Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2005 — In for the Duration [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In for the Duration

Barbara Yuen Longest-serving OHA employee July 6, 1981-present Barbara Yuen was one of a handful of OHA employees who started work at the beginning j of the agency's first full fiscal year, about

seven montns atter īhe tirst Koard ot lrustees was sworn in. She started as the secretary for the managers of the Land and Eeonomie divisions, and later served as the secretary for four administrators, including current Administrator Clyde Nōmu'o. • Life at early OHA: "I wanted to leave after a month because our mission was so broad, and with all the programs, it wūs overwhelming"; • Life at OHA now: "We are mueh more visible in the community now, and I know we've helped so many people"; • Best OHA memory: The 1988 Ho'olōkahi event at Aloha Stadium; • Favorite OHA trustees: Rockne Freitas and Moses Keale; • Outside interests: Hula, ikehana (Japanese flower arranging),Vegas; • Future plans: To retire on July 6, 2006 - 25 years to the day after she wūs hired - to spend more time with her grandson; • Wishes for OHA: In addition to the passage of the Akaka Bill and ū favorable oukome to the Awkaki case, she hopes to see the agency fully staffed one day. "As long ūs I ean remember, there have always been vacancies." On 0HA's silver anniversary, we also salute long-serving employees Gwen Valbuena, accounting assistant (March 1982); Ruby McDonald, Kona eommunity affairs coordinator (January 1982); and īhelma Shimaoka, Maui community affairs coordinator (July 1982). E1