Have you checked out The Hot Seat?

It's our new opinion-page blog that brings in your elected leaders and people in the news and lets you ask the questions.

On The Hot Seat this week was state Office of Hawaiian Affairs chairwoman Haunani Apoliona. She answered readers' questions during our live blog chat on federal recognition for Hawaiians.

An excerpt from that Hot Seat session is printed here. To see the full conversation, go to The Hot Seat blog at blogs.honolulu advertiser.com and click on "In the Hot Seat: OHA chairwoman Haunani Apoliona." (Names of questioners are screen names given during the online chat.)

Ni: Haunani, has OHA contacted, polled or otherwise gotten input from your beneficiaries on what their preference is, if any, for OHA to take part in the federal recognition issue?

As a follow-up, how much of OHA's time, OHA's money and OHA's resources do you foresee as being spent in the next fiscal biennium to promote federal recognition for Hawaiians?

Haunani Apoliona: Yes, we have sought input from our beneficiaries. We have continuously held meetings with leaders and members of Hawaiian organizations. An overwhelming majority of leaders and organizations we have met with support federal recognition.

We also commissioned polls by reputable polling firms over the years. Media outlets have done the same, and time and time again the result is majority support for federal recognition among both Hawaiians and the non-Hawaiian community. A poll taken by Ward Research in 2003 found 78 percent of non-Hawaiians and 86 percent of Native Hawaiians support federal recognition.

That's not to say the non-Hawaiian litigators who make the race-based claims, combined with the independence/ secession backers who don't believe the Akaka bill goes far enough, aren't having an impact on public opinion. There has been a slight decline in the numbers supporting federal recognition, thanks to the controversy fueled by lawsuits and misinformation campaigns by right-wing outfits who put out false or skewed information. They are running a "fear campaign." But again, the reputable polls find a solid majority of Hawaii's public remains supportive of federal recognition for Native Hawaiians.

OHA is likely to continue spending several million dollars to lobby Congress to approve federal recognition. We feel this amount pales in comparison to the $70 million worth of annual programs that assist Native Hawaiians. Those programs are in jeopardy of disappearing due to legal challenges. We feel it's our duty to protect those programs, and we will continue to push for passage of a bill for federal recognition.

Based on the change in leadership in the Congress, we expect that the amount spent to advance the Akaka bill may be less than what we spent previously, which was an average of $700,000 per year.

Bill Punini Prescott: Does OHA fully support our soldiers and National Guardsmen training on terrain they've been training on for over 60 years? And isn't this land a small price to pay (our soldiers are willing to pay with their lives) for the peace and security we enjoy?

Is OHA willing to take action, legal if necessary, to end the high turnover of teachers in Hawaiian Home Lands schools to level the playing field for our children, end discrimination on the basis of economics and give them an equal right of opportunity to succeed in learning? The BOE, DOE and HSTA acknowledge the high turnover of teachers negatively impacts student success in learning while also contending that teacher assignment preferences have priority over student needs.

Apoliona: Regarding military training, let me state that OHA supports the men and women in uniform and also supports the training designed to keep them safe when they are sent in harm's way. That said, we also have an obligation to our beneficiaries, when it comes to the military's use of lands in Hawai'i for training purposes. Some people may call them a pile of rocks; others see desecration. And while we maintain excellent relations with military leaders, there have been instances in the past in which the military frankly hasn't been a good steward of the 'aina. Witness the dumping of munitions off the Leeward Coast.

That happened decades ago, and lessons have been learned. We feel the military can train our soldiers without violating current laws protecting historical sites, and we will continue to monitor that.

Two years ago, Adjutant Gen. (Robert) Lee asked OHA to send Hawaiian flags to the soldiers in Iraq. Those were sent, and the members of the military from Hawai'i were extremely grateful to receive them.

Bill Burgess: If the Akaka bill should become law, would you want the new Native Hawaiian government to receive any or all of these lands: the 200,000 acres of DHHL (Department of Hawaiian Home Lands) lands? Waimea Valley? Kaho'olawe and its appurtenant reefs and territorial waters? Ni'ihau? The Northwest Islands?

Apoliona: As you know, the statute which established Kaho'olawe as a preserve also indicates that the land will be transferred to the Native Hawaiian nation once it is formed. Similar language has been adopted by the OHA trustees in land transactions which they have approved. For example, Waimea Valley and Wao Kele O Puna will be transferred to the nation once the nation is formed. Any transfer of federal and state lands will probably need to be negotiated.

Michael: If federal recognition for Native Hawaiians becomes a reality, will Native Hawaiians be exempt from state taxes?

Apoliona: No, they will not. Native Hawaiians will be subject to state laws just like everyone else in Hawai'i unless, during the negotiating period, taxing authorities seek to and do change the system.

Lui Hokoana: A study by Kamehameha Schools found that Native Hawaiians are underrepresented at UH-Manoa, take longer to graduate, and are underrepresented in high-paying fields with job security. What is OHA doing to address these issues?

