Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 1998 — CARPENTER RE-RUN [ARTICLE]

CARPENTER RE-RUN

Editor's note: In last month Ka Wai Ola o OHA 's Candidates in Focus forum at-large candidate Dante Carpenter's biography was inadvertentiy printed instead oJ his answer\ KWO's ques tions. Here are his responses: 1. Why do you want to be an OHA trustee ? I believe there is a need for Hawaiian advocates to eome together to seriously address long-standing concems regarding the future of all Hawaiians. lt is time to rise up together, join hands and work for our eommon goals! "Eala! E alu! Ekuilima!" It is time for comradeship, not contention. "Kū a 'aha lua!" It is time for OHA's trustees to reestablish OHA's roots in the communities. Asacommunity advocate for over 30 years, with roots in Damon Tract, Kalihi and Ka'ū, I'm both confident and humbled by the knowledge, experience and vision I have gained. I want to be an OHA trustee to work with other trustees to help Hawaiians move with dignity into the future. 2. What qualities do you bring ■ ' ■ ,y '■■■' '■'■ ■ ■ ■ '■' ■■' " " ' " ' ■"■ ' ■ " ■ ' »' ' -

to tlte position? As a former OHA administrator, Hawai'i county mayor, eouneil person and state senator, I know these experiences ean be used to benefit the Hawaiian people. I ean "hit the ground running" because I'm familiar with OHA's operations. I also have a clear know!edge of the legislature to ensure thatiLs actions are good for the Hawaiian ty3. What do you consider the most important issues eonfronting the Office ofHawaiian Ajfairs and/or the Hawaiian people? My top concerns are: • Conducting advocacy efforts for Hawaiians by holding more board meetings, hearings and symposiums in the Hawaiian communities. There is a eompelling need for better eommunications with the Hawaiian eommunities. • Protection of all of OHA's entitlements and enforcement of all legal agreements, contracts and'legislative or congressional acts. • Toexpandanddevelopa solid education plan to educate all Hawaiians through programs like the Education Foundation and Hawaiian immersion: to support and perpetuate our culture; to ensure all Hawaiians live in homes; and, to take care of our elderly. • To advocate a nation-build-ing effort through self-determina-

tion. To eome together and to strive to meet our eommon goals to exercise control of land and natura! cultural resources to benefit all Hawaiians, not just a few. "'A'ohe hana nui ke alu 'ia." No task is too big when done together by all. 4. .4.? an OHA trustee. how would you solve these concerns ? A necessary first step is to update OHA's Master Plan. "I Luna A'e" and Functional Plan by getting input from all Hawaiians. Then, develop a long-range aelion and funding plan to implement the Plans. In order for OHA to provide ! needed services to Hawaiians. OHA must guarantee that there is money to get the woik done. I will vvork at ensuring that OHA' s assets are safely invested and i getting the highest interest rate in | low risk investments. IwiIl also work at gelting the full amount of money owed to OHA under its legitimate 20 percent share of ceded land revenues. 5. Ifyou could only aeeom- ' plish one goal as a trustee, what woulditbe? It is paramount that OHA must be more responsive to the needs «i of the Hawaiians. Thiswould bring a higher degree of accountability and to ensurc that OHA's programs and services are indeed meeting the needs of its people. In short. OHA must re-estab-lish its roots in the Hawaiian communities. (Hawaiian quotations ffom " 'Ōlelo No 'eau. ") M !