Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 3, 1 March 2000 — FTroop: Chapter two [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FTroop: Chapter two

ĪHE MASTER OF i shell games, smoke-and-mir-rors, sleight of hand, and the twisting of half-truths proclaimed that the reorganization of OHA is now made up of inclusive committees. Wow, what a joke! Ifyoubeheve that, you'll also beheve the governor is Portuguese! Now that Clayton Hee is back as ehainnan, he wants you to beheve

ceded īand negotiations ean be formally restarted. As a former member of the Committee on Entitlements and Negotiations, it was obvious to me the state's team was never serious. The team's only written proposal was so ridiculous it wasn't worth the paper it was written on. OHA would not accept in good faith a proposal that would eliminate our future entitlements. Hee has also never hidden that he and the governor are close friends. It is apparent he is proud of that relationship and fosters it by visiting the executive chambers frequently. While this may be a good thing, it might also create suspicion among his coheagues. Are his loyalties with his Mendship or with OHA's beneficiaries? Hee also says he is very proud to be part of improving Hawahan health care. While chairman, I advocated a kupuna health initiative that would have supplemented their Medicare PartB. This project would have given kūpuna access to quahty medical services and prescription medication. Trustee Hee voted "no" twice, effectively slamming the door on thousands of kūpuna who desperately needed this service. Voting with him were Trustees Apoliona, Machado and DeSoto. On Jan. 13, the board voted to support S. 1929, a Native Hawaiian health bill. This initiative began five and one-half -♦

months ago with OHA and Papa Ola Lōkahi's staff sincerely working together to | improve this biU. Mueh to | the credit of the full board, | we were able to bring the labor of the hard-working j staff to fruition by unani- | mously passing this important initiative. On another note, I am saddened by the departure of Kali Watson, a respected member of the Hawaiian eommu- | nity. He resigned as 011 A's staff attorney on Jan. 31.

Kali's knowledge wiU be dearly missed. As I understand it, Kah found the chaUenges at OHA to be a "major learning experience." I'm sure his departure has a lot to do with the treatment he received from Machado, ApoUona and DeSoto, who used every opportunity to publicly undermine his work. However, those who know KaU, know that his aloha for Hawauans drives his quest for exceUence. I want to also thank KaU for his dedication and for his tireless efforts in assisting with the negotiations between OHA and the state during this past year. He'U be an asset to any organization lucky enough to have hun. Good luek and a hui hou. FinaUy, in the February issue of the Ka Wai Ola o OHA, Frenchy DeSoto wrote the best fiction story I have ever read. It is a sad day when one's hatred for someone takes precedence over the institution and beneficiaries one represents. Therefore, to end this bickering and nonsense onee and for aU, I chaUenge Mrs. DeSoto to a Uve debate on pubhc television so her propaganda and Ues ean be fmaUy put to rest. In the meanUme, while this is being arranged, I would like to invite our readers to contact my of5ce at 594-1750 at any time so any misperceptions created by Mrs. De Soto's article ean be corrected and clarified immediately. ■

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