Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 1, 1 October 1980 — OHA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
OHA
The first trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will have an opportunity that won't eome a second time. The nine elected in November by the Hawaiian people will set the tone, and the policies of this office, whieh will administer some of the revenues that eome into the state from public trust lands. The 1978 Constitutional Convention called for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and it was later approvedby the voters. All the candidates and all who wish to vote must be
at least part-Hawaiian. How important the Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians of the islands view this office, is evidenced by the interest exhibited in the upcoming election. Hawaiians by the thousands have registered to vote for the special election, to be held on General Election Day, Nov. 4; 136 people filed for the nine seats, 80 of them for the at-large slots. Four seats have no particular residency requirements.
For the other five, trustees must live on specific islands— one eaeh for O'ahu, Kaua'i, Moloka'i, Maui, and Hawai'i. With that many people running for a handful of positions, decision making before election day could prove difficult. All candidates were asked basic questions about their background, education and residency. Then they were asked to elaborate on why they were running for office and what they hoped to accomplish. Here are their responses:
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• Hansel Aea- Chang, 6 1 , says his experience as a land analystappraiser "would enhanee the development and maintenance" of the trust lands whieh will provide OHA's hnaneial backbone. His expertise, he says, would help prevent any loss of ineome from those properties. He is principal broker for Gallery of Homes, lives in Nuuanu Valley and has been a trustee of the Kamehameha Lodge, Honolulu Chapter, president of the Piinee Kuhio Lions Club ine., past president of the Community Association of Nuuanu Valley, and vice president of the Hawaii State Parents Teachers Students Association. • Louis "Buzzy" Agard, 56, of downtown Honolulu, started as an activist for Hawaiian rights in 1960. He has been involved in numerous organizations dedicated to the cause of his people. He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and the University of Redlands. The Kamehameha Schools offer Hawaiian youths the kind of opportunity tobreak the syndrome but ean only accommodate a small ffaction of the 50.000 Hawaiian children who are eligible. "The key to the success of OHA is some kind of funding, both for education and for housing." He manages his own business and now runs an airplane rental service. He also works undercontract with the state and federal agencies to assess and evaluate fishing concentrations offshore. He is the Hawaiian representative for the Western Pacific Region for the federal fisheries management and conservation program. • George A Aiona, 53, of Waianae could not be reached for comment forthis article. Aiona is a fireman on the U.S.S. Energy Converter, the oeean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) ship testing equipment for producing electricity from the sea. He is a Farrington HS graduate. • Albert K Akana Jr., 62, a real estate salesman and president of a vessel fueling company, lives in Kamuela on the Big Island. He is also a rancher. "OHA is the most significant event in Hawaiian history; Hawaiians will again have the opportunity to direct their future and destiny." He has been active in Hawaiian affairs and in community service. He served on the Commission for the Year 2000, was chairman of the advisory eouneil for the College of Tropical Agriculture, founder and former president of the Waimea-Kawaihae Community Association, and served on the governor's commission for the administration of justice. Through OHA Akana would like to see the Hawaiian people move toward "strengthening their educational needs, financial needs for independence, and taking an active part in the democratic process." • Alvin Auhana Akina Jr., 36, a hotel houseman in the KailuaKona area of the Big Island, wants to "help my people however I ean." Highes priorities are the educational system for Hawaiian youngsters, employment for unskilled workers, and some coordinated program for the elderly. He sees "better days ahead. It can't get any worse" for the Hawaiians, "this is a ehanee to run our own affairs." He says the state has neglected the Hawaiian peole and this is bad not just for the aboriginal people, but for the state as a whole. • Kepoikai Aluli, 56, is a real estate investor who owns apartment houses and was responsible for bringing the cooperative apartment projects to Oahu. "There aren't too many (Hawaiians) who are supposedly successful." Employment is one of the biggest problems for the Hawaiians. "We should have an employment agency to see that these people are properly employed." Training and busing to higher employment areas may be needed too. "Most people don't like to hire Hawaiians. They scare the hell out of you, they have a bad reputation. On the other side, the Hawaiians, particularly those from homestead areas, are bashful and backwaids. They figure it's hopeless." • John K Amaral, 67, a retired operating engineer living in Kaneohe sees education and Hawaiian culture as the two top jobs of OHA. "I feel that Hawaiians are not really getting what they are supposed to have and if I'm elected I'U do my very best to see that maybe not me, but the younger generation, do better for themselves." He has been a minister with the Church of Kamalamahau for four years. • Norman Paahana Aweau, 48, works as a supervisor for Hawaiian Electric Company and has served by appointment
on the hospital management board for Oahu. His first priority for OH A would be to establish a legal committee to determine exactly whieh public lands belong to the Hawaiian people and whieh will fall under OHA control. Monies from those lands must be used for job opportunities immediately. This might be done through subsidized apprentice programs with loeal private industries." Also a top priority would be low interest loans for Hawaiians wanting to start businesses, and loans for Hawaiian youths who want higher education. "A long range goal for OHA" he says, "is to see that every Hawaiian is taught Hawiian culture in public schools. " On the lands deemed to belong to the Hawaiian people "first preference for their leases should go to Hawaiians, perhaps at reduced rents. These lands also should be available for Hawaiian civic and recreational uses." • Roy L. Benham, 57, of Hawaii Kai is a retired personnel officer for the federal government, former teacher at Kamehameha Schools, organizer of the first Mainland Hawaiian civic club, chairman of the Hawaiian Civic Political Action Committee. "My experience in setting up organizations and selecting people to do a job will be a valuable asset. OHA priorities should be "primarily to clarify onee and for all just what lands are involved" in the public trust, who's using them now, and what the total incomes are. Employment for native Hawaiians is his number two priority, "not just in getting them jobs, but also in aiding Hawaiians to start their own businesses." • S.KP. Varoa-Tiki BitherisanentertainerontheS.S. Oeeanie Independence and couldn't be reached for comment. Bither wants OHA to help with both education and business opportunities for Hawaiians, promote Hawaiian awareness and act as a watchdog for the monies OHA will oversee. • Stewart K Boyd, 5 1, a business account manager for Hawaiian Telephone Co., is a past president of the Kaneohe Jaycees, and a past president of the Kuhio chapter of the Order of Kamehameha. He is a graduate of Iolani High School and the University of the Pacific. "There are no rules. The law provides that the office is primarily the receptacle for any reparations money. We don't even know what our budget will be. The office will have to serve as a guide, the leadership body for the Hawaiians that need leadership. OHA must work with other Hawaiian bodies, like th Order of Kamehameha, the civic clubs and the Hawaiian Homes Commission," he adds. • Brandon K Bray, 20, is a graduate student in social work at the University of Hawaii. He earned his bachelors degree in Hawaiian studies with honors. He is a participant in the UH Hawaiian Learning Program, whieh he says focuses on ways to achieve a halanee between Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian cultures without losingthe positive aspects of either. Bray's goals for OHA include a reaffirmation of Hawaiians as "a nation within a nation by asserting and exercising our unique rights as Native Americans'" efforts to plaee eligible Hawaiians on Hawaiian Home Lands perhaps within the next 5 years; reclaiming military and other federally controlled lands; court action to put an end to lands held individually or in trust for Hawaiians; and developing a plan whereby the Kamehameha Schools ean be "controlled" by and held accountable to Hawaiians. • Hayden F. Burgess, 34, is an attorney practicing in Waianae, was a delegate to the 1968 ConCon and is past president of the Hawaiian Cultural Center and the Waianae Elem. School PTA. "Hawaiian independence should be recognized by the U.S. My stand has always been that the U.S. has nojurisdiction in Hawaii. Hawaii has been stolen by the Amenean forces and the only legitimate reparation is its return to the Hawaiian people." On the subject of education he says "Instead of turning Hawaiian children into Americans, I think we shou!d consider tuming Hawaiian children into Hawaiians." • Rod K Burgess, 38, is president of Rod Burgess Realty, Burgess Insurance Agency, RB Financial Services, Interior Construction Hawaii ine. and The Furniture Co. He says he would like to see more Hawaiians start businesses of their own. "Our people notoriously become firemen, polieemen. A very small percentage become involved in the system of free enterprise. The general outlook of our people needs to be changed." He would also move to establish a profit-making center, like the Polynesian Cultural Center, for Hawaiian arts, drama, and music. • Clarence F.T. Ching, 44, Honolulu attomey, is a former chemist with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission,*former tea-
