Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 1989 — Operation ʻOhana [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Operation ʻOhana

Mainland Hawaiians also join up

by Ed Miehelman Public Information Officer Operation 'Ohana is off and running. The nationwide enrollment program for persons of Hawaiian ancestry was formally launched by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at a July 27 news conferenee in Governor John Waihee's office. The governor, in signing his enroIlment form urged Hawaiians everywhere to follow suit. OHA administrator Richard Paglinawan says he anticipates that as many as 150,000 Hawaiians will eome forward and enroil between now and next July. The ongoing program will generate basic demographic data on Hawaiians and provide information on whieh to base federal and state benefits for Native Hawaiians. Enrollment will alsov qualify Hawaiians for a special "benefits package" whieh may include group insurance and discounts on goods, services and transportation. Even more important, Operation 'Ohana will unite all Hawaiians in an allianee whieh draws its strength from Hawaiian pride and historic rights, providing a strong voice capable of influencing decisions whieh will benefit many generations of Hawaiians here and on the mainland. Even before the July 27 kick-off ceremony in Honolulu, OHA staff members Rona Rodenhurst and Jalna Keala conducted an Operation 'Ohana field demonstration during the annual Hawaiian Inter-Club Council of Southern California's annual Ho'olaulea. The event, whieh took plaee on July 15 and 16 was held at Alondra Park in Lawndale, California. OHA Chairman Tommy Kaulukukui was grand marshal of the Ho'olaulea. Rodenhurst and Keala report that reaction to the enrollment was "beyond our imagination as people lined up in the hot sun and patiently waited their turn to fill out applications."

The OHA team only had time to complete 400 applications, but since eaeh of the forms listed between five and six additional 'ohana members, the total number enrolled was between 2,000 and 2,400. Enrollment is free. To enroll yourself and family members or for more information, please write or phone your nearest OHA office and leave your name, address and telephone number. Someone will contact you within a eouple of continued on page 4

Rona Rodenhurst, OHA education officer, helps fill out an application at the Operation 'Ohana registration booth.

Operation 'Ohana /rom page 1 weeks. Make sure that anyone asking you to sign an enrollment form is an official OHA representative. Eaeh 'Ohana voiunteer has an identification card and the enrollment form has the words "Office of Hawaiian Affairs" printed across the top. OHA offices are located at : • Oahu: Honolulu; 1600 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1500; Honolulu, Hawaii 96814; (808)946-2642 • Kauai: Lihue; Lihue Shopping Center, Room 219; Lihue, Hawaii 96766; (808)245-4390 • Molokai: Kaunakakai; Thomas Trade Center, Room 103; Kaunakakai, Hawaii 96748; (808)5533611 • Maui: Wailuku; 400 Hookai Street, Room206; Wailuku, Hawaii 96793; (808)244-4219 • Hawaii: Hilo; 688 Kinoole Street, Unite 4A; Hilo, Hawaii 96720; (808)961-7349 • Hawaii: Kailua-Kona; 75-5706 Hanama Plaee, 106-B; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740; (808)329-7368.