Native Hawaiian Roll Commission

Native Hawaiian Roll Commission
Name	Native Hawaiian Roll Commission
Founded	2011
Dissolved	2016
Headquarters	Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiʻi
Key people	Linda Lingle; Kenneth R. Conklin; Merrie Monarch (example)
Jurisdiction	State of Hawaiʻi
Website	(defunct)

Native Hawaiian Roll Commission The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission was a temporary public commission established by the State of Hawaiʻi to create a registry of individuals of Native Hawaiian ancestry and to facilitate Native Hawaiian governance initiatives. It interacted with state institutions, federal agencies, Native Hawaiian organizations, and community stakeholders across Hawaiʻi and the continental United States. The commission operated amid debates involving historical claims, constitutional provisions, federal statutes, and activism by Native Hawaiian groups.

Background and Establishment

The commission was created in the wake of historical events including the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the Republic of Hawaii, the Territory of Hawaii, and the admission of Hawaiʻi as the State of Hawaii. Its establishment drew on precedents such as the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, and federal recognition processes used by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Department of the Interior. Political actors connected to its formation included the Hawaii State Legislature, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Governor of Hawaii, and national offices such as the United States Congress and the United States Senate. Historical figures and events frequently referenced in debates included the Kamehameha Dynasty, the Bayonet Constitution, the Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and petitions to the United Nations concerning indigenous rights.

Purpose and Mandate

The stated purpose was to design and implement a mechanism for compiling a roll of Native Hawaiians to support subsequent self-governance, reconciliation, and federal recognition pathways. The mandate referenced instruments such as the Apology Resolution of the United States Congress and engaged entities like the Department of the Interior and the United States Department of Justice. Stakeholders included the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Native Hawaiian nonprofit organizations such as Alu Like, cultural institutions like the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement, and community groups active during events at venues such as the Hawai‘i State Capitol and the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.

Enrollment Process and Criteria

Enrollment criteria and procedures drew on genealogical records, lineage documentation, and community testimony; relevant record sources included the Kūhiō Book, ʻohana records, tax lists from the Kingdom of Hawaii, mission registers associated with the Kawaiahaʻo Church, and federal census records like the 1890 United States Census. The roll used application processing similar in concept to tribal enrollment used by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and registration frameworks adopted by groups such as the Cherokee Nation and the Navajo Nation. Outreach and enrollment drives occurred at locations including the Aloha Stadium, community centers on Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island, and in diaspora hubs like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu International Airport-area events, and gatherings tied to the Merrie Monarch Festival.

Controversies and Legal Challenges

Controversies centered on constitutional questions under the United States Constitution and the Hawaii State Constitution, civil rights claims invoking the Fourteenth Amendment, and litigation filed in courts such as the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Opponents raised issues related to equal protection jurisprudence from precedents like Rice v. Cayetano and sought injunctions citing statutes such as the Civil Rights Act. Supporters cited precedents including the United States v. Sandoval era and federal trust relationships exemplified by interactions with the Department of the Interior. Litigants and organizations involved in challenges included Native Hawaiian advocacy groups, state officials, the Aloha ʻAina movement, cultural practitioners affiliated with the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, and civil liberties organizations.

Impact and Outcomes

The roll influenced subsequent federal administrative actions under the Department of the Interior and informed debates over federal acknowledgment processes analogous to those used for tribes recognized through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It affected resource allocation by bodies such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and led to dialogues with federal programs including the Indian Health Service and federal funding channels. Cultural institutions including the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives and community organizations like Hoʻokupaʻa referenced the roll in claims, admissions, and education efforts. The roll became a focal point in policy discussions involving elected officials such as members of the Hawaii State Legislature, former governors, and delegates to the United States Congress from Hawaiʻi.

Organizational Structure and Funding

The commission comprised appointed commissioners, administrative staff, and contractors for outreach, database management, and legal counsel. Funding sources included appropriations from the Hawaii State Legislature, grants and contracts involving entities such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, private philanthropy from foundations with interests in indigenous programs, and in-kind support from community organizations. The commission coordinated with institutions including the University of Hawaiʻi System for research, with archival partners like the Hawaii State Archives, and with legal counsel drawing on expertise from practitioners admitted to the Lawyers for Equal Rights-type organizations and bar associations.

Subsequent Developments and Legacy

After the commission’s operational period ended, its records and processes informed later initiatives by the Department of the Interior, new state statutes, and community-driven governance proposals. Its legacy intersected with ongoing movements represented by groups such as the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement, policy proposals in the Hawaii State Legislature, and federal administrative actions under successive presidential administrations and congressional oversight. Archives and collections at institutions including the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, the Hawaii State Archives, and university research centers preserve materials that scholars and activists continue to analyze in discussions involving historical injustices like the Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and contemporary proposals for political status changes.

Category:History of Hawaii Category:Native Hawaiian organizations Category:2011 establishments in Hawaii