cher and stockbroker, co-host of KCCN radio's Ohana program and is ehainnan of the Nuuanu-Punchbowl Neighborhood Board. He is on the baord of directors of the Native Hawaiian Legal Ad the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and the Pauoa Community Association. "OHA is probably the most important thing that has happened to Hawaiians in this century. It'll mean a lot in the way of self-sufficiency and self-determination." • Philip J. Chrones, 36, a Kaneohe farmer and a systems analyst for First Hawaiian Bank, says he would discuss with the Hawaiian community how best to spend money available to OHA. "I am concerned that the Hawaiians have had a bad deal and I don't want the OHA to end up the same way. I'm not an extremist. I've talked to some people who are concemed about how the Hawaiians are going to handle themselves (as OHA trustees)." • Arthur B. Chun, 67, retired Army eolonel, recently testified before a Senate subcommittee on the creation of a national park at Kalaupapa, Molokai and the expansion of parks on Maui and the Big Island. He is chairman of the federal commission studying the possibility of a national cultural park at Kaloko, Kailua-Kona. "I think I ean bring (to OHA) both the experience in nahonal - affairs and also a know!edge of Hawaiian problems." He has two daughters who are also OHA candidates. • Mary K De Oeampo, 6 1 , retired after 40 years as an inspector at the Dole Pineapple Cannery, recently moved to Hauula from Haiku with her husband, when their home was replaced with a shopping center. "It's progress, but I don't know what kind of progress. I would like all our people, our 90,000 Hawaiians, to register and eome out and vote on Nov. 4. Please tell them to eome and vote for the candidates who are running for OHA and work with us as mueh as possible. Te!l them that I love them." • A "Frenchy" DeSoto, 51, manager of the Waianae Sateliite City Hall, was ehaiiman of the 1978 ConCon's Committee on Hawaiian Affairs whieh created OHA. She describes herself as a "longtime advocate of Hawaiian equality." "The needs of Hawaiians are my goals. Education, eeonomie opportunities, housing, wherever the needs are — I shall work diligently to achieve these goals. Land banking is vital. I am deeply eommitted to the preservation of our culture and cultural values." • Marjorie I. Gomez, 46 is a professional volunteer educated in j the "school of hard knocks". A teacher's aide for 16 years at Holy Trinity School, outreach counselor at Washington Intermediate School, campaign volunteer for late Gov. John Bums. "I should have listened to my father and gone to school," she says. "Everything I got was on-the-job training." Auntie Margie as her friends eall her has been interested in OHAfrom its inception and, after serving as an OHA registrar, was the first candidate to sign up for the trustee election. "Let's get together and make it better." • Richard H. Haake Jr., a state probation officer in Wailuku, was drafted by the Army in 1 968 and served in the Special Forces until 1976. "I have a strong military background. My primary eoneem is the Hawaiian people. But No. 2 is the fact that we're living here in Hawaii with a mixture of races and we cannot look at ourselves in isolation. Hawaiians drew back from society as it grew up and society was taken over by the immigrants and that's who took over the power structure. Power really lies in the people who control the State of Hawaii and the poliheal arena . . . We're now a minority, a very small minority, and as a result we have to leam to exist in society or we're going to remain second class citizens in Papakolea and places like that." • Ronald P. Han,52,presidentofIslandPaperInc. forl0years, was bom on Molokai and reared on a plantation. He wants to "bring unity to native Hawaiians (through OHA). I like to feel I'm better qualified because I lived on a plantation and homestead and I know the stmggle and the hardship of a Hawaiian family." Han retired in 1968 from the U.S. Ar Force dental service and has been a Boy Scout commissioner, chairman of his neighborhood recreation advisory board, a PTA vice president and a Pop Wamer football eoaeh. • Lionel K Hanakahi,40,ofKapaa, Kauai, a 1978 Republican candidate for lieutenant govemor, ranks education for Hawaiian children as his top OHA priority. He is concerned about children "who can't get into Kam because they can't pass tests." He says more pre-school opportunities for such children would help. • Joseph K Hao, who spent 30 years in air traffic control for the Federal Aviation Administration„ said his managerial experi v » ■ . ' • 1 » t . . 1» l . I » J - t I » .4 i > • . . . . t
ienee will be valuable on OHA's first board. "They've got to organize and to set operational plans." He ran for Republican nomination for governor six years ago, an experience he said was an eye-opener for him. "The board is looking at a million dollars as soon as they take office. Everybody who is nonHawaiian is going to be looking at us and thinking: Let's see what the Hawaiians are going to do with that money. Are they going to spend the money willy-nilly? Or are they going to exercise fiscal responsibility?" • Joseph Hatchie,52, was one ofthe 19-member ALOHAdelegation who went to Washington to seek Hawaiian reparations back in 1974. He said he felt then as he does now: "Something had to be done. There were wrongdoings of the government, and it is up to Congress to say that it was wrong. We've been almost seven years fighting this thing— to get them to admit to wrongdoing. I feel the people of Hawaii have the right to their destiny." Hatchie is retired from the U.S. Army. He received several decorations during his career. • Carmen Haugen, who is better known as a singer with her husband, Keith, is also in the business world. She is administrative assistant to the vice president of sales and marketing for Malia Intemational. "There has been so mueh talk about reparations and things. I just want to be sure that whatever we're going to get for the Hawaiian people is going to be done the right way." The candidate, 38, said: "I thought I had better get involved in it all — and the only way to do that is to mn for office." • George A. Henrickson, 50, is no stranger to public hfe, as he onee served as Republican Party state chairman. The Kame hameha Schools graduate has his own real estate consulting firm and is project director for the Kuilima Resort Community. He said that the OHA board is presently a formless body and he wants to help shape its policies. "It's important that the initial board of trustees have experience in setting up things in a business-like manner. Also, I suspect that toō many of the candidates are very specific about what they think the office should do . . . They should be open to broad ideas, any opportunity that may eome along — federal funding, state funding, reparations, and whatever the case might be." • Stan ley G. Hew Len, until recently , was director of the Hawaii Association for Retarded Citizens. He now directs Lokahi Hawaiians, a program that works with "high-risk youngsters" who drop out of school: "Evprybody emphasizes the problems the Hawaiian community has in terms of education, employment and what's happening to the culture. I think there are creative solutions already available. The key is going to be whether the Hawaiian community ean pull itself together — whether it ean put aside individual differences and make one major effort." • Clara K. Hoapili, who comes from "a large family and a Christian background," said shehas been aware of many issues affecting Hawaiians and others for years but did not find time to take active part in public affairs until recently. "The Hawaiian people need to put aside whatever differences they may have and start to work together," she said. The 50-year-old mother of 1 1 also said many Hawaiians mistakenly believe that OH A is a threat to other Hawaiian organizations. It is not a threat but should work to gather them all together. • Samuel M. Holt, 53, self-employed land maintenance and nursery worker from the Big Island, said it's important to elect trustees "who have the capability to formulate and to put together this very important future of ours." "We have a very successful program at Kamehameha Schools, but this is it . . . If we ean expand on that success. that's what we should try to bring about as far as education is concemed." Ho!t feels a need to develop