Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 12, 1 December 1999 — An era ends at OHA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

An era ends at OHA

By Paula Durbin N 1979, an Anahola homesteader with httle political experience and absolutelv no eam-

paign war chest decided to run for trustee of the brandnew Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Visiting every island and walking through every homestead, Moses Keale lost more than 50 pounds, but he won the election. And his constiments were to return him to the board room with more votes than any other trustee candidate every time he would run for office. With just short of 20 years of uninterI rupted service behind him. the Kaua'iNi'ihau trustee retired Nov. 1. Trustee Keale is distinguished not only as the longest serving and most popular trustee of

OHA's first two decades, but also as a hving symbol of traditional Hawai'i. Bom on Ni'ihau in 1938, he was the first-bom son of parents who

spoke only 'ōlelo Hawai'i, began and ended eaeh day with 'ohana Bible sessions and used the Bible to teach their children to read. The

family received 120 pounds of poi a week from the island's owners, whieh they supplemented with home-grown produce and 'opihi,

hā'uke'uke and wana gathered on Saturdays. "We were not rich, but I had everything," Keale described his humble beginnings. "My par-

ents guided us well and I am so very proud of them." A major influence was also Takahashi Kajihara who taught agriculture at Waimea

High School and inspired young Keale to dream of following in his footsteps as a teacher and farmer. As a teenager, Keale also learned parliamentary

I procedures from I Kajihara, whom I he reveres to this I day. "His greatI est lesson was that parliamentary procedures were meant to guide a meeting, not disrupt it," Keale recalled. I Keale was on I the school team I that competed in a contest on those procedures and won the state championship in 1954. Unfortunately though, expectations were not high for talented young Hawaiians in those unsubtle times. "Had I been encouraged and

steered toward available scholarships, I might have been the first college graduate from Ni'ihau. But when we had our See KEALE on page 3

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'IOLANI PALAOE, 1980. Trustee Moses Keale, formally attired on the extreme right, took his original oath of office at the investiture of the first trustees elected to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Sworn in with him were, left to right, Frenchy DeSoto (not pictured), Tommy Kaulukukui, Rod Burgess, Roy Benham, Malama Solomon, Joseph Kealoha, Walter Ritte and Peter Apo. With Trustee Keale's retirement, of the original nine trustees, only Trustee DeSoto continues to serve on OHA's board.

KEALE »

From page 1 career days in high school," Keale recalled, "I was told Hawaiians didn't go to college and I should consider vocahonal school - maybe become a plumber. I have never forgotten those words and the episode made me more determined to make something of myself." Keale went on to become senior eamp counselor with the Hawai'i Job Corps and an officer in the Nahonal Guard, among other posihons. Of ah his accomphshments, however, he is proudest of his ordainment as a minister in 1992 and his 19 years of service at the Office of Hawahan Affairs where he was three hmes elected chair of the board. "Looking back over my five terms, I am indeed blessed with having seen implemented many of my dreams for my people," said Keale. He points with pride to pioneering such projects and programs as OHA's successful portfoho, the Nahve Hawaiian Loan Fund, 'Aha 'Ōpio, 'Aha Kupuna, OHA's Educahonal Foundahon, tutorial assistance, the partnership with Habitat for Humanity and increased use of Hawaiian through advocacy for immersion. In the immediate future he hopes for a favorable ruling in Rice vs. Cayetano and full resolurion of OHA's enhhements. A replacement will be appointed to serve out the remainder of Keale's iinal term whieh runs through eleehon day, 2000. The rehring trustee has wise counsel for whoever eventually fills the Kaua'i-Ni'ihau seat. "Be pahent and hsten," he advised. "Don't be afraid to ask for assistance from another trustee or the OHA staff. Smdy your aehon items, vote your conscience and always be mindful that you serve the Hawaiian people." H