So OHA is taking another swing at a comprehensive Native Hawaiian registry, this time via a standardized ID card and a few buckaroos to boost their visibility. While centralized management of anything so diverse and politically sensitive, by default, makes me (and others) nervous, on the other hand I can see why someone needs something soon to nail down who “we” are.

The fact that this new ID would supposedly be accepted as certification of Hawaiian ancestry for various programs (from Kamehameha Schools to financial aid, home loans, and other services) intrigues me. I was already having nightmares of having to visit thirty different offices with twenty different documents just to prove I, and more importantly Katie, am part Hawaiian. I wish I’d known about this a bit sooner, ’cause I’d go down tomorrow and get myself certified if it meant Katie would be one step closer to a decent island education.