housing/loan programs for low ineome and middle ineome Ha waiians . . . "especially our young Hawaiian adults who do not qualify for low-ineome housing based on their incomes and yet, cannot purchase a home within the range of $ 1 25 .000-$ 1 50,000, because, again, based on their incomes, they cannot afford the monthly payments. I also feel strongly about the need to work with Hawaiian Homes Lands to develop efficient ways of dispersing agricultural lands. Do we simply gi ve the land to the farmers or do we first "process" the land so it's ready to farm? Keeping in mind, these people are receiving the land because they cannot afford to buy the land outright . . . so how ean they afford to "ready" the land? These are some of the issues I'd like to see OHA direct itself to. OHA is a source — a beginning. It ean be a growing and life givingexperience for all native Hawaiians and (part) Hawaiians." • Melvin Hoomanawanui, a career firefighter, says he wants to be a "watchdog" of Hawaiian affairs. Noting that the law in the Admissions Act defines native Hawaiians as those with 50 percent or more Hawaiian blood. he worries that benefits from the trust lands and money may not be legally spent. "I feel for other Hawaiians, and I feel we could make adjustments to the law, but until then, the money that comes out of the office ean only go to benefit the native Hawaiians." Hoomanawanui, 40, has been active in other Hawaiian organizations. He is the president of the Ahahui Ohana Moku Anuenue, the Sand Island residents' group, and was one of the organizers of Malama ka Aina — Save the Native Hawaiiarfs. "I'm going to try to see that the office is run right and that the money is channeled to the right places." • Abel Huihui, executive director of the Civil Air Patrol, said he believes his experience in management and his familiarity in dealing with federal, state and county agencies help qualify him for a seat on the board. "I think it would be premature to say I want to do this and that," although he did say that improvement in Hawaiian education should be a goal. " A lot of people say, ' Well, we should all get the land back,' and things like that, but I think we need to concentrate on education for Hawaiian youngsters." • Valentine Huihui, 54, older brother of Abel Huihui, ran for the Democratic nominaūon for governor in 1 978. "I was the only guy who spoke out then on Hawaiian issues," he recalls. Today he echoes the concems of candidate Melvin Hoomanawanui, saying that native Hawaiians as defined in the Hawaiian Homestead Act and the Admissions Act "should have priority rights to all the benefits." "I'm running because if elected, I wHl primarily represent the poor, needy and culturally deprived among our native Hawaiians." • Violet K. Ihara, classroom teacher, beiieves OHA ean eontribute to Hawaiian education. "Education is a word thrown around very loosely, but I mean not just book learning. There are many ways of learning — learning from eaeh other, and so on." She feels that the organization ean act to pull together diverse Hawaiian groups and "pool their resources and skills, rafher than run-
ning ofT on one issue or another issue. " Ihara, 5 6, is also for setting up an advisory eouneil to help the board spend the money wisely. "That way, we ean draw on the experience and skills of many other groups in the community — not just Hawaiians, necessarily . . . That way, you spread out so that you don't just have the board working, but have many groups working, all putting in and taking back out." • Stereling D. Ing, 36, who works for the Kahala Hilton Hotel, said the eiime rate is a major issue of OHA. "If we don't attack this problem now, we'll have a mueh bigger problem. We ean establish programs for Hawaiian kids on their own terms, in the Hawaiian way of doing things." He completed Mormon missionary work among the Indians and says he hopes OHA will eontribute to stronger families. "We need creative programs for the younger kids so they ean develop stronger characters and become assets to the communitty." • Brice Kahoano Jacosalem says OHA should lobby for reparations and bills to benefit Hawaiians as well as work to make Hawaiians legally recognized as native Americans. Also the organization could lobby for funds to improve education for Hawaiians. "Part of OH A's responsibility would be to keep tabs on racial prejudice in Hawaii." He is concerned with land reparation, but its more important to "make Hawaiians realize they ean and do control their future. If they have a poor self-image. a poor sense of worth, all reparations will eventually be lost again." • Pearl F. Hipa Kaauwai, 58, mother of 5 children, was a campaign worker for various candidates and was a candidate for the 1978 ConCon. Her first eoneem is to protect the "birthright" of native Hawaiians. "The bloodline of our children's children will be diminished by the year 2000. Their birthright must be protected and recorded in statistics." Her other concems include acquisition of land, protection of mineral. water and air rights and an effort to work with other citizens. • David Kaiu of Nanakulu is a candidate because "I love my people and I feel I ean help." A boilermaker and an ordained minister, he says "I think every Hawaiian family should have a pieee of land and a house. There is a lot of money to be had for our people, especially for education. I don't like to discuss money, but by having money, we ean plan." His platform includes the issues of education and rights for Hawaiians in land and resources. • Melvin Kalahiki, 55,retiredandamemberoftheCastleHospital Citizens' Advisory Council, said his chief eoneem for OHA is that "we have an opportunity to eome together, to work together. in solidarity, to work for future generations." He lobbied for the formation of OHA and its proper funding and would like to see the trustees address the question of resource rights. • Edwin Kalama of Kamuela on the Big Island said he believes the single most important issue for OHA is land reparations. "If we get our land back, we could provide people with a lot of things. We'll be educating our people in many ways. I'm Hawaiian and I think it's abouttime we wake up anddo somethingforourselves." He is active in community organizations, including fundraising and management of the Waimea softball team and he started the Pop Wamer football team. • John "Squeeze" Kamana Jr. 46, ran for the 1968ConCon and served for many years as a deputy city clerk. He now owns his own business. OHA must work to motivate Hawaiians to get involved in the political process. The tmstees will have to "just do the best for the majority." They must deal with the financial stability of Hawaiians, the land situation, educational questions and govemment financing. • Alden H.K. Kamaunu of Kailua said "The possibilities available to the Hawaiians through OHA are limitless. The first job shoudl be thorough organization of the board itself. Second, a good administrator must be selected and appointed, a committee should be set up to oversee questions of land, and finally, an education committee should be established. He is an installer and repairman for Hawaiian T elephone Co. where he also teaches first and and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He was involved with the Kailua and Hawaii Jaycees, the Kailua Chamber of Commerce, and the Kailua Elementary School PTA. • Dennis K. Kanahele decided to run for tmstee because "I've been where most of the loeal people are." At 26, he is a startermanager at Olomana Golf Links, has worked as a community fundraiser in Waimanalo and coached various eanoe clubs. If elected his first priority would be education — to preserve the culture. Second, he would address the question of jobs, whieh would also reduce the crime problem. Finally, he would work on land issues. • Mitchell Kanekoa, 46, an assistant store manager of Holiday mart in Pearl City, Kailua & Honolulu, feels he ean be of service to the Hawaiian community because of his business, religious and educational background. He attended Bethany Bible College, Church College of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii. He said foremost among his personal goals for OHA is education, whieh he would use to enrich the Hawaiian language and culture, as well as build vocational training. He would also work to make housing available to Hawaiians, create new jobs and secure lands through reparation. • Rita Kanui-Gill, 30, has been involved in the Prison Task Force, an after-school program of Hawaiian culture for Roosevelt High School students, and other educational programs. She also helped organize the Waiahole-Waikane Protest. She wants to "expose the other side of OHA," is running in an effort to encourage people not to vote in the Nov. 4 election. "What the Hawaiians want is their land and their money back. Total sovereignty, an independent Hawaiian nation. Already, OHA takes this away." She feels OHA was established "by opportunists who are looking for a political future." "It would be more correct to put the people back on the land — it is available." • Abraham Kapana Sr. feels the most important goal for the office will be to "stick together." "In the past, an organization starts okay, then halfway it falls apart. We should try to get people together on a solid foundation, then branch out to the issues." After the office is established, trustees should address the issues of education for Hawaiians and eiime. Kapana, 52, is employed by the Hawaii Visitors Bureau and has been involved in the tourist industry since 1955. • Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr. feelsOHAmustfirstconcentrate on organizing the office and "findingout what we have. The Hawaiian population and other resources such as available federal funds should be documented. Until this is done, we can't make a program. Then we ean say if we should invest, sell the land or lease." He attended the University of Hawaii, where he later became
