's Ho'omalu Energy Program which aims to:

Malama 'aina: Respect and protect our native home lands

Ko'o: Facilitate the use of diverse renewable energy resources

Kukulu pono: Design and build homes and communities that are energy efficient, self-sufficient, and sustainable

Kokua no i na kahu: Provide energy efficiency, self-sufficiency, and sustainability opportunities to existing homesteaders and their communities

Ho'ona'auao: Prepare and equip beneficiaries to promote a green, energy efficient lifestyle in and around communities

The 'Aina Mauna Legacy Program is supported by Kamehameha Schools, Queen Lili'uokalani Trust, Queen Emma Land Company, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Kahea Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, Kuakini Hawaiian Civic Club of Kona, Hawai'i Island Economic Development Board, Hawai'i Island Chamber of Commerce, Hawai'i Forest Industry Association, The Nature Conservancy, Hawai'i Audubon Society, Concervation Council for Hawai'i The Trust for Public Lands, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, University of Hawai'i, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Army.

For more information on the project, click here.

5th Annual Hawaiian Caucus Day

 Today was the 5th Annual Hawaiian Caucus Day at the Hawaii State Capitol. It included vendor exhibits on the second and third floor, pa'i'ai-making demonstrations in in the Rotunda, and a certificate floor presentations to honor four individuals who have selflessly served their community and contributed to the overall well-being of the State. 


The House presented certificates of recognition to:

Jerry Konanui, a Native Hawaiian Mahi'ai from Pahoa who is a renowned and respected Hawaiian Kupuna with extensive knowledge on the cultivation sand propagation of kalo, awa, ko and 'uala. He is credited with finding several varieties of Hawaiian kalo which were previously thought to be extinct and in recent years has been involved with the Hawaiian and taro farming communities’ efforts to restore and perpetuate Hawaii’s endemic food and medicinal plants and protect them from genetic modification;

Shad Kane has been an instrumental leader in the Hawaiian community as well as the Kapolei and Makakilo areas through his involvement with numerous organizations such as the Kapolei Hawaiian Civic Club, the Royal Order of Kamehameha Ekahi, the O’ahu Island Burial Council, the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board, and the West Qahu Employment Corporation. He has worked tirelessly to give the new “Second City” of Kapolei a strong Hawaiian cultural presence and has additionally worked for the preservation of our island’s cultural, historical and environmental heritage. More affectionately known as Uncle Shad Kane, he has also been devoted to the promotion of job creation, recreational opportunities and civic involvement in the West O’ahu area.

Leina'ala Kalama Heine, a powerful influential figure in hula who is from Waimanalo has not only partaken in the annual presentation of the Merrie Monarch Festival as a competitor and judge, but she has also dedicated her life to the preservation of Hawaiian culture through the perpetuation of hula and preparing women to become future kumu hula and practitioners who aspire to carry on the traditions of mele oh
and mele hula.
 
Kupuna Dorothy Kanani Awai, of Haleiwa, is recognized for her endless sharing and giving of her aloha and musical talents, giving her time, love, and support to numerous community events for decades. As a Hawaiian studies teacher and an ukulele instructor, Kupuna Awai has blessed our keiki with her mana’o, planted seeds of aloha, and taught the fundamentals of traditional Hawaiian music thereby perpetuating Hawaiian culture for our future generations. Truly, Kupuna Awai embraces and embodies the spirit of aloha.

Poi Pounders

I tasted my first piece of taro when I was 6 months old. I guess you could say it was a hands-on lesson in how birds feed their chicks. My mother would break a morsel of baked taro off and then chew on it until it was mushy enough for my toothless mouth to swallow. It wasn't poi, but it was always molar-pounded with love.

My first taste of salivated-free, traditional Hawaiian poi didn't come until my family moved to Hawaii from American Samoa. I remember having poi at 5 years old for the first time at a luau during a trip to Hawaii for my dad's job interview. At first I refused to eat the poi because it looked like "dirt pudding". I only succumbed to trying it out after my dad said that it was exactly what I eat when mom chews up the taro and puts it in my mouth. (Yes! Even at five my mom would still sometimes do it. Old habits break hard.)

