Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 2004 — OHA board working together to earn trust and meet its duties to Hawaiian people [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA board working together to earn trust and meet its duties to Hawaiian people

Aloha mai. It has been now a year since I last wrote in this eolumn with the intention of not writing again, to demonstrate my annoyance at the use of these columns by trustees in the past to attack one another and also to suggest that the staff might have more important matters to discuss than the trustees and should be given more opportunity to do so. Although I may be speaking prematurely, I would like to say that my experience with this Board of Trustees, though not without some moments of tension, has been not only cordial but brotherly, friendly, and kindly. Sounds strange maybe if we're talking about the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, but I am now eonvinced that this board is working at being a team and should no longer be viewed as a dysfunctional huneh of Hawaiians with egos coming out of their ears. I believe that we now accept that for the good of the people we must be trustees and not politicians in fulfilling our duties

and responsibilities. Too many distrust OHA because of its trustees and I suggest the time has eome to change that view. OHA, with a solid administration led by Clyde Nāmu'o, is seeking to preserve what we Hawaiians have today and is poised to assist in the transition from no government to self government. So long as past grievances, attitudes, and distrust continue, OHA will be hampered, though not deterred, in its genuine efforts to serve Native Hawaiians and Hawaiians and thereby benefit all the people of Hawai'i. The lawsuits against OHA and other Hawaiian entities have reaffirmed the need for us to stand together. It is either that, or give up what we have today for the remote hope that some savior such as the United Nations will eome along and give us the whole pie to the exclusion of everybody else in Hawai'i. Maybe that could happen but not in our lifetimes. In the meantime should we ultimately lose in court,

the plaintiffs will achieve their goal at the expense of every living Hawaiian and our posterity for generations to eome and Hawaii will heeome nothing more than California West. As I have gone around the state and mainland and visited with Hawaiians and non Hawaiians, I have heard all sides and have eonsidered them and have concluded that what is best for the Hawaiian people is to achieve a reconciliation and justice by: 1) gaining recognition as a people 2) building a beloved nation 3) caring for the Hawaiian people's needs and 4) remembering who we are, where we eame from and where we are going. Recognition is gained via the Akaka bill. That bill allows for a degree of self determination on a level with that of the other indigenous peoples living in America. That government would focus its efforts on and malama the people of the nation who would reap the benefits of two worlds despite the

whining of those who are not happy being Americans. And finally, Hawaiians have a firm Christian foundation and we need Akua in all our thinking and dealings as we honor our heritage, work to improve our lot, and prepare for the future. For those seeking complete independence and for those alleging racism in Hawaiian preferences who together have united to oppose the rest of us, division equals defeat. We need to work towards reconstruction, not self destruction. Consider reason and eommon sense, and try to heal, not wound, the Hawaiian people. In any event, my friends, I look forward to continuing to work with a dedicated group of trustees and staff as well as with you to not only preserve our Hawaiian culture but seek reconciliation with the United States thereby achieving a win win result with our people being the beneficiaries of hard work and good faith on all sides. ■

Boyd P. Mossman Trustee, Maui