assistant professor, eoaeh and athletic director. He served as U.S. Marshal in Hawaii for 8 years and is now a trustee of the U.S. District Court. • Frankie Kay Kawelo, 53, is working as a professional entertainer on Kauai. He is a former merchant seaman and ran for the Kauai County Councif three times. He is a member of the Lions and Hawaiian Civic Clubs and feels his experience with those organizations will be of benefit to OHA. "I think retum of the lands is the main issue. I believe that the people should start their lives anew by returning to the land." • Moses K. Keaulana, 42, owns and operates an auto wrecking company in Heeia-Kea. He wants to improve education for all Hawaiians and feels there is a need for nonprofessionals on the OHA board "so Hawaiians will receive input fortheirbasic needs from the grass roots." • Velma P. Kekipi, a World War II "baby" was bom in Kapahulu and has held a variety of jobs during her career. She is now working in the Fiscal Office of the University of Hawaii's Hamilton Library and at Palama Settlement's Pakolea Leaming Center, where she combines love of sports with education in teaching youngsters. She has been on the Richards St. YWCA's Fiscal and Budget Committees and feels as an OHA tmstee she ean build "respect, tmst and honesty for the Hawaiian culture and all other ethnic cultures." • Velma W.O. Kekipi who lives in Wahiawa is a licensed practical nurse working at the W aimano T raining Home and Hospital. She is a steward for the United Public Workers. If she wins she will "try to restore the feeling of self-worth, self-esteem, and self-sufficiency of the Hawaiians, educationaIly, culturally and socially." She advocates job training for her people, a new eonsciousness of Hawaiiana and political rehabilitation "not just for the Hawaiians but for everyone." • Arthur F. Kepoo who lives on Booth Road is mnning on a campaign of land and housing for Hawaiians. "I want to improve the Hawaiians' security and respect on the land-housing issues. Everything else then will fall in plaee. We've got to better the situation, says Kepoo, who is president of the Intemational Security Officers Union in Hawaii. • Arthur D. K. K. Kepoo who also lives on Booth Road is mnning on a dual campaign of land and housing for Hawaiians with his father. This election is the first attempt by both men to face the voters. • Arnold Kidder, 40, worked with Hawaiian Electric Co. as a para-professional with the Legal Aid Society and as a business developer and musician. "I believe that now is the time for all Hawaiians to combine resources together to restore and perpetuate values of our culture. Not too many Hawaiians were involved in such activities until recently. Now, the more, the better. We must preserve all our heritage handed down to us through our kut)unas." • Leslie A. Kuloloio, 40, of Haiku, Maui has worked extensively with the Legal Aid Society and Alu Like. He was a member of one of the archeological teams whieh worked on site preservation on the target island of Kahoolawe. He believes "just as displacement of native Hawaiians was accomplished primarily through manipulation of the legal system, so. too, legal education and action is necessary to assure native Hawaiians a future throughout the state." He is currently a "student seeking a lay minister's role in the future through the Hawaiian ministry." • Ellie Kupau former president of the Congress of Hawaiian People and a member of the Council of Hawaiian Organizations, is the sister of labor leader Walter Kupau. She is doing research on Kipahulu, Maui and feels one of the biggest problems facing Hawaiians is "to pull all of the organizations under one umbrella. Right now they're all separate, even though their problems are the same. We need good women leaders and I offer my expertise and leadership to work with all sides while being firm and fair." "Good leadership is vital." • Adeline Maunupau Lee, born in Honolulu and a Hawaiiana specialist with the city's Parks and Recreation Department for 29 years, feels there are no issues in the current campaign. "This is not one political party platform in whieh we are pitted against eaeh other. This is an election of Hawaiians, by Hawaiians, forthe betterment of conditions of all Hawaiians." She said all of the candidates are coming together "in the same manner, wanting the young to be heard for they are the actual beneficiaries of the groundwork to be laid by the trustees." • The Rev. Tuck Wah Kaleiokalani Lee bom in Hilo in 1919 served as a missionary for nine years in Micronesia before retuming to Hawaii. He would press for betterment of Hawaiians as an OHA trustee by promoting two basic goals: spiritual and physical. "The spiritual one includes the promotion of Hawaiian values, such as aloha, ohana and kokua." Lee feels the "eyes of all Hawaii are upon this campaign and Hawaiians will have to prove themselves" at the polls as well as on the board of trustees. • Eugene K.H. Lum, 41, is an attorney mnning for OHA because I feel the trustees need someone with analytical ability, with legal training, with a feel for business because they will be handling in excess of $1 million. My background and training in law would be good because basically I am a real estate attomey dealing with financing and land problems." • Milnor Lum, 53, grew up in Honolulu and lives in Maunawili. A former contractor, he worked for the Honolulu Dept. of Parks and Recreation for the past 9Vi years, currently as chief of parks and maintenance. "I'm well versed in the recreation field and I feel I'm qualified to be a tmstee. I've also dealt with financial matters and I have an administrative background. There are a lot of self-interest groups and militants speaking out for us. Now I think the OHA is the closest you ean get to being an independent nation. I think it's time for me to get involved." • Barbara J. Makanui, 30, a dispatcher for a Kauai tmcking firm, helped develop the Hawaiian language program of Liliuokalani Children's Center. "My prime goal is to develop and implement a comprehensive master plan that will be befitting our heritage, to recmit an efficient legal staff to oversee the financial, social and political aspects of our concems and to make certain that the board of trustees will function as a separate entity, independent of the executive branch. Hawaiian people are very passive. We must somehow be brought up to date, to deal with prob-
lems now instead of living back in the past." Political strides made by minority groups on the Mainland offer lessons for Hawaiians, she says. • Clinton K. Makekau, 47, a bartender at the Kapalua Bay Resort, is studying Hotel Management at Maui Community College. He also studied opera and theology, orchestration and conducting at the University of Utah-Provo, sang with the Mormon T abernacle Choir and various opera companies on the mainland and used to own a trucking company. "I've been in several businesses and I feel that with my expertise, I ean contribute to the Hawaiian people. I've been a laborer like a lot of Hawaiian people have, and I also know what it's like to work your way up in the business area." • Alexander Louis Manners, 30, a eook at Makaha Resorts is also a shop steward for the Hotel Workers, Lx>cal 5. He established a short-lived community recreation center at Sand Island a few years ago. Manners said his experiences may prove helpful to OHA. For example, "when I was young, I moved from one housing to another in Kalihi and I've seen the state make a lot of mistakes. We have to stop selling the land, for the future of our kids. The big estates keep selling it, but if that continues, there won't be anything left." • Maximo Pelenuimahi Manuel, 39, a carpenter, is studying industrial education at Honolulu Community College and is an avid body-builder. He is a former Air Force veteran and a former Aloha Airlines agent. "MY goal is to help the Hawaiian people in the education department. OHA will also have to deal with federal and state reparations to the Hawaiian people and federal and state surplus land. I pretty basically have the same philosophy as the other candidates. I'd just like to apply my experience, and hopefully, it will be beneficial." • Billy Kauikahano Mitchell, 35, a United Airlines flight attendant, holds an education degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He helped form the Hawaiian Caucus at the University of Hawaii Law School. "Canoe paddling is my first love. I've been involved in the water all my life, and a lot of issues are starting to eome to water issues, not only in Hawaii but throughout the nation. One of the big frontiers right now is the oeean." He says that expertise ean be useful in OH A, whose first goal, he adds, should be "Hawaiian people uniting and having a sense of pride in their very existence. rather than tackling issues of land and who gets what." • Tita Wynne