Why am I telling you this blatant personal and maybe embarrassing story? Because that was the first thing to pop in my head while I strolled through a maze of mats on the Rotunda ground occupied by taro lovers, taro virgins, skilled poi pounders, and excited novices eager to learn, teach and just have fun with ku'i kalo, traditional taro pounding and poi making. I bet many of the other attendees floated memories of their first taste of poi or created new ones there.

The Hawaiian Caucus, with the support of KAHEA and Na Kahu o Haloa, hosted the first Taro Festival in celebration of the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus Day. The energy was high with locals and visitors, young and old, carefully lifting the pohaku ku'i 'ai (heavy stone pounder) to the sturdy papa ku'i 'ai (poi board), trying to set a state record for the most people gathered to pound poi.

After running into one of my best friends, Monica Waiau, 26, a volunteer with KAHEA, we sat down with a young woman named Kat Newman, a student at Brigham Young University. She never tasted poi and was thrilled at the idea of making her own poi with organic Hawaiian taro to take home and enjoy. Monica sat adjacent to her and began demonstrating the proper way to pound taro into poi.

Take the poi pounder with one hand. The other hand will be used to gather water. Good. Now smash your first piece of taro. It's better if you go in from an angle. Nice. Now keep adding water to make it smoother. Then, continue to smash on the board while adding the other pieces of poi. Like that. Ok. You'll also want to wipe of the taro from the bottom of the poi pounder and mix it with the ones on the board.

While watching Monica guide Kat through the traditional process of making poi, and answer questions on the Hawaiian culture, I was reminded of the old ways of teaching and spreading knowledge and appreciation. Not through books. Not through legislation. And definitely not through the Internet. But through the experience of sitting next to someone willing and eager to share their knowledge and culture. Someone like Monica.

"I had a dream last night about being here at the Capitol for this event. We were all gathered to pound poi, but instead we started pounding the walls of the building, chipping away at the concrete with each swipe. As the building began to fall away, kalo leaves emerged from the holes," said Monica Waiau on the excitement she felt to bring taro pounding to the Hawaii State Capitol. "It's not about bringing down the building," she added. "It's about revitalizing our traditions; unearthing the true value of taro."

This festival was not just about providing a gathering place for taro lovers and poi pounders , it was also a place to plant the seed of awareness about the importance of taro and the Hawaiian culture as a whole. I hope that this festival was the fertilization needed to stimulate the new crop growth of the education and preservation of the Hawaiian culture.

Carroll on KITV4 panel discussion on ceded lands

Rep. Mele Carroll, chairwoman of the Hawaiian Affairs Committee, will be a panelist in a live discussion on ceded lands airing on KITV4 Friday, February 20, 2009 at 7 p.m. Other guests include former Gov. John Waihee, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, and Chair of OHA Board of Trustees Haunani Apoliona with moderator Skylark Rossetti. The show will also be broadcast online at www.kitv.com.

The Legislative Hawaiian Caucus, which Rep. Carroll is the chairwoman of, supported a full moratorium on ceded lands and introduced legislation that prohibits the state from selling and transferring ceded lands in the public trust. Carroll and the caucus support the Hawaii State Supreme Court decision which prevents the State from selling ceded lands until native Hawaiian claims to the land are settled. The United States Supreme Court is reviewing an appeal by Gov. Linda Lingle requesting that the decision be overturned.

HB1667 passed out of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs earlier this month and must be heard and passed by Water, Land & Ocean Resources and Judiciary Committee before heading to Finance.

House Committee unanimously passes “ceded lands” bills

On the same day that Congress reintroduced the Akaka Bill, the House Hawaiian Affairs Committee unanimously passed three separate bills that would place a moratorium on the sale of “ceded lands.”

House Bill 1667, put forward by the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus, proposes to prohibit the Board of Land and Natural Resources from selling, exchanging, or otherwise alienating “ceded lands” in the public land trust.

“I believe there is a fiduciary responsibility of the State to Native Hawaiians,” said Rep. Mele Carroll, who serves as chair of the Hawaiian Affairs Committee and the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus.

House Bill 1667 received an overwhelming amount of support including testimony from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools, Malama Kaua‘i, Alan Murakami of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, Aha Kiole Advisory Committee, Japanese American Citizens League, Kupa‘aina Coalition, Chairman Kali Watson of Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly, Life of the Land, Royal Order of Kamehameha I, and many community and individual supporters.

