Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 4, 1 April 1987 — Volunteers Doing Their Thing at OHA [ARTICLE]

Volunteers Doing Their Thing at OHA

By Christine Valles Policy, Planning, Research Specialist Do you know the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has a volunteer program? The agency has always been fortunate to have many talented people freely sharing their skills. In July, 1986, OHA instituted a formal volunteer program in recognition of the valuable services these people provide. Betwen July 1 and Dec. 31, 1986, 11 volunteers provided a total of 300 hours of service. Among them are Maxine Mrantz, professional writer and publisher whose in-depth article on pa'u riders appeared in the ' January, 1987, issue of Ka Wai Ola O OHA; Dr. Robert Heath and Jerald Piett who taught a statistics course for OHA staff; and Eva Robinson who assists the planning division staff with research. There are three other very special people who volunteer on a regular basis. Sylvia Krewson-Reck has spent a day at the OHA office almost every week since July, helping with a variety of eleneal tasks. Also providing clerical assitance since October is Laura Hanamaikai. In addition to Mrs. Mrantz, Ka Wai Ola O OHA also has volunteer Lee Jay Paikai who helps deliver hundreds of newspapers every month. He has been "on the road for OHA" since September. There are many opportunities for volunteers to work with OHA staff and many times no special skills are required. Volunteers receive a parking allowanee, mileage when assignments require travel and a luneh allowanee when they work all day. Most of the work is done in the OHA office during regular office hours under supervision of a staff officer.