Morrison, 54, was an executive secretary forthe University of Hawaii Committee for the Preservation and Study of Hawaiian Language. Art and Culture for the past 10 years. "I'm concerned mostly that we have a basic structure— operational procedures, whatever you want to eall it — we ean follow and abide by to the benefit of everybody. OHA should be working towards helping the Hawaiians to help themselves, to direct them if need be, to improve upon the tools and to see that the money that comes in is utilized properly and doesn't get mixed up with administrative funds." • Malie I. "Midge" Mossman,42, iscoordinatorofcommunity services at Windward Community College. A former physical education, hula and Hawaiian music instructor at Kamehameha Schools, she was also a counselor and instructor at Leeward and Windward Community Colleges. " A lot of times we criticize and yet we don't run for office ourselves. I'm really running because I think it's really important that we lay a good foundation right now. I feel that I have the objectivity, the reasonableness and the energy to weigh Hawaiian issues and to seek solutions to problems using ho'oponopono whieh will be honest, effective and compatible with community needs." • Nona A. Nahalea, 26, is a reservations clerk at the SheratonWaikiki Hotel. She attended the University of Hwaii and the University of Califomia-Berkeley, studying business administration. "I'm more of a working, middle-class person. I know some of the candiates have terrific political backgrounds, terrific professional jobs. To me. that's not a true representation. A lot of the poeple registered to vote are of the younger generation — 1 8 to 25 years old. I think I'm experiencing what they're experiencing — getting loans for houses. planning their children's education, things like that." • Tom Kaawa Naki, 37, special counselor for the Honolulu Job Resource Center, has worked at Child and Family Service and the Waianae Rap Center and served in many community groups. including the Waianae Model Cities Law Enforcement Task Force, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center board and the Nanakuli Hawaiian Homestead Association board. He worked in the pineapple fields and at Kaiser Permanente as a laborer to support his family and put 2 younger brothers through school. He earned a sociology degree from Chaminade University. and is now working for a master's degree in social work at the University of Hawaii. "The issue in this first eleehon is to establish a firm foundation for OHA and the first step in building a firm foundation is to get the people to the polls to vote." • Judith N. Naumu-Steward graduated from Waimea HS and Brigham Young University-Provo with a master's in educatin from Gorham State. She teaches social studies and Hawaiiana at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility. "The purpose of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is to try to help the Hawaiian people through teaching various principles. Hawaii has been shortchanged. Hawaiians have not really been given what was theirs. OHA must enable Hawaiians to govern themselves. We cannot go back and say let's get even. We must piek up what we have now so the younger people ean reap the rewards. This is not for us, but our children. I want to be a part of this group, unite people and get rid of the stereotypes." • Hanalei Kihei (Soli) Niheu graduated from Kamehameha Schools, San Jose C.C. and the University of Hawaii. He is a carpenter and potter. He said OHA has been set up in a unHawaiian manner. He is concerned there will be a centralization of power on Oahu and said there is no representation from Lanai and Niihau. There should be a trustee representing every eommunity that is 50 percent Hawaiian. "The office must think in terms of long-range planning." He is also concerned with the "danger of investing monies in projects that will evict Hawaiian people" and " we must be careful we don't rob Peter to pay Paul." OHA should be concerned with education, job training and plaeement, and ensuring that agricultural lands remain intact. • Solonon P. Ono Sr. graduated from Waimea HS and established the Army of God training sessions here after evangelizing on the mainlanel. He is running for OHA because Hawaiians are the "heirsof the Hawaiian Islands. It'sall ourfathers have left us.
We should pursue ourbirthright." In the past. he wasn't interested in what was going on because it didn't matter. "Now it's possible that the Hawaiian people may have something awarded to them. We need to have good people in the trustee office because they will do disbursement. If they have no love or honesty..." OHA should open commissaries for the Hawaiian people "so they ean buy goods cheaper and we should start banks of our own." • Milton Solomon graduated from Kohala HS and attended the University of Hawaii. He is with the food and beverage department at Sheraton Hotels. "We need a functioning organization to handle things such as reparations, land, education, and job opportunities. I'd like to see people united — otherwise there is no strength, it's just a paper tiger." • Ishmael W. Stagner graduated Kamehameha Schools and the Church College of Hawaii. He has a masters degree from UCLA and a PHD in special education and psychology from Brigham Young University-Provo. He is an associate professor of education and psychology at Brigham Young University-Hawaii. He sees three challenges facing OHA; to give clear definition to what betterment means for Hawaiians; to provide a clearinghouse for discussion of problems in the Hawaiian community; and to infuse feelings of pride and self-sufficiency that characterized the early Hawaiians. "I am concerned because it is being seen as a giveaway program. If that were the case, I would disassociate myself. It should be to help the Hawaiians help themselves, develop things that onee characterized the Hawaiians." • Kalai Aluli Teves is a graduate of Chaminade University and has a masters in early childhood education from the University of Hawaii. She is director of Malia Land Co„ Malia Farms and Malia Exports. She said OHA should "provide for the native Hawaiian and others continued opportunities to improve and grow in the central point of the family or ohana. The office must provide for effective communication regarding opportunities to improve housing, jobs, education, health and care facilties for the working mother and elderly. By developing OHA into an efficient arm of govemment for the important role of family life and devotion to one's family, the caring aspect for the trustees will be very necessary and effective in administration and functional aspects." • Eugene Napua Tiwanak is a graduate of Maryknoll HS and the University of San Francisco. He is assistant administrator at St. Francis Hospital and has been active in Alu Like and Na Kupuna 'O Kapahulu. His primary eoneem is that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs "get off the right foot." The outcome will affect not only native Hawaiians but all other people of Hawaii. OHA, he said will be a "great avenue for educational purposes; not just classroom education, but educational programs that ean benefit people already working. The future of our people as a Hawaiian race essentially is in the hands of the voters. Their votes will have a tremendous effect on the sociological and psychological wellbeing of all Hawaiians." • John R. Kaha'iTopolinskiisagraduateofMcKinley HSand Brigham Young University-Provo. He is a history teacher at Mililani High School. has a hula school. and does private research in Hawaiian history and is a genealogist He is mnning for OH A because he "wanted to become involved in the movement." The first tmstees of the office "should pull Hawaiians together and address their problems, land, education, and give them a rightful plaee in the community." • Marvin Tung Loong is a graduate of Kapaa HS and Chaminade University. He is administrative assistant at Dynaelectron Corp. He wants to see the Hawaiians' quality of life improved. Education is imperative. "Without the necessary information, you can't get ahead." OHA must develop a master plan and set up priorities. It also must interface with county and state agencies. not be an adversarial agency. The biggest thing. he said, is management of land. • Roy Ventura attended McKinley HS. He works on inventions. He is not running on any particular platform. "I don't know anything about the office — why make promises. I don't want to make any statements that will fall short of what the office will do." • Ilima Kauka Williams graduated from Kamehameha Schools and the College of the Pacific. She has a master's degree in educational administration from Californa State Polytechnic College and is an instructor-counselor at Leeward Community College. She served in various positions on the State Association of Hawaiian Civic CIubs. the Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center, the Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club and Alu Like. Three words are her foundation — 'onipa'a, lokahi and ho'oulu. 'Onipa'a is from the past and was used by Kamehameha V and Queen Liliuokalani to admonish Hawaiians to stand firm and not give up in struggles. Lokahi means if we mean to get things done we must be united in thoughts and move in firm agreement. Ho'oulu projects us to the future for increased awareness of Hawaii and for Hawaii."
