Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 2, 1 Pepeluali 1991 — Directions for the new OHA board [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Directions for the new OHA board

by Moses K. Keale, Sr. Chairman, Board of Trustees Trustee, Kaua'i & Niihau

Today, we embark on a new journey! We have a new ship and new members of the crew! I thank my fellow crew members who have placed their confidence in my ability to lead. I pray that Ke Akua will guide my

thoughts, words and deeds as we, your elected leaders, work to bring benefits to your our 'ohana for the betterment of the Hawaiian people. As we look back on the ten years of preparing our ship for the voyage into the future, we see mueh growth in our Office of Hawaiian Affairs. It took ten long hard years to establish our identity and bring about direction in our organization. Programs were built and some were successes and others failures, but still we persevere. Like a child, we leam to crawl, walk, then run. Now, it is time to raise the family. Now, it is time to concentrate on bringing home the food for the table and the benefits to the 'ohana.

When I was asked if 1 would accept the chairmanship of this board, I had to stop and think about where "Moke" was at in his life. Am I truly ready to accept this role of leadership? Am I mature enough to make the decisions for the 'ohana that a wise leader should make? Am I at peaee with my Lord and myself? After great deli-

beration and prayers I believe that the correct decision was made. Over one year ago, I was taught by 18 wise kupuna at a retreat in Kaua'i, "Ka Ha Mai Na Kupuna Mai No Ke Au Hou," about the term "koho ia" (ehoiee, no ehoiee). Although we are given the ability to make a ehoiee about our life path, we really have no ehoiee when it comes to service to our fellow man — the path is obvious. So I choose the obvious path. Ichoose to serve our neonle in the oosition that is offered.

This will be a new OHĀ! We, your servants, the nine men and women who were elected by you, our 'ohana, to serve the Hawaiian people pledge to build a new and better OHA! Unele Tommy and I have served the people from the very first day. We have learned about the successful programs and the not-so successful programs. We will put that knowledge to work with the energy of the new, more youthful ideas of the recently elected trustees and brinq the benefits to the people.

We have reorganized the board to provide for more concentrated, direct input from the people. Eaeh of the nine trustees brings a special skill and we will make use of those talents. There will be seven standing committees to serve you. Eaeh committee will have a different area of eoneem.

There will be a committee on legislation designed to monitor legislation on the county and state level whieh affects you. A committee on education and culture where you ean address your concerns on matters of education and other cultural concerns. For those with problems in health or other human services problems you ean address one of our committees charged with those

areas of review. For those in need of help for business or eeonomie development issues or with land management problems, a committee has been established. To improve your understanding of how OHA functions, and to creatively increase the benefits established by other government agencies an OHA relations committee will stand ready to listen and recommend imorovements. The Committee

on Native Hawaiian Status and Entitlement and Housing will address concerns on benefits, entitlements and the hard issues of housing for our 'ohana. And finally, and most importantly, there is a committee that addresses how we spend the money of our family and the policies governing those issues and the functioning of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Yes, it will not be business as usual at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. We will make this your office. You are invited to participate. You are invited to visit us. We want to hear your thoughts. This office stands ready to serve you as best we ean. The resources and knowledge of all our staff are available to everyone. We are your servants. If we cannot answer the questions you have then we will work diligently to find the answers. If we do not have the

programs that address your problems, we will try to find those programs or create them as appropriate. Do not be afraid to let us know how we ean serve you. You make a difference! So please make a difference!! A i manao kekahi e Hlo i pookele i waena o oukou, e pono no e lilo ia i kauwa na oukou. Na ke Akua e malama a e alakai ia kakou apau.