Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 9, 1 September 2005 — Haliʻa Aloha [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
Haliʻa Aloha
Paige Kawelo Barber Dec. 23, 1938 -Aug. 3, 2005 Lu'ulu'u Hawai'i i ka ua nui - Hawai'i is burdened in pouring rain.
The Hawaiian community was saddened by the passing last month of longtime Hawaiian community leader and advocate Paige Oolleen Leinā'ala Kawelo Barber. Along with her husband of 45 years, Bert Kaihe Barber, Paige, who lived in Kailua, Ko'olaupoko, is also survived by seven children, siblings, mo'opuna and her father, George Kawelo Sr. of Wai'anae. Barber was affiliated with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and
served as executive director of OHA's Education Foundation. Her community organization affiliations were numerous. As president of the Wai'anae Hawaiian Civic Club, Barber had a strong voice in leeward O'ahu community affairs and housing issues. She founded the Nānākuli Housing Corporation, and served as its president and CEO. The many companies and organizations she served also included Alu Like, the Immigration Center, Hawaiian īelephone and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation. As a former president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, Barber's leadership, eultural knowledge and community connectedness contributed significantly to that organization, and she also served on the board of the Friends of Hōkūle 'a and Hawai 'iloa. Aīoha pumehana i nā 'ohana 'o Barber, Lukeīa a me Kaweīo. T- 1
Peter Lawrence Yee March 27, 1954 - July 19, 2005
The Office of Hawaiians Affairs 'ohana was saddened recently by the loss of one of its department directors, Peter Yee, a staunch supporter of Hawaiian causes who passed away on July 19. He was 51. Yee first eame to OHA in September 2002 as an associate staff attorney. He later became the first director of OHA's Hawaiian Governance division and was serving as the director of the
PIanmng, Evaiuation and Crants division when he died. Former OHA Deputy Administrator Nani Lee, who hired Yee, a non-Hawaiian, said that his knowledge of both Hawaiian history and law made him a valuable supporter of Hawaiians. "He was able to walk into any community gathering - formal or informal, board meeting or talk-story event - as a scholar and passionate advocate. He gained the respect of many Native Hawaiians during his community effort." Yee was born on March 27, 1954, at Ashiya Air Force Base in Fukuoka, Japan. He graduated from Punahou School and later from Claremont Men's College in California. He eamed his law degree from Northwest School of Law in Portland, Oregon, and served as an officer in the Army for five years. Before coming to OHA, he worked for the state Attorney General's office and had a private practice. T1