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• Moanikeala Akaka, 36, an activist who has embraced almost all of the Hawaiian causes since the Kalama Valley dispute on Oahu in 1 970, attended several colleges, comes from afamily with origins in historic Waipio Valley and emphasizes agricultural selfsufficiency. She has a long list of concerns including land use, planning and geothermal development. She wants to redistribute some 250,000 acres the state now holds for homesites and small family gardens for Hawaiians and others. " Hawaiians must determine their own direction, and OHA may provide the device for doing it." • Elizabeth K, "Maile" Akimseu, 50, Hawaiian homesteader, mother of 1 1 and long-time community leader, was one of the original Alu Like staff members on the Big Island. The Konaborn and raised candidate wants to help Hawaiians become more aware of the need for political involvement. Her priority is to get Hawaiian people aware of the decisions that affect them by getting them involved as issues develop. • Arthur Baxter Chang, 32, a Kona car salesman, lived on the Big Island for fi ve years after working on his nati ve Oahu as a carpenter and auto meehanie. He sees OHA's purpose as dealing with the financial and educational problems facing the Hawaiian community. , • , , . . ■ < .<'• ,
• Kalikookalani B. Chun, 36, a life-long Kona and Honolulu resident. a Skidmore College graduate and foiTner county employee, is a businesswoman today. She sees OHA as representing something unique in the United States and as something "that ean create the Hawaiian destiny." Its first job should be to secure and protect the natural resources of the islands. • Nina Kekaula Dart, 37, a homemaker and homestead farmer in Waimea. has also been a private practical nurse and attended Brigham Young University at Laie. She advocates self-suffi-ciency for Hawaiians and wants to advance her Mormon Church philosophy of setting aside a year's supply of foodstuffs to withstand any future crisis. • Eugene Kalanui, 47, macadamia nut farmer on a Panaewa homestead and a retired Pearl Harbor shipyard worker has a speeial appreciation for Hawaiians who are poor, on welfare, or live in government housing projects. • Kulia K. Kaupu, 50, mother of six, life-long Big Islander who has worked as a clerk in the mayor's office, teacher in a one-room school, is now a security aide at Konawaena High. For 15 years she was involved in eeonomie opportunity and health program activities and is a member of the Hawaii Island School Advisory Council. She wants to offer her knowledge and skills to OH A, saying all candidates are competent but she may have a better understanding of "the grass roots approach." • John C. Kekua, Jr. 32, Hilo tour driver and fatherof three, sees the success of OH A as being "our last big ehanee. " He has a fi vepoint platform that places basic education at the top and lists eeonomie development and employment, Hawaii rights, including reparations, helping the elderly and drawing more from their wisdom, and housing. "It is time for some new blood." • T anya Lee, 28 , homemaker and mother of 2 wants "to work for the benefitof the Hawaiian people." She was educated at Hawaii Community College. • George Naope, 52, longtime hula master and Hawaiian musieian and dance performer wants to be involved in matters Hawaiian and said his work on the Presidential Commission to study Honokohau in Kona helped awaken his concerns about the future of his people. • Abbie K. Napeahi, 61, nine-year veteran of the Hawaiian Home Lands Commission, and a longtime Hawaiian community leader, is the mother of 5, grandmother of 21 and great-grand-motherof4. In 1972she puttogetheracoalitionofHawaiiansand young activists to block high-rise resort development in Keaukaha. She said OHA should develop new programs. not overlap with any existing ones. • Leimalama "Malama" A. Solomon, 29. a longtime North Kohala resident received her doctorate in education and cultural anthropology from Oregon State last spring. She points to educational reform as the key to new job opportunities. Her platform emphasizes self-suffīciency, independence. Hawaiian dignity, and the theme "our culture must survive." • Keith Kalanimau Tom, 27, a four-year Big Island resident, bank loan officer, high school football eoaeh, and community worker, resides in Puna. He is running because he wants his four children to benefit from OHA. • Ralph L. Yost, formerly of Honolulu, says "On November 4. 1980, the Hawaiian people will. in a special eleehon. participate in the realization of a dream that began many. many years ago. A dream that would give the Hawaiian people the right to determine their own destiny, to preserve their own lifestyle, and to have greater control over the use of Hawaiian lands. As a member on the Board of Trustees, I would like to use my education and experienee, acquired in Hawaii and on the mainland, to serve all of the Hawaiian people. I have ideas of serving our old people and of using their talents for the benefit of the community and to elevate their esteem in themselves. I would also like to participate in the selection of programs in the Hawaii educational system that will be beneficial to students of Hawaiian ancestry at all levels of education."
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• Danita McGregor Aiu was student president and valedictorian at Sacred Hearts Academy on Oahu. She received her teaching certificate from the University of Hawaii. She is chairwoman of the Kauai Library Commission, sits on the board of the Kamehameha Schools Association of Kauai. and is a pasi chairwoman of the St. Catherine's School education committee. "I am personally committed to upgrading the living standards of all Hawaiians, to perpetuating the culture and establishing pride in being Hawaiian." • Lovey Apana is a teacher whc/graduated from Brigham Young University at Laie. She is a hula instructor, a lecturer in Hawaiian history, and state president of the Women's Auxiliary of the Order of Kamehameha. "A key to improving the situation of Hawaiians is education. There is a need to go to the young people and find out where the problems in education lie. focusing on the elementary schools. And we have to open up job opportunities, e ven if it means opening up our own stores and shopping centers." • Hartwell Blake is a former chariman of the county Board of Supervisors and was a delegate to the 1978 ConCon where he was a member of the Hawaiian Affairs Committee. He has been a civil defense director and an instructor for 23 years with the Department of Education. A former agricultural adviser to Laos. a retired lieutenant eolonel in the Hawaii National Guard, and a small businessman and farmer. he says "I strongly believe in a good Hawaiian history and language program forthe state." One of the keys to the betterment of the Hawaiian people is development of an understanding of the culture. • La France Keahi Kapaka a descendant of the Hui O Mahaulepu is a title abstracter and genealogist. She is a graduate of Kauai Community College. She hopes the Office of Hawaiian Affairs ean counter some of the negative misconceptions about the Hawaiian people and accentuate the positive, the contributions of the Hawaiian culture. A positive attitude would promote harmony, improve educational opportunities for young Hawaiians and help bring about needed unity within the Hawaiian eommunity. "I'm a voice speaking for the grass roots, a person with no political ties." , , , , , , , ,
• Moses K. Keale is employed by the state Department of Social Services and Housing. He is unit ehaiiman for the HGEA. a deaeon in Ke Akua Mana Church and a member of the Order of Kamehameha. A Hawaiian language teacher and consultant for the Kahiko Halapai Hula Alapai Halau. he is also host of the Gentle Moke Program on KUAI radio. He says OHA should help the Hawaiian people get iand for homes and farms at lower interest rates, provide legal and technical assistance in dealing with bureaucratic matters and bring the Hawaiian people together. "We should try and get the Hawaiians to pull for one thing, instead of pulling in all different directions."
