Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 2, 1 February 1994 — Let us take action to build a sound economic base [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Let us take action to build a sound economic base

by the Rev. Moses K. Keale, Sr. Trustee, Kaua'i & Ni'ihau It is now the new year and I have hounded this subject for more than three years. I will not stop addressing this subject until "words" become action and actions become the basis for our reality! If we, as a native people, ever expect to regain our independence and self-sufficiency, it is essential that we establish a

strong, sound, and independent eeonomie base. With such a foundation, we ean build in the areas most important to all of us — the best education, the best of health, affordable and quality housing, better communities, strong

ohana, and honest administration of government. We must build a financial institution that, under our direct control, is answerable first and foremost to our needs and our desires. This action is a direct investment in ourselves, our future, our ehildren! In order to get a better, more direct understanding of require-

ments and processes necessary to establish such an institution, Trustee Kanahele and I traveled to Washington, D.C. for a series of meetings with government officials and potential allies in our march towards independence. Accompanying us was our own expert and consultant, Lawrence Okinaga, as well as Joe Prince, OHA's special counsel for development in Washington. We met with the Federal

National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Comptroller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision, U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Federal Reserve governor Larry Lindsey,

Center for Community Change, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mae), Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and McDowell Enterprises International, ine. These were important meetings for us to understand the resources available and the guidelines and poli-

cies of these agencies and organizations. More important, it was an opportunity for them to learn about and understand the plight of the Hawaiian people and our historic struggles for eeonomie independence. Although we are far from reaching any eonelusions, it is clear that we are on the right path! To establish our own financial institution should and must be a priority for our eeonomie policies. We are willing to work with government and private organiztions and agencies when, and if, they are ready to meet us on eommon ground. We are prepared to pursue our goals and

take our proper plaee in the eeonomie hierarchy of the business world. Now it is time for us to do our homework and present a clear action plan. The establishment of a FSLC (financial services loan corporation) is the proper first step. Let us not drag our feet. _If we had not acted on our eonvictions to assist Hawaiian busineses, we would not have established the successful OHA Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund. If we had not desired better education for our young Hawaiians we would not have established the OHA Educational

Foundation. The list goes on and on! We must act, take reasonable risks, commit ourselves to action plans and seek independent thinking at all times. We live in a time that calls, even begs, for action. Let us be people of action, not just of words and thoughts. Eaeh of you must be a person of action! Eaeh of you must contribute to changing words into positive, meaningful actons! A i mana'o kekahi e lilo po'okela i waena o 'oukou, e pono no e lilo ia i kauwa nā 'oukou. Nā ke akua e mālama a e alaka'i ia kākou apau.