By Lori Tighe

A second summit to determine the course of Hawaiian self-determinationwill take place March 20-21, announced Kina'u Boyd Kamali'i, chairwomanof Hoomalu Ma Kualoa.

The Kupono Coalition called the meeting to come up with a strategy anda two-year time line to discuss what kind of government Hawaiians want.That was the group's response to the boycotted Hawaiian vote Sunday for85 delegates at a Hawaiian convention.

"We want to educate everyone on the seriousness of theself-determination issues," Kamalii said. "We want to do fund-raisersand white papers so we will definitely know what government we want.Most people don't understand government and how it's run."

Anyone Hawaiian will be invited, particularly ohana groups, and many inthe Kupono Coalition, Kamali'i said.

They will discuss whether to have their own convention, she said. Theprimary goal of future action will be to educate Hawaiians about theiroptions and how they will affect everyone.

"We're very serious about getting our land back. If you don't haveland, you have nothing but a paper nation," Kamali'i said.

Representatives of Ha Hawaii could not be reached for comment.

Voter turnout, which appeared light, will be tabulated Jan. 26.

Some Hawaiians criticized the Ha Hawaii vote process for being tied tothe state.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which didn't take sides on the Hawaiianconvention issue, has also begun to get involved.

Trustee Mililani Trask, chairwoman of OHA's sovereignty committee, toldthe several hundred people attending Sovereignty Sunday at Iolani Palacethat she will form an advisory committee to assist hers. Under OHArules, the advisory committee can have only five members and one must bea trustee, said Trask, also chairwoman of Ka Lahui.

The other four positions will go to representatives of "the four groupsfighting the most" on the sovereignty issue, she said.

Included will be Ka Lahui, Ha Hawaii, the Kupono Coalition and arepresentative of independence advocates.

"We want to provide an opportunity to make a good faith effort, usingOHA resources, to facilitate consensus building," Trask said.

"We cannot move until we get consensus."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

© 1999 Honolulu Star-Bulletin

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