Attorney General Mark Bennett, who submitted testimony in opposition to all House bills addressing “ceded lands,” including House Bill 1667, said he feels the purpose of this bill is to deflect a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.” On February 25, the highest court in the United States is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the appeal put forth by Gov. Linda Lingle to reverse the Hawai‘i State Supreme Court’s ruling that the state cannot sell or transfer “ceded lands.”

Committee members had a lengthy discussion with A.G. Mark Bennett, Professor Vandyke and Clyde Namu‘o, Administrator of OHA, airing out the arguments of a moratorium on the sale and transfer of “ceded lands.”

In support of a moratorium on “ceded lands,” University of Hawai‘i constitutional law professor Jon Van Dyke told the Committee that the Legislature indicated the State’s commitment to resolving unsettled land disputes with the Native Hawaiian people when it created OHA in the 1978 Constitutional Convention.

“The bills that you are now considering are what the Supreme Court of Hawai‘i has already said,” Van Dyke said. “All we’re doing is asking this body to reaffirm what is already in the law.”


A.G. Bennett mentioned that if the State of Hawai‘i fails in their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, he anticipates that the state will be dealing lawsuits citing Amendment 14 and the Equal Protection Act.

Any 14th Amendment lawsuit that would arise from a moratorium, as indicated by the Attorney General, was “bewildering,” Van Dyke said.

OHA Administrator Clyde Namuo said, “I find it troubling that we can just discuss this purely at an academic and legal level.” He explained that disregarding the cultural and moral intents of protecting lands part of reconciliation between the State and Native Hawaiians was frustrating.

“When you talk about putting a moratorium on the sale of these ‘ceded lands,’ it doesn’t stop the economic and the legal process from moving forward,” said Kali Watson, former Director of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. “View it as an interim measure to facilitate a just measure in the near future.”

Mahealani Cypher, President of the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, said: “We find it almost unbelievable that anyone with any self respect would stand up here and say we shouldn’t pass this law. We urge you to put your minds, hearts, and voices into advocating for justice for the Hawaiian people.” She asks the committee to support this legislation to protect the trust.

At the hearing, Rep. Della Au Bellati acknowledged Rep. Mele Carroll’s leadership in creating a transparent process with the community and in uniting lawmakers on the issue of “ceded lands.”

“The outcome was a victory today,” explains Chair, Rep. Mele Carroll.

The House Hawaiian Affairs Committee voted unanimously with all members present to support the legislation on a moratorium of the sale and transfer of ceded lands that were heard today in the hearing.

Another important measure that passed today included House Bill 1660, which recognizes Hawaiians as the indigenous people of Hawai‘i.

The House Hawaiian Affairs Committee consists of Rep. Mele Carroll (Chair), Rep. Maile Shimabukuro (Vice Chair), Rep. Della Au Bellati, Rep. Joe Bertram III, Rep. Tom Brower, Rep. John Mizuno, Rep. Scott Nishimoto, Rep. Ryan Yamane, and Rep. Gene Ward.

Native Hawaiian Caucus Package

Rep. Mele Carroll chairs the Native Hawaiian Caucus

The Native Hawaiian Caucus met on Wednesday to announce their support of a moratorium of the state sale of ceded lands. Rep. Mele Carroll, chair of the Hawaiian Caucus, introduced HB 1667 which proposes to prohibit the Board of Land and Natural Resources from selling, exchanging, or otherwise alienating ceded lands in the public land trust. The Senate companion bill is SB 1085 introduced by Senator Clayton Hee.

In addition, the Hawaiiain Caucus unveiled their 2009 legislative package:

HB1658 RELATING TO EDUCATION. Traditional Hawaiian Navigation; Voyaging Canoes; Pilot Program ($) Establishes and funds a traditional Hawaiian navigation pilot program in the public schools.

HB1659 RELATING TO STATE BUILDING CODE. State Building Code; Bamboo Directs the state building code council to establish standards and criteria allowing the use of bamboo as an accepted construction material.

