Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 3, 1 March 2000 — Trustee Cataluna ready to server embraces challenge [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Trustee Cataluna ready to server embraces challenge

By Manu Boyd WHEN DONALD B. Cataluna got a eall from Governor Cayetano's office informing him that he had made the "long list" of candidates to lill OHA's Kaua'i/Ni'ihau seat, he recalled a hō'ailona (sign) he had seen the day before. "I had an urge to visit Kalalau lookout up at Kōke'e, so I drove up. Ancestors of mine from Ni'ihau settled at Kalalau, then Miloli'i (Kaua'i) and finally, Polihale, so Kalalau has always held a spiritual connection with me," he explained. "As I approached the lookout, the heavy mist lifted and a brilliant rainbow appeared. I instantly felt that it was a sign of something good to eome." Later, having made the "short list," Cataluna flew to Honolulu for an interview with the governor. Loaded with education and employment credentials, he has a passion to help others that put him "over the edge." "I basically told the governor, when asked why I'd like to be an interim tmstee, that I'm part-Hawaiian, I'm proud of my roots, and I am ready to serve the Hawaiian eommunity in any way I ean. It's the right time for me." Trustee Cataluna fills the vacancy created by Moses Keale's retirement Oct. 31. By law, if the OHA Board does not select a replacement within 60 days, the responsibility falls to the governor. On Jan. 27, Trustee

Cataluna took his oath of office. He serves through the November general election, when Keale's term would have ended. Born and raised at Koloa, Kaua'i, Cataluna counts ancestors from Kaua'i, Ni'ihau, Spain and Portugal.

"My paternal grandfather was from Catalonia, Spain, and my grandmother, from Portugal. My mother, a Vidinha, traces her Hawaiian lineage to 'ohana including Hale, Nu'uhiwa, Apoliona, Ka'iwa and Keawe'ehu. My wife Dorothy and I are extremely proud of our daughters, Malia and Lee." ^*ataluna's career has taken him to ■ Maui and Hawai'i where he was 1 chief executive officer of Hilo I Coast Processing company; presi\*dent of Mauna Kea Agribusiness and Mauna Kea Macadamia Nut Orchards, ine.; president and manager of 'Olokele Sugar Co.; president and manager of Wailuku Sugar Co; and vice president and manager at Kllauea

Agromonics, ine. Now back home īn Koloa, Cataluna lectures at Kaua'i Community College in management, business, micro- and macro-economics and agriculture for displaced sugar workers.

With less than nine months remaining in his interim post, Cataluna has set clear goals. "I'd like to help bring resolution to the situation at Ke Kula Ni'ihau o Kekaha. It breaks my heart to see that community divided on the issue of Hawaiian versus Ni'ihau Hawaiian versus Eng-

lish education." Recently, he shared stories with the haumāna, interpreted in Hawaiian by their kumu. "When we were kids in Koloa, we would visit a kupuna neighbor we simply called 'Tūtū Man.' He was a farmer, and showed us how to use an 'ō'ō (digging stick) for planting. I'll never forget it. When we were pau, he told us 'but you have to learn how to use the haole 'ō'ō too.' Confused, we asked Tūtū Man what he meant, and he reached into his pocket and pulled out a peneil. 'This is a tool for education, and that is very important'," Cataluna recalled. I Another priority is input on the third chapter on land and culture of the Kaua'i County General Plan. "For the first time, the county government is

including cultural issues īn its plan. Ceded land issues and Native Hawaiian gathering rights are issues that the See CATALUNA on page 10

Donald B. Cataluna Trustee, Kaua'i/Ni'ihau

CATALUNA

From page 9 county addresses. That's exciting. "Before I eame on board, ail I heard in the media was negative news about OHA. After one month and several meetings of eommittees and the board, I've experienced only good here. We have a lot of talent here at OHA. We seem to have a problem with media. "I love challenges and look forward to working with the other eight trustees, our administration and the Hawaiian community." concluded Cataluna. ■

Associate Judge Simeon Acoba administered the oath of office toTrustee Cataluna, Jan. 27

When Trustee Cataluna shared his story about the symbolic rainbow at Kalalau, a student at Ke Kula Ni'ihau o Kekaha drew this as a gift for him and it now hangs in his office.