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• Walter "Kinky" Correa Sr. 62apastdirectorofthePaukukalo Hawaiian Homestead Association, is a retired construction and maintenance supervisor for the state highways division. His priority projects are: to conduct an inventory of lands whieh are to be made available for use by OHA, provide land for agricultural use and provide educational opportunities. • Richard Kealoha Hoopii Sr., 39, a musician and Maui County parks worker, was involved in the ALOHA Association and other efforts to seek federal reparation to native Hawaiians. He said Hawaiians should not forget "from whenee we eame. A need to accept both Hawaiian and Westem ways of living is most important." • Hamby Akina Kahawaii, 43, is involved in deveIoping her family lands in Kihei. She said the "No. 1 goal is unification, to bring our people together. There has been fighting among the Hawaiian people, I feel, more than among other races." She said OHA should focus on providing educational opportunities for young Hawaiians "to allow them to find self employment and business opportunities." • Joseph Kealoha, 40, ownerof his own real estate business and a 1978 Hawaii Businessman of the Year. named five majorconcerns: education, providing jobs, preserving Hawaiian culture, developing housing and developing polkieal strength. • Sam Kealoha Jr., former teacher who challenged federal authorities to arrest him at the Hale O Keawe heiau does not want OHA to succeed — not in its present form. He said the office set up by the 1 978 ConCon is aimed at redefining "native Hawaiian" to include persons of less than 50 p>ercent Hawaiian blood. "The question is not who is the best qualified candidate for OH A, but is this the best OHA for us, the 'native Hawaiians'? As a eandidate in this political fraud. I intend to educate my people." He is consistent with his 1 977 argument when he was arrested by FBI agents at City of Refuge. His position is that the U.S. govemment has no authority over him because of the American support of the illegal overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893. • Harold Lee, 6 1 , a retired Air Force officer works for a Maui landscaping company. He sees OHA controlling land to fund educational programs and to provide land for use by Hawaiians similar to the way Hawaiian Homes provides land to native Hawaiians. "Hawaiians are a minority who are not receiving help. and we are not going to get help unless we help ourselves." He also saw OH A "overseeing" other agencies whieh now work on Hawaiian affairs. such as Alu Like. the statewide agency funded through federal native Americans grants. • Mary Helen K. Lindsey, 38, former director and member of Maui and state Hawaiian eanoe racing organizations, is matron for the Lahainaluna High School boarding program. "I was tired of complaining and not doing anything about it. I feel strongly for the Hawaiian movement. The idea is to serve our people. but not just the Hawaiians, but everyone will benefit from this organization." She sees OHA coordinating efforts of other organizations such as the Bishop Estate and Kamehameha Schools, Alu Like and Liliuokalani Trust. • Cummins Mahoewas notavailableforcommenton hisplatform. • Charles K. Maxwell, 43, former poliee officer and founder of the ALOHA Association. was involved in the Hawaiian civil rights movement since 1972. "If OHA ean accomplish unity among the native Hawaiians and provide the vehicle to finding their identities, we'd have accomplished a lot. It's spiritual, not physical." He did not expect the office to accomplish mueh in its initials years of existence, except to organize and establish goals for programs. " With $ 1 .5 million to start provided by the Legislature to help all Hawaiians, we can't expect to accomplish a lot right away." • Rod Kaahanui Paahana, 31,a paralegal aide with the Maui pub!ic defender's office, has been in hotel work as assistant manager at the Hotel Inter-Continental. He forecasts a lengthy organization period before the trustees ean establish programs. He would set priorities on educational programs and preservation of Hawaiian culture. • The Rev. Nani Smythe Saffery, 61, of Olowalu, is a minister with the Maluhia Church at Waiehu. She also worked at the Sheraton-Maui. "Today, the eyes of Congress, the Legislature and other nationalities are upon all the Hawaiians. They are watching to see if we are able to run this new office in an efficient and progressive way. Let us all unite together to show them we ean and we will make it stay."
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• Louis Hao, 45, a former Hilo basketball star who was appointed by the late Gov. John Burns to head the Moloka'i State Offices and later was Administrative Assistant and Parks Director under former Maui Mayor Elmer Cravalho. Hao cited his 1 8 years of experience in govemment, and said that experience would help to meet "human needs." Besides eeonomie development, he recognized the need for programs in the areas of housing, employment, health. energy, agriculture, transportation. planning, tourism, commerce, recreation and human services. • Sam Peters Jr., 49. a former Teamsters business agent who returned to Moloka'i to start the Moloka'i Free Press Newspaper in 1975. He favors providing programs that would allow
Hawaiians to become independent, rather than depending on the govemment to provide financing and other resources. Peters grew up on a Hawaiian homestead lot at Hoolehua and said, "I saw what the Hawaiian Homes Commission did to the Hawaiians. I think I have the experience to give something to the community that they ean better themselves." • Bernard Punikaia, 50, the Kalaupapa resident who has been a leader in the Save Hale Mohalu effort, eame down with leprosy when he was 6 years old. He sees a need to develop educational programs that would provide Hawaiians with "the basic skills to open up their horizons." He also would seek to develop "cultural learning centers" on eaeh island to instill more pride in Hawaiian culture. • Walter Ritte Jr., 35, who broke into the public scene by leading beach access marches, based on "Hawaiian Rights", and helped found the Protect Kahoolawe movement says, "This has given me an insight and understanding into Hawaiian problems and eoncems." Spending three months of the 1978 ConCon watching and lobbying for the creation of OHA has instilled a "strong eommitment" to its success. "I now offer my many years of experienee working with Hawaiians, my energies as an opio, my knowledge from the Kupuna and Universities. But most important, I offer my Aloha and my Mana to Hawaii."
