Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 1987 — from the Chairman's Desk [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

from the Chairman's Desk

Ushering in a New Era

By Moscs K. Keale Sr., OHA Chairman Trustee, Kauai and Niihau

"Ho'olako — We Are Enriched" is a celebration of the Year of the Hawaiian in 1987. We as Hawaiians are indeed very enriched by our culture, tradition and a resurgence in leaming the Hawaiianlanguage, the other official language of this state. As we enter this Year of the Hawaiian, your Office

of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees also is emerging into a new era — a new beginning if you will. Your new Board, following the Nov. 4 election of five Trustees, moved swiftly following its organizational meeting Dec. 2 and its first formal business meeting Dec. 12. One of the first actions of the new board at the latter meeting was approving a new two-year contract for Administrator Kamaki A. Kanahele III and also renewed for another year the contract of Larry Kamakawiwo'ole, OHA's Federal Liaison Officer in Washington, D. C. The contract extension of Mr. Kanahele reaffirms our confidence in him personally and in his ability to move the agency in the direction desired by the Board. I am satisfied with the high level of professionalism he has brought to this office. The Board's unanimous vote bears this out. In tune with a new beginning, OHA's Honolulu headquarters are now located in more spacious surroundings on the 15th floor of the Pan American Building, 1600 Kapiolani Blvd. Some new staffing go along with the new location so as to better serve you. The Board is now served by an executive secretary (Laura Kamalani-Paikai), a first in the brief existence of

the agency. A more spacious conference room, separate offices for the chairman, board members and executive secretary are among many improvements at the new location. With the beautiful but solemn first ever investiture ceremony of Dec. 6 at Kawaiahao Church and the two meetings we've had, we feel the tone has been set for a very productive and meaningful 1987. The inauguratipn of the first Go0ernor of Hawaiian ancestry since statehood and the first Lieutenant Governor of Filipino extraction are indeed positive signs of a new beginning. I appreciate very mueh the vote of confidence given me by my fellow Trustees. I see here a Board whieh, diverse as it is, will be able to work together and move this office toward becoming the "puuhonua," the center or leading force to unite our Hawaiian people and help them achieve their goals and dreams. Please know I will work very hard to reach a fair and just solution to the ceded land issue with our new Governor. I also hope to see the Office of Hawaiian Affairs become very active in various aspects of eeonomie self-sufficiency for the benefit of our Hawaiian people. It is with this feeling of ohana we are encouraged in facing a new beginning. While there are many uncertainties down the road, I am sure all nine Trustees will be gearing their efforts towards the mutual benefit of our Hawaiian people I find it proper at this time to eeho the words of Gov. John David Waihee III in his inaugural address: "Let the word go forth to everyone . . . whoever you are and whatever your path may be. This is your government. Come to it. Tomorrow is your future. Plan for it. This is your home. Cherishit." Ho'omanawanui, onipa'a and ku lokahi kakou. Mahalo!