Introduction
The importance of Native Hawaiian serving organizations is conditional upon their contributions to the tasks of improving the living standards of this indigenous population. One of the most known agencies among them is the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and, over the course of its history since 1978, it significantly helped address the needs of these individuals (“History,” n.d.). In order to fully understand its participation in the matter, one needs to consider the evolution of this entity, its current mission, and its achievements as evidence of the feasibility of the implemented measures.
History
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) was established as an initiative aimed at compensating for the sufferings of the local population. Its first decision was to reallocate the funds received with the help of illegally taken land in the past to assist the affected persons under the Constitutional Convention of 1978 (“History,” n.d.). In the continuation of its activity, the OHA put efforts into establishing legal regulations for similar processes on the basis of national as well as international laws (McGregor & MacKenzie, 2014). The adopted measures for this objective included supporting the minimization of federal interventions in the lives of the indigenous population, particularly with regard to land, and clarifying the eligibility of people subject to their assistance (Pino, 2019). The performed activities were reported in the media while focusing on the most critical issues at different times (The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1991). As a result, the change strengthened the representation of the interests of Native Hawaiians in the country.
Mission
The mission of the OHA can be explained through the lens of the latest published strategic plan intended for the next fifteen years. According to this document, the organization’s further actions are intended to improve the situation with regard to land and water as the essential provision alongside the support of families and their culture (The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 2020). Its members state that the above components are critical for the well-being of local residents, and they can be addressed through “education, health, housing, and economics” (The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 2020, p. 1). Thus, the overall mission is to preserve cultural identity, promote a healthy lifestyle, protect entitlements, and build a strong, knowledgeable community.
Achievements
The main achievements of the OHA are connected to its involvement in the reception of the land important for the Native Hawaiian population. In 2006, the agency obtained the right to manage these resources separately from the governmental authorities (The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, n.d.a). Consequently, the entity developed loans for assisting indigenous people in pursuing their related goals through lending programs for improving housing, continuing education, and expanding businesses (The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, n.d.b). Also, the OHA created a variety of community grants, such as those for repatriation, community events, medical care during the pandemic, and others (The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, n.d.c). In other words, the essential needs of Native Hawaiians are effectively addressed by implementing these projects.
Conclusion
To summarize, the OHA, as one of the agencies serving for the improvements in the well-being of the Native Hawaiian population, is efficient in addressing the developed objectives. More importantly, it has a well-thought approach to the long-term progress of the existing initiatives, which means its applicability to evolve individual needs. Thus, it can be concluded that the OHA is an organization significant for establishing appropriate living standards in the state.
References
History. (n.d.). The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Web.
McGregor, D. P., & MacKenzie, M. K. (2014). History of Native Hawaiian governance in Hawai’i. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Web.
Pino, L. M. (2019). Colonizing history: Rice v. Cayetano and the fight for Native Hawaiian self-determination. The Yale Law Journal, 129, 2574-2605. Web.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. (1991). Ka wai ola o OHA. Web.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. (2020). Mana I Mauli Ola: OHA’s 15-year strategic plan for 2020-2035. Web.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. (n.d.). Fulfilling the state’s public land trust revenue obligations.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. (n.d.). OHA grantee spotlight. Web.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. (n.d.). OHA loans for your growth. Web.