HB1660 RELATING TO HAWAIIANS. Hawaiians; Indigenous Recognizes Hawaiians as the indigenous people of Hawaii.

HB1661 RELATING TO KULEANA LANDS. Kuleana Lands; 10-year Holding Period Requires the office of Hawaiian affairs to hold in trust any lands where the owner of an inheritable interest in kuleana lands dies intestate and there is no taker under the Hawaii uniform probate code, for 10 years before passing to the office of Hawaiian affairs.

HB1662 RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION. Burial Cave; Historic Preservation Clarifies that a burial site may include a cave or lava tube or a portion of a cave or lava tube. Defines burial cave.

HB1663 RELATING TO TARO SECURITY. Genetically Modified Taro; Prohibition Prohibits the development, testing, propagation, release, importation, planting, or growing of genetically modified taro in the State of Hawaii.

HB1664 RELATING TO CORRECTIONS. Inmate Rehabilitation; Historical Site Restoration ($) Establishes a program within the Department of Public Safety that assigns select, non-violent inmates on a work detail that restores historical sites selected by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

HB1665 RELATING TO HAWAIIAN FISHPONDS. Government-owned Hawaiian fishponds; prohibition on sale. Prohibits the sale of public lands on which government-owned Hawaiian fishponds are located.

HB1666 RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE. Hawaiian Language; Public Documents; Letterhead; Symbols; Emblems Requires that all letterheads, documents, symbols, and emblems of the State and other political subdivisions include both state languages.

HB1667 RELATING TO CEDED LANDS. BLNR; Ceded Lands; Public Land Trust; Prohibition on Disposition Prohibits the board of land and natural resources from selling, exchanging, or otherwise alienating ceded lands in the public land trust.

Legislative Hawaiian Caucus speaks with Native Hawaiian health community

By: Travis Quezon
Office of Rep. Mele Carroll

Rep. Mele Carroll and the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus met with leaders and practitioners in the Native Hawaiian health community at a meeting on Jan. 15.
Caucus members heard concerns from members of Hui No Ke Ola Pono, a non-profit that provides community-based health care services on Maui; Papa Ola Lokahi, a clearinghouse for data and timely information associated with the health status of Native Hawaiians; Mental Health Alliance; and Community Health Centers in Rural Areas.

“It’s a rare occasion, quite frankly, that we have been invited to speak in front of legislators,” said David Peters of the Kaua‘i Community Health Center. “We at Papa Ola Lokahi look at new initiatives to integrate into Native Hawaiian health care systems. … Initially, you could count the number of researchers on one hand. Now there are nearly 150 researchers [working with us].”

Rep. Karen Awana asked if Papa Ola Lokahi and Hui No Ke Ola Pono looks into different kinds of alternative medicines.


“The whole idea of traditional healthcare practices are organic to the Native Hawaiian Healthcare Act,” Papa Ola Lokahi’s Hardy Spoehr replied. The Native Hawaiian Healthcare Act was created by Congress to develop outreach programs addressing the unique health needs of Native Hawaiians, who were found to have suffered greatly from the early onset of chronic disease and other adverse health conditions.

Tom Foye, Planning and Development Director of Papa Ola Lokahi, described how many non-profit healthcare organizations are at risk during economic times because they are dependent solely on federal funding.

“We’re very much at risk because we have one funding source in Washington: Sen. Daniel Inouye,” Foye said. He explained to the caucus that they should look at funding community healthcare organizations through diversification and solid strategic planning.

“We hope that we can continue this conversation in all forums,” Rep. Mele Carroll said to the healthcare practitioners.

Alex Santiago spoke to the caucus on behalf of the Mental Health Alliance. As part of ongoing budget cuts throughout state departments, the Adult Mental Health Services division announced in November that it will be cutting over $25 million from its FY2009 budget by cutting services.

“We are not going to stand by and watch as we try to balance the budget on the backs of the poor,” Santiago said. “What we are going to try to do is bring the word to you [the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus].”

Rep. Pono Chong said that lawmakers need to hear from the community where cuts would be better made. “The state, unlike the federal government, cannot borrow money to operate,” he said.

Santiago replied, “We’ve been doing a lot with less. We’re willing to do more with less. We’re willing to collaborate. However, we’re at the point where critical services for the most needy are being cut.”

