COURT ORDERS RELEASE OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN ROLL
In a victory for transparent government, a state court has ordered the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to release its enrollment list.
The suit was filed by Judicial Watch with the assistance of the Grassroot Institute of Hawai`i after an open records request for the Roll was repeatedly denied by the Commission.
In a decision that emphasized the importance of open government, the Court rejected the Commission's reasons for denying the request, requiring the Commission to produce the list and pay attorney's fees in the case.
Said former Hawai`i Attorney General, Michael A. Lilly, who represented Judicial Watch in the case, "Today, in a victory for open government, Judicial Watch won a case seeking a roll of over 125,000 people allegedly registered with the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission."
Keli`i Akina, President of the Grassroot Institute stated, "With the release of the Roll, it will now be possible to answer concerns over the tens of thousands of names that have been placed on the list without the express permission of individuals.
"The fact stands that the vast majority of Hawaiians have chosen not to support the efforts of OHA and the Native Hawaiian Roll to create a sovereign government.
"Their voices can now be heard. And, hopefully, OHA will stop wasting public money on its unconstitutional push for sovereignty and, instead, spend it on housing, education, employment, and health services for those in need."
