AOHCC adopted some 68 resolutions addressing military land leases, climate change, OHA elections, rebuilding Lahaina and more
Hundreds of the most civically engaged members of the lāhui gathered in November for the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (AOHCC) Convention in Waikīkī, Oʻahu.
“This is our 65th annual convention, so it’s a big anniversary year for us,” noted Dreanna Kalili, president of the AOHCC.
The annual convention provides Hawaiian civic club members an opportunity to shape the association’s advocacy platform. Each of the 59 Hawaiian civic clubs are given a seat in the AOHCC House of Delegates, where they deliberate on dozens of resolutions proposed by civic club members.
This year, the AOHCC adopted 68 resolutions, addressing everything from military land leases and election reforms at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to climate resiliency and the rebuilding of Lahaina.
“In our past, there have been resolutions that [have become] law – and members of our community benefit from this,” Kalili said. “This includes reducing the blood quantum for successorship for Hawaiian Home Lands leases. Civic clubs were instrumental in advocating for that law change.”
Hawaiian civic clubs have also lobbied for smaller, more symbolic changes, like the recent installation of a plaque at McKinley High School in Honolulu. The plaque addresses the misrepresentation of Hawaiian history on the statue of the school’s namesake.
The statue at the high school of William McKinley, who was president when Hawaiʻi was annexed by the United States, portrays him holding a “Treaty of Annexation” document; but a treaty of annexation was never ratified by the United States Senate as required by the U.S. Constitution. Instead, Hawaiʻi was annexed by a Joint Resolution of Congress.
“The resolution in 2009 called for the recasting of the statue. In 2020 we said ‘let’s start with a plaque’ – a plaque that explains this is not accurate. There was no treaty of annexation,” Kalili explained. “And it’s important, even in a very small way, to correct the history that is portrayed by the statue.”
One of the hot topics at this year’s AOHCC convention was military land leases, which are set to expire in five years.
“2029 is right around the corner, and we want to make sure we are equipped with the desires of our members so that we can engage in these conversations,” Kalili said. “This year, we have 10 resolutions on the military land leases. Some are recommending do not renew. Some are urging fair compensation. Some are urging if the military is not going to leave, they need to provide reasonable access for cultural practice.”
Delegates adopted three of these resolutions, including one urging the Board of Land and Natural Resources to not renew U.S. military leases.
The House of Delegates also adopted a resolution demanding that the Office of Elections and state legislature restructure voting for OHA island trustees to only allow votes from their island’s residents.
“This year, especially for the election of [the] OHA trustee for the islands of Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, the decision was made largely by people who don’t live on that island, who don’t know that community, but were conflicted because of ‘one man, one vote’ and apportionment,” Kalili said.
She added that this is an issue the lāhui – and the state – struggles with, in terms of what feels right for representation versus what democracy requires.
“I think there may be a pathway forward to change how these elections are conducted and certainly, if not with regard to the elections, how the trustees – once they are elected – conduct themselves with regard to their commitments to the islands from which they come,” Kalili commented.
The ongoing rebuilding of Lahaina in the wake of the August 2023 wildfires continued to be a source of proposed resolutions at this year’s convention.
“Lahaina is still very much a focal point for us. We had about 10 resolutions last year about Lahaina and making sure that decisions and plans on rebuilding Lahaina consider the community, and make sure the rebuilding is responsible and sustainable. And so we have some resolutions along those same lines again this year,” Kalili said.
“These include preserving significant cultural and historical sites and resources in the impacted area [and] one calling on the Secretary of the Interior to study and designate the lands in Lahaina a National Heritage Area.”
Both of those resolutions were adopted by the AOHCC’s House of Delegates.
Kalili said the association is now in the process of transmitting the final resolutions to intended recipients and will start scheduling meetings to follow through on several of these calls to action. But getting those recipients to act on the AOHCC’s resolutions has its challenges.
“I think the challenges that we encounter in some cases are no different than what any other lobbyist might encounter,” says Kalili, “For some of the issues that are important to us it’s having these decision-makers – sometimes it’s a state agency or county agency – just understanding why this change we’re asking for is important. And again, it’s about building relationships and education through our advocacy work.”
The Hawaiian civic club movement was founded by Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole in 1918 to carry on the tradition of civic responsibility that he felt was vital to the development of Hawai‘i and its people for a better way of life. The movement now boasts nearly 3,400 civic club members representing communities across the pae ʻāina and on the continent.