Rep. Mele Carroll asked Santiago if finding new ways to generate money has been part of the discussion within the mental health community.

Santiago said that all options are being discussed. “Whatever it is we do to get revenue, we have to make sure the money is going to the things we care about,” he said. “There’s a willingness of everyone to come to the table to find a solution.”

Attorney General, Hawaii civil attorneys and DHHL to speak with Legislative Hawaiian Caucus about ‘ceded lands’

By: Travis Quezon
Office of Rep. Mele Carroll

The Legislative Hawaiian Caucus will hear concerns from Attorney General Mark Bennett and other civil attorneys about Hawaii’s “ceded lands” on Thursday, January 22.

Legislative Hawaiian Caucus meeting
Thursday, January 22, 2009
From 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at State Capitol room 423

Attorney Sherry Broder is scheduled to update the caucus on the legal challenges to preserve lands for Native Hawaiians. Broder has represented the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in obtaining entitlement to “ceded lands” revenues and was the chief attorney for OHA from 1986 to 2002. Broder also had been elected the first woman president of the Hawaii State Bar Association.

Rep. Mele Carroll, chair of the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus, has been working closely with various Native Hawaiian organizations to create a dialogue with Hawaii lawmakers.

Last Saturday, Rep. Mele Carroll and the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus were invited to take part in the Ku I Ka Pono March to protect Hawaiian lands. Community activists are seeking the support of the caucus to oppose the Lingle Administration’s attempt to move forward with selling what is now known as “ceded lands.” Activists are also seeking the caucus’ help in preparing legislation that will set a moratorium against selling those lands.

Micah Kane, Chair of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, is also scheduled to speak.

At a House Finance Committee last week, on Jan. 14, Kane said that the last fiscal year was the largest construction year in terms of dollars in the history of the Hawaiian Home Lands trust. Kane also credited the progress to the development of a retail facility in Kapolei with DeBartolo, LLC, which provided 4,500 jobs.

“We see that as the job center for our families to live and work in that community,” Kane said. “Also, the revenue goes toward Native Hawaiians.”

At the Finance Committee meeting, Rep. Mele Carroll asked if DHHL has dealt with any water issues regarding water infrastructure.

Kane replied that while there is an integrated system on Maui, the county is currently in a situation where there is a master plan, but has no money to execute the operation.

“There is utility availability in many of these counties, but they are obligated to various developers,” Kane said.

He would like to see the government given more authority to hold infrastructure to allow projects to move ahead more quickly.

“Thank you for all you have done [at DHHL],” Rep. Mele Carroll said. “I know my district is very challenging and you folks have been very diligent in handling the issues.”

Bishop Museum shares treasures, needs with Legislative Hawaiian Caucus

By Travis Quezon

Office of Rep. Mele Carroll

Lawmakers immersed themselves in Hawaiian history at the year’s first Legislative Hawaiian Caucus Meeting, held at Bishop Museum on Monday, January 12. Caucus chair Mele Carroll said she would like to continue to use the regularly-scheduled meetings to hear from and interact with people in the community who are improving life for Native Hawaiians.

“The whole reason for this is sharing,” Rep. Mele Carroll said. “We want to bring Native Hawaiians to the Capitol. We want them to engage with our legislators and tell us what they want.”

Photo: Native Hawaiian artist Marquez Marzan (left) takes a break from putting the finishing touches on Hawaiian Hall’s grass hale with Rep. Mele Carroll and Bishop Museum Public Affairs Director Donalyn Dela Cruz.

The Legislative Hawaiian Caucus was reactivated in 2007 by Rep. Mele Carroll and other lawmakers. In 2008, the caucus opened up its membership to non-Native Hawaiian lawmakers---bringing membership up to 21 members, including five senators: Sen. J. Kalani English, Sen. Clayton Hee, Sen. Brickwood Galuteria, Sen. Norman Sakamoto, and Sen. Suzanne Chun-Oakland.

