The Hawaiʻi State Senate held a briefing last week to better understand programs and institutions established to support Native Hawaiians and help ensure their continuation.
Experts in Native Hawaiian history, law and public policy discussed the historical circumstances that led to the creation of these programs, their role in addressing longstanding inequities and their continued importance to Native Hawaiian families and communities, according to a news release.
The briefing on Oct. 13 was hosted by the Senate committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, in conjunction with the Native Hawaiian Affairs Caucus. It was held at the State Capitol and livestreamed on the Senate’s YouTube channel.
“These programs and institutions were established in response to generations of historical injustices and the unique circumstances facing Native Hawaiians,” State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, chair of the Native Hawaiian Affairs Caucus, said in a news release. “Understanding their history and purpose is essential to recognizing their value and ensuring they continue serving future generations.”
The briefing included an overview by Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chair Kaialiʻi Kahele, followed by presentations examining the historical and legal foundations of Native Hawaiian-focused educational, health and housing programs.
Derek H. Kauanoe, Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law, provided historical context on Native Hawaiian-focused programs including Kamehameha Schools and the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program and the factors that shaped their development.
Tyler Iokepa Gomes, Chief Administrator of the Kilohana Collective at the Hawaiian Council, discussed the history of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and the importance of Hawaiian Home Lands in providing Native Hawaiian families with opportunities to have a home and maintain their connections to ancestral lands.
“As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to understand the historical circumstances that led to their establishment and recognize the lasting significance of these institutions,” said State Sen. Karl Rhoads, chair of the Judiciary Committee.