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• Abraham Puhipau Aku Ahmad, 42, evicted earlier this year from Sand Island, feels that "unless the right people are voted into office, OHA will be just another scam by the system to keep the Hawaiian people captive." He envisions a separate Hawaiian nation as part of a 20-year plan in whieh the Hawaiian language will be compulsory for all students who are educated here. • Peter K.,Apo the Waianae Coast educator, specializes in community relations as the Leeward District liaisori officer for the Department of Education. A frequent letter-to-the-editor writer he has publicly expressed his views on a range of social issues. His most controversial recent public statement was to criticize Poliee Chief Francis Keala for "unbelievable arrogance and tunnel vision" after the chief chastized the Waianae eommunity last year for seeming to be more interested in football than education. Apo feels OHA "finally gives Hawaiians an opportunity to work out problems in the center of the system." He would like to see OHA take a comprehensive and critical look at services now provided the Hawaiian people, support those of value, "and they try to fill the void in areas where the electorate feels services are lacking." • Henry Keawe Ayau Jr., an officer in a real estate firm and several other businesses, has extensive ties in the Waikiki entertainment industry. He feels his background, especially his involvement in numerous civic and professional organizations, qualifies him for the OH A seat. Graduated from Punahou School and University of Hawaii and University of Oregon. at 39. Ayau feels OH A provides an opportunity "to improve the quality of life of our people" and he intends to "strive for great unity of purpose so we ean go forward together." • Moses H. Burrows, 56, retired federal worker, has an eeumenieal view of OHA. He sees its existence as "an opening the gates" not only for Hawaiians, but for all minority ethnic and racial groups. He graduated from Kamehameha Schools. If eleeted. he will work to perpetuate and enhanee the social, eeonomie, and cultural activities of the Hawaiian people. • Vernette R. (Vern) Funn, 33, graduated from Kamehameha SchooIs. The telephone company business accounts representative seeks election to OH A because she wants "to help the native Hawaiian who wants to know his self-worth and become a good citizen in his community." She will initiate policies "to stimulate the Hawaiian thrust toward realization of his natural. important culture." • Ethel (Hiilani) Gurczynski, 69, the grandmother of 9, is active in senior citizens affairs and feels strongly that "the elderly should be represented on the OHA board." Fluent in Hawaiian, she recently completed a bilingual project for the Department of Education designed to smooth out Hawaiian/English language difficulties on Kauai among children as they make the daily transition between home and school. She thinks OHA should work "to revive the Hawaiian spirit" and that one way to achieve this is by placing more importance on language, especially in talking out and trying to solve problems." • Geo (This Old Man) Hookano, 71, for more than half a century has performed with the Roya! Hawaiian Band. He now wants to drum upchange "especially forthe younger generation." " We have to try to repair the damage done to the Hawaiians, and the most important project is education. Hookano, a Papakolea resident, would like to see OHA begin special "after-school schools" devoted exclusively "to teaching our young people Hawaiian history, language and culture. Kamehameha Schools simply can't reach them all. They're not doing a sufficient job." • Katherine K. Kahihikolothe city parks groundskeeper says "every time you look in the newpaper, our Hawaiian kids are down. I want to serve as an ad vocate for the rights of the Hawaiian F>eople and my first priority is education." She wants to work with other OHA members to get more federal funds for education of Hawaiians. "I think we ean better the situation for the Hawaiian people, especially the poor people." Born on the Big Island she now lives in Waimanalo. She was formerly ehaiiman of the Honolulu Community Action Program and a member of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board. • William Kamana Kala Sr,62 yrold Waimanaloheavy equipemnt operator says "I don't think we should preserve our culture. We should use it. Our people have been dominated for so long it is pitiful. Right now, we are living a haole life. If we could cut back some things, we would be on the right road. Simplicity is the basic appraoch. I think I have a lot to offer my people. To me, education is only a tool that has to be sharpened. But if we have a religious basis — a belief in God — then other things would fall in plaee." • Ernest Kealoha 38-year-old Waialae-Kahala resident says he's totally involved in community affairs and will draw upon that background and his expertise in real estate "to get some things done." He was chairperson of this year's Kamehameha Song
Festival. "The stigma of the Hawaiians is that they can't work together. But I'm a religious guy, a born-again Christian, and my goal is to get everybody together in one body and of one mind. ī'm not saying that concensus necessarily has to reflect my point of view." • Gard Kealoha is the public information officer for the Hsawaiian service organization Alu Like and editor of the publication "Native Hawaiian." He has served on numerous baords and eommissions and was president of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu for several years. Kealoha says he also "had worked very hard to bring about change longe before the Hawaiian movement eame to prominence." He doesn't like "the divisiveness I see among Hawaiians whieh makes it imperative that OHA get some hard-line data by surveying the constituency and then setting out to provide the people with what they want." • Ed Keawe Aiko Jr. 39, owner of a drywall business, was bom and raised in Honolulu. "I think it's important that Hawaiians get outselves in the educationaI process of all Hawaiians, to give us a ehanee to get into the mainstream of society statewide and worldwide. OHA gives us a ehanee to stop blaming others in society for our own woes and gives us a ehanee for more selfidentity." The first order of OHA business, he said, "is to get out of this political game and get on with Hawaiian affairs." • Lester Kalauokalani Kelii of Honolulu attended James Liek High School in San Jose, San Jose J.C. and Universal Airlines Personnel, Florida. He worked as a Res. Tech. Lockheed Missile Division, Landscape Foreman, Bartender, Cook, Salesman, and Trophy maker and engraver. "Because OHA is a new office, I urgee all Hawaiians and native Hawaiians to register to vote. And if you did register, please vote on Nov. 4 for the candidate of your ehoiee. You as Hawaiians and Native Hawaiians should be proud to have such a great group of candidates of Hawaiian ancestry to choose for this important office." • Richard Kinney Jr. of Honolulu attended public schools in San Francisco. Graduated from Mission High in 1957 he worked in Hawaii's tourist industry as a driver with Tradewind Tours and Aloha Lei Greeters. He is active in a member of Waialua HCC, Aloha Week and Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana. He says, "My main concerns as a candidate for OHA are the birth rights of the Hawaiian people back to lands that were held in trust for their benefit and the tax exemption of the land and Hawaiian people. I feel that many problems that face the Hawaiian people ean be eased by returning the Hawaiian people back to lands that are held in trust for their benefit. Also that our religious, sovereign and beneficial birth rights be protected." • Harry Kanalulu Kuikahi of Honolulu is a graduate of Hilo Intermediate and High School. He is retired from the Honolulu Fire Department and is an instructor at Bishop Museum of Hawaiian arts and crafts. Kuikahi says, "If you truly want to take an active role in government for the betterment of all of us Hawaiians, run, don't walk to the polls on Nov. 4 and cast your ballot for OH A. Harry will work diligently for better educational and vocational programs for our youths and he will concentrate his efforts toward gainful employment for those who seek it. He leaves you with this often repeated phrase: Ask not what OH A ean do for you — but what you ean do for OHA. • Charles K. Lau could not be reached for comment. • Clayton Kaleiahihi Naluai was educated at Hawaiian Missionary Academy, Glendale College and Andrews University. He is actively involved in Nuuanu YMC A; Lokahi Ki Society and with children and adults in Self-Improvement programs. "I want to be of service to our people. to accomplish the goals onee thought to be beyond our reach . . . to instill pride, self-esteem and dignity to our people. To give every Hawaiian an equal opportunity to develop himself intellectually, culturally and eeonomically. I believe I ean contribute to these achievements. I am totally committed to the success of the Office of Hawaiian AfTairs and the destiny of the Hawaiian people." • Nathan Napoleon is president and founder of Surf Cats Hawaii ine. and several other businesses and is a member of several community and Hawaiian organizations. "The issues that confront Hawaiians these days are all the same. We're all after the same things — education so that we ean get ahead. I want to be part of this very historic thing. If I were to target on any one thing, it would be political involvement and political clout. That's where you get things done." • C. Ulu Mamala Nataniela of Aiea attended Kamehameha School, Aiea HS and the Travel Institute of the Pacific. "I know that as one Mind, we Hawaiians ean be a powerful force in this State of Hawaii through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. I am a Hawaiian with an urgent desire to help this office serve The People, but I ean only do this if I'm elected. I am running for the seat of Oahu. Please allow me to do so. Please attend the rallies to learn more about me and the other candidates for OH A. Only You ean decide for Me." • Pearl Richardson Nishimura of Kailua is a graduate of Roosevelt HS and the University of Hawaii and worked at the Lt. Governor's Office as a legislative staff aide. She was involved in Kailua Neighborhood Board, Kamehameha School PTA. Christian Education. St. Christophers and Kawaiahao Churches. "Wela ka hao! OHA is a reality. We now have "standing" to work to improve our living conditions. The protection of Kaho'olawe needn't involve "breaking the law." Such an illegal act as the Hilo Airport being placed on Hawaiian Homes Lands, needn't happen. Native Hawaiians deserve reparations, also speeial educational programs. It bothers me that Bishop Estate's elementary school program serves Oahu childrenexclusively. My most valuable work experience that may be helpful to OHA has been withtheTerritorial and State legislatures 1947-78. Ihave the time to serve OHA fully." • Lawrence L. Noa could not be reached for comment. • Ihilani Chun Station of Kailua is a graduate of Kamehameha School for Girls, Dickinson College, University of Hawaii. She has worked doing auditing, accounting, computer programming, statistics, hotel and real estate work, and is actively involved in Daughters of Hawaii, Kamehameha Day Parade, Ahahui Kaiulani, Girl Scout Leader, and Halau Hula O' Maiki. Her message is that with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, "the Hawaiian people now face their most important challenge. Our horizons are endless, our opportunities limitless: we will determine them. We must strive together, now, to create and sustain a bright and dignified f"—re for all Hawaiian people."