HONOLULU — With the deadline approaching to apply for one of the five seats on the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is encouraging qualified candidates to submit their applications to the Governor’s Office.
OHA is also encouraging Native Hawaiians and Native Hawaiian organizations to recommend nominees to Gov. Neil Abercrombie by the Aug. 5 deadline. The governor will choose the five commissioners from a pool of applicants and nominees.
“The establishment of a roll was viewed by the community as the critical first step in the nation-building process,” said OHA Chief Executive Officer Clyde W. Nämu‘o. “We encourage all Hawaiians to get involved in the state recognition process. Though our long-term goal is to achieve federal recognition for Native Hawaiians, state recognition will help to prepare us for that.”
The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission was established by law on July 6, 2011 to prepare and maintain a roll of qualified Native Hawaiians, who may choose to participate in the reorganization of a Native Hawaiian governing entity.
The commission was a key provision of the new law that recognized Native Hawaiians as the only indigenous, aboriginal, maoli people of Hawai‘i. For more information or to submit an application, visit the Governor’s Boards and Commissions website at:https://hawaii.gov/gov/about/boards-commissions.html
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, (OHA) under the direction of its nine trustees elected statewide, is charged with the betterment of the conditions of Native Hawaiians. For more information on OHA visit the link below.