House members include Rep. Mele Carroll, Rep. Karen Awana, Rep. Pono Chong, Rep. Faye Hanohano, Rep. Hermina Morita, Rep. Roland Sagum III, Rep. James Kunane Tokioka, Rep. Chris Lee, Rep. Maile Shimabukuro, Rep. Lyla B. Berg, Rep. Angus McKelvey, Rep. Joe Bertram, Rep. Joey Manahan, Rep. Cindy Evans, Rep. Tom Brower, and Rep. Lynn Finnegan.

Bishop Museum seeks caucus support

After a tour of Native Hawaiian artifacts, many of which are scheduled to be featured in the $21 million restoration of the museum’s Hawaiian Hall, the caucus heard from Bishop Museum and Kamehameha Schools spokespersons.

Bishop Museum president Tim Johns explained to lawmakers that the FY 2010 budget is receiving the lowest state subsidy it has had in 10 years at approximately $254,000.
Johns said that he would like the support of the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus to restore state subsidy, currently at 2 percent of the museum’s overall budget under Gov. Lingle’s plan, to 5 percent. Last year Bishop Museum’s state subsidy was $715,592.

In order to meet budget cuts, the museum had to lay off 16 employees and is currently looking at implementing new energy conservation efforts.

The Hawaiian Hall complex, built in 1903, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Renovations to the building, which began in 2006, are designed to improve visitor access, climate control, and object conservation.
The renovated complex is planned to present different voices on each floor, spanning time, gods, class, gender, age, and politics. Scientific and western perspectives will also be woven into the interpretation as context and references.

Yesterday, Rep. Mele Carroll and other caucus members were able to see Native Hawaiian artist Marques Marzan apply the finishing touches to the life-sized grass hale, which will be featured on the first floor of Hawaiian Hall.

Kamehameha Schools looks to contribute to affordable housing

There are ways of doing affordable housing that’s beneficial to more people than those in just one area, Kamehameha Schools government spokesperson Kekoa Paulsen told the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus.

“For the amount of money for [building affordable housing in] just Kaka‘ako, you could build three times as much elsewhere,” Paulsen said. Kamehameha Schools would like for the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus to support legislation that would make it easier to build affordable housing in areas such as Kona or Puna rather than high value areas, like Kaka‘ako.
Kamehameha Schools’ role in affordable housing would be in working toward a statewide solution, Paulsen explained.

“Our primary emphasis is going to be on education, on charter schools,” Paulsen said. “It’s about building a capacity in the community. It’s not just Kamehameha Schools.”
Rep. Mele Carroll asked, “Because both Kamehameha Schools and public schools have to pass national standards, is it possible for Kamehameha Schools to assist public schools, especially with culturally based programs?”

Paulsen replied that Kamehameha Schools has been offering learning opportunities for public educators. For example, Kamehameha Schools’ Public Education Support Division provides resources and support to Hawai‘i’s public education system, including start-up conversion Hawaiian-focused charter schools, Native Hawaiian Immersion schools, and the broader Department of Education.

Hawaiian Caucus to discuss key legislation

Members of the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus will meet tomorrow to set priorities for the 2009 Legislative Session. The meeting is from 4 - 5:30 p.m. in conference room 423 at the Hawaii State Capitol on Thursday, January 15, 2009. Native Hawaiian health issues and creating a moratorium on selling ceded lands are two of the big ticket items up for discussion.

Rep. Mele Carroll (D13 - Paia, Haiku, Keanae, Hana, Moloka‘i, Kalaupapa, Lana'i, and Kaho‘olawe), chair of the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus, reactivated the caucus in 2007. The caucus has 21 members from the Senate and House, including non-Native Hawaiians, who were allowed membership in 2008.

Senate members: Sen. J. Kalani English, Sen. Clayton Hee, Sen. Brickwood Galuteria, Sen. Norman Sakamoto, and Sen. Suzanne Chun-Oakland.

House members:Rep. Mele Carroll, Rep. Karen Awana, Rep. Pono Chong, Rep. Faye Hanohano, Rep. Hermina Morita, Rep. Roland Sagum III, Rep. James Kunane Tokioka, Rep. Chris Lee, Rep. Maile Shimabukuro, Rep. Lyla B. Berg, Rep. Angus McKelvey, Rep. Joe Bertram, Rep. Joey Manahan, Rep. Cindy Evans, Rep. Tom Brower, and Rep. Lynn Finnegan.