Apoliona: Within the last two years, OHA, through partner organizations, has given out $1 million in scholarships for higher education. An additional $1 million for higher education scholarships was approved this year. In the same study you cite, financial aid had a positive correlation to increasing graduation rates.

As to being underrepresented in high-paying fields, OHA has for the last five years provided substantial funding for Na Pua No'eau, a program that provides K-12 youth an opportunity to explore careers in high-paying fields with job security, like archaeology, bioscience and medicine. OHA is committed to education and believes a well-educated population is critical as we begin the process of nation-building.

Meheroo Jussawalla: With the Democratic win in the U.S. Congress, will the Akaka bill get passed, and if so, how will it help Native Hawaiians in terms of improving their living conditions, job opportunities and acquisition of assets? Do you think that the recent judgment from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of restricting admissions to the Kamehameha Schools will benefit the young people of Hawai'i or increase segregation, which is against the Constitution? Did the will of the princess make room for segregation or was it a later development?

Apoliona: We don't believe the Kamehameha Schools policy is segregationist. We believe the Constitution supports Kamehameha's admissions policy.

The Akaka bill can help Hawaiians in many ways. In 2006, the entire Democratic caucus in the U.S. Senate supported the Akaka bill.

Myron Thompson: Why do you want to bring gambling to Hawai'i? Will I lose my land if I'm not Hawaiian?

Apoliona: The Akaka bill does not permit gambling in Hawai'i, nor can it. Before there can be gambling in Hawai'i, the state Legislature needs to pass a law approving gambling. There are two states in the U.S. that do not currently allow any form of gambling. Hawai'i is one and the other is Utah.

Many people in Hawai'i (including Hawaiians) are not in favor of bringing gambling to Hawai'i. As Native Hawaiians, we recognize the opposition to gambling and are culturally sensitive to other peoples' concerns.

No one will lose privately held land. No private land will be affected by the Akaka bill. The negotiations among the U.S., the state of Hawai'i and the Native Hawaiian government may include the return of some Hawai'i public trust or ceded lands currently under the control of the U.S. or the state of Hawai'i, but will not affect private land at all.

For more information on this issue please, visit our Web site at www.nativehawaiians.com/pdf/ABbrief03.DOC.

Sakurafreedom: Why should non-Hawaiians carry the financial burden of paying for Hawaiian programs with taxpayer dollars?

Apoliona: Taxpayer dollars are used to pay government debts. Therefore, it's the right thing to do. The sovereign kingdom of Hawai'i was overthrown illegally with the assistance of the U.S. government and in violation of several treaties and international law. It is only right that the U.S., the state of Hawai'i and all their citizens stand up to the obligation to rectify that wrong to the best of its ability.

In 1978, the electorate of the state of Hawai'i voted to establish OHA. In 1980, the state Legislature passed a law allocating a pro-rata share of the revenues from ceded lands to be used for the betterment of Hawaiians. Hence, the voters of Hawai'i have recognized the state's obligation and have agreed to honor it. We appreciate the integrity of those commitments.

Taxpayers are made up of both Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians. Hawaiians are taxpayers, too.

Henry Gomes: The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs recently passed a resolution requesting that the state of Hawai'i consider building prisons in Hawai'i for several reasons, including retaining money in the state as well as addressing rehabilitation of Hawaiian prisoners. Does OHA feel this is important, considering the large number of prisoner who are of Hawaiian descent?

Apoliona: An inmate's reha- bilitation relies upon family support. Transporting inmates to facilities on the continent deprives them of this crucial rehabilitation element. Therefore, though the OHA trustees have not taken a formal position on locating a facility in Hawai'i, clearly having an institution located here will provide inmates with much-needed family support.

Doug: My question for the chairwoman: If (the U.S. Supreme Court) upholds (or declines to review) the recent Kamehameha Schools admissions policy ruling that posits a de-facto recognition of Native Hawaiians, doesn't that greatly diminish the urgency to pass the Akaka bill?

Apoliona: Regardless of what happens in that important case, there will continue to be an urgency on other fronts. OHA and DHHL are under legal assault. Also under attack are federal funds earmarked for Native Hawaiians. That's some $60 million to $70 million a year coming to the state of Hawai'i. We feel the Akaka bill will provide a legal shield against lawsuits that seek to dismantle OHA and DHHL. We also feel it will help Kamehameha Schools in their admissions court battle. All these lawsuits are part of a national movement, and the litigators do not intend to stop until they dismantle all rights for native peoples and minorities.

IntheHawaiianCommunity: I believe we should, but in your opinion, why should Hawaiians have race-based rights and special programs?

Apoliona: Under the U.S. Constitution and federal law, America's indigenous native people have a political relationship with the U.S. So programs supporting native people are not race-based at all. The programs flow from the unique relationship that exists between the federal government and native governments. The Akaka bill would provide an opportunity for Native Hawaiians to enjoy the same relationship other natives have with the federal government, and protect existing federal and state programs. Both our unique history and status as indigenous people are the basis for continued government help.