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Hawaii's present commercial fishing community includes very few native Hawaiians. 

 The Hawaiian has had little opportunity to participate. They now lack the necessary 

 technical expertise and capital. The majority of Hawaiians have been reduced to being just 

 another customer for locally caught fish. To be a successful fisherman, you need skill and 

 knowledge and the best equipment. Current job opportunities in the local fishing industry 

 are diverse and can be financially and culturally rewarding. Given proper training and skills, 

 more Hawaiians would be hired as opposed to preference for recent immigrants. Throughout 

 the industry there are many distinct immigrant groups who have used commercial fishing to 

 better their lives and status. They have sent their children on to college and have basically 

 made themselves respected members of our community. Now the Hawaiian must be re- 

 educated into seeing commercial fishing as a viable and desirable employment opportunity. 

 Commercial fishing has been considered a low status occupation. It should once again be 

 elevated to that of other skilled or professional occupations. On the processing side of 

 commercial fishing there are tremendous opportunities to market value-added products and at 

 the same time create more job opportunities. Along with these opportunities should be 

 incentives to train and hire Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians. Pride in the Hawaiian culture and 

 heritage should be encouraged and nurtured. The pragmatic Hawaiian management skills 

 long since replaced by outside philosophies should once again be evaluated. Application of 

 these ancient skills should benefit both Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike. 



With regard to the Magnuson Act amendment, I support the inclusion of provisions 

 for native Hawaiian fishing rights, and any kind of affirmative action that could be taken on 

 the part of all indigenous peoples of the western Pacific region. Such recognition should 

 help preserve the wealth of traditional Hawaiian ways and values. , I strongly support 

 initiatives to better educate indigenous peoples in the skills and experience needed to compete 

 in the today's world of Pacific fisheries. I support any job-related programs that develop 

 incentive, improve self-esteem and help the disadvantaged Hawaiian get back into an area 

 that should come natural to him. Training and experience is essential. 



What is the Federal obligation to native Hawaiians and other indigenous groups in the 

 western Pacific region? If nothing else, it should be to recognize the merit of their 

 management skills and to make sure that these values are not lost. The Federal government 

 should help to establish community education programs with an emphasis on hands-on job 

 training. It should work to establish meaningful management programs that are rational, 

 comprehensive, and integrated, for both nearshore and offshore fisheries. 



Mahalo and aloha! 



