Mahalo, my name is Noe Kalipi. Senator Akaka regrets that he is unable to join you this year in the Kamehameha Day Lei Draping ceremony as he is a proud participant of this ceremony every year. Unfortunately scheduling conflicts have prevented his participation in today's events. He has asked me to read the following statement on his behalf.
Aloha kakou. This afternoon we gather here in Statuary Hall to honor, King Kamehameha, a visionary and historic figure whose life and achievements continue to inspire and influence us today, almost 200 years since his death.
I welcome the trustees and staff members from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Kamehameha Schools and the members of the Council of Mainland Civic Clubs. I also welcome the members of the Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus who are accompanied by their friends and families. We are honored by your participation in today's celebration, "Onipaa: A time of diligence and steadfastness, of faith and endurance."
For 35 years, the people of Hawaii have gathered here, thousands of miles away from our beloved home, to honor Kamehameha, the unifier of Hawaii. Mahalo nui loa to the Hawaii State Society for perpetuating this wonderful tradition in the Capitol. Mahalo nui loa to the Aloha Boys and Halau O 'Aulani for sharing your talents and bringing the joyful gifts of music and dance to this hallowed hall.
Kamehameha is rightly acclaimed an extraordinary leader in times of war and peace. Kamehameha honored Hawaiian traditions, brought peace and prosperity to the islands, fostered the meaning and richness of our culture, and preserved the kingdom's independence. At the same time, Kamehameha was inquisitive of other cultures, particularly when it came to studying, adjusting and, in some instances, improving Western technology. Kamehameha had a vision for the people of Hawaii and he was not afraid to make that vision a reality.
The theme chosen for this year's celebration, "Onipaa: A time of diligence and steadfastness, of faith and endurance" is especially fitting as we all work to preserve the uniqueness of Hawaii. Whenever I speak to groups on the mainland, I talk about what makes Hawaii so special - the spirit of aloha. This is an attitude, an attitude which prevails in Hawaii - one of generosity, of sharing, of genuine love of nature and of others. The aloha spirit is grounded in the culture and tradition of Hawaii's indigenous peoples, the Native Hawaiians.
As we sit in Statuary Hall today, we share our culture, traditions, and spirit of aloha with our fellow Americans. All of us from Hawaii feel fortunate to come from a place with so much mana and so much aloha. I firmly believe we have a mission in this world to share the spirit of aloha. As ambassadors of the Aloha spirit, we can bring peace and harmony to this world. However, before we can share our spirit, we must empower our people to perpetuate our culture and tradition. As a Native Hawaiian, I firmly believe that it is important to understand the ways of our ancestors. We must be steeped in our culture and tradition but it is also important to be multi-cultural. To share aloha, we must be able to appreciate all cultures and traditions, and as indigenous peoples, we must be able to function effectively between indigenous and non-indigenous settings.
As you all know, Hawaii's Congressional delegation has been working on legislation to extend the federal policy of self-governance and self-determination to Native Hawaiians. The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005 provides an opportunity for the Native Hawaiian community to reorganize its Native Hawaiian governing entity for the purposes of a federally recognized government-to-government relationship.
The bill is about process. Native Hawaiians will truly determine the outcome of the reorganization of the entity and will determine if, in fact, there will be an entity. Once the entity is reorganized and recognized, then, there is a process of negotiations to resolve longstanding issues such as the transfer of lands, natural resources and assets, and the jurisdiction over those lands, natural resources and assets. This is the structured process that has been missing all of these years as we've struggled to deal with the consequences of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii on many levels. The Native Hawaiian governing entity, state and federal governments will be the parties to these negotiations. The process I envision represents all of the interested parties in Hawaii and is a way for us to finally resolve these issues.
There are many steps toward reconciliation. We are only at the beginning. Hawaii is unique because we all share an appreciation for the culture, traditions, and language of the Native Hawaiian people. After almost losing our language and heritage, we have made great strides in ensuring its protection.
We have much to offer America and the world. Nearly three centuries after his death, Kamehameha's Hawaii continues today to inspire and educate scholars and laymen in diverse areas like conservation, sustainable aquaculture, military strategy, and many other fields.
Native Hawaiians are beneficiaries of a profoundly rich, sophisticated, and scientifically advanced living culture and heritage. As a Native Hawaiian, I know we are desirous of uniting and nurturing a better quality of life with the support of Mamalahoe Kanawai, the U.S. Constitution, and the diverse strengths of those who make Hawaii their home and have Hawaii in their hearts. We can perpetuate and share our heritage in a manner that benefits our nation and the world in the 21st century.
As we celebrate Kamehameha Day, let us be mindful of the king's legacy of unification and his vision for the people of Hawaii. Let us come together and work together to address the challenges facing our people and our nation.
E `ala kakou! Let us rise to meet this challenge.
God bless Hawaii.
God bless America.
Mahalo.
