Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 5, 1 Mei 1985 — Large Turnout at Deaf Conference [ARTICLE]

Large Turnout at Deaf Conference

Nearly 70 persons, including three dozen deaf or hearing impaired, turned out for a workshop to leam of different services available to them. It was held Apr. 20 at the Moiliili Community Center and co-sponsored by Alu Like and Hawaii Services on Deafness. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs was one of 13 participating organizations. Human Services Specialist Sam Holt gave OHA's presentation.

Ruth D. Merz and Ed Wake of HSOD were very pleased with the surprisingly large turnout. They were especially enthused over the attention given the speakers. Eaeh speaker gave a brief talk, answered questions and handed out literature for participants to take home. Through interpreter Diane Ishigami, many of the deaf participants expressed their appreciation for the workshop because now they know of the many services available to them. Participating agencies and speakers were:

Aloha State Association for the Deaf, Georgia Morikawa; Alu Like, Audrey Wagner; Anuenue Ohana Kuli (A-OK), Sister Marian Tung; Bishop Museum, Gladys Akina; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hardy Spoehr; Department of Social Services and Housing, division of vocational rehabilitation services, Valerie Caminos, Kahaunani Mokeau and Gloria Vincent; HSOD, Ed Wake. Also, Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind, Aliee Unawai; Ho'opa Ola, Karen Grove and Fay Jones; Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Sue Sugimura; OHA, Sam Holt; Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center, Timothy Wong.

More than one-half of the deaf participants were Hawaiians and Holt apologized to the group for not earlier dealing with this group of handicapped. "We've dealt with everyone else but you," he bluntly stated. "We've dealt with alcoholics, drug addicts, youth offenders and I'm ashamed to admit we haven't dealt with you until now," Holt apologized. He elaborated on OHA's brief history and the many services it has provided native Hawaiians and Hawaiians.