Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 11, 1 November 2002 — Aloha ʻoe -- farewell to you [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Aloha ʻoe -- farewell to you

My tenure in OHA is eoming to a close and I admit it has been a privilege to serve in the OHA organization. I must extend my appreciation to the staff and trustees for their help and assistance in furthering my efforts. The efforts of trying to build a land division and staffed with personnel who would pursue land acquisitions as being more conservative and less volatile than the investment portfolio has shown to be the case in recent declines. At the beginning of my tenure3 about November 2000, I called for a session with the administrator to suggest some programs or areas of interest, like 1) fisheri.es, 2) agriculture, 3) scholarships and 4) taxes on travelers and sustained those interests throughout my tenure in OHA. In the work to compute how many travelers eome to Hawail and from what countri.es, it's found, all major nations from Europe and a total of 24 world wide have programs to tax travelers. The tax avaraging from 10

to 20 dollars for entry and departure. This is a source that ean help produce ineome to Hawaii in millions of dollais being overlooked. It became necessaiy to determine how many Hawaiian organization there are to undeistand the scope of beneficiari.es needs, and fmding an estimated nine hundred and seven native Hawaiian practitioner organizations located worldwide. Or a first time indication of the scope of needs to be met for thousands of individuals and the accompanying budget level requiring new sources of ineome from tra\''elers. The retum of Kalealoa (Barbers Point) offered some hope and could have been returned to OHA as surplus or considered unclaimed as property to be escheated by law to OHA. And then used as a medium security loeahon for young inmates who need help to eam educational requirements for a better lifestyle and keep from being repeat offendeis. An estimated 60 percent of the prison populahon is non-violent or

first timers and many of them laek education or training programs to improve. It is also of note that a majority of inmates are Hawaiian who are incarcerated for drug abuse and are first time offenders. At the same time it costs about $20,000 per inmate to incarcerate. A joint program with the state and other agencies to provide an alternative to released inmates is a worthy pursuit. The Facility was and is operational for the above purpose. When elected, I was to pledge in retum for the faith demonstrated in me, to work diligently to eam the trust placed in me. I would apply my experience as a former public servant on various commissions, boards, and educational institutions to benefit OHA and its beneficiaries. Using my financial expertise I would assist self-sufficiency and also support Hawaiian sovereignty. VIy role is to support Hawaiian eulture and those who practice culture. And who also donate mueh of their time and s kill to and for the public

enjoyment and benefit, many tim.es without expecting anything while displaying goodwill. Vly interest in helping OHA has consisted of looking at land or property for OHA acquisition as a more attainable and less volatile investmentatthistime ina bearmarket. It has eome to my attention in the process to look at the old Federal building, a new home for OHA in Kaka'ako, and other parcels of interest. Including former sugar plantation lands on Vlaui, nearly 200 acres in Wai'anae and Kalaeloa land. These investigations are in the process of acquisition for OHA benefit and investment. In addition, it has been a privilege to make other contacts in the process to serve OHA strategy and its goals. The most satisfaction has been to demonstrate that contributions ean be made to OHA' s health and welfare and I have been fortunate enough to demonstrate that commitment. ■

Charles Ota

Trustee, Maui