Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 11, 1 November 2006 — OHA's outstanding staff responsible for many accomplishments [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA's outstanding staff responsible for many accomplishments

Bnyd P. Mūssman TrustEE, Maui

Aloha kākou. Over the past four years, OHA has not only settled down but has accomplished mueh without the

interference of personality conflicts and politieal disputes. To go from no revenues coming in from the state for ceded lands to $15 million annually as of 2006, to increase a trust fund amount of $300 million dollars to $400

million dollars after reorganizing our investment policy and process, to spend more on Hawaiian nonprofits and causes than in the previous 22 years, to purchase thousands of acres of land for preservation for future generations to enjoy, to initiate actions in affordable housing, communications and commercial investments for the first time, has required the work of a considerable number of OHA employees as well as the board. I would like to thank those employees, starting at the top with our administrator, Clyde Nāmu'o, who besides taking on the headaches of administering 130 staff and making sometimes life-altering decisions regarding them, also has to address the board and their concerns, wants, demands and involvement in his kuleana. Mr. Nāmu'o has demonstrated his value to Hawaiians repeatedly by his eool demeanor under fire and his genuine efforts to accommodate as many Hawaiians as possible. He is willing to make reasoned decisions and stick by them and is someone who abides by the law, advises with eommon sense and ean be relied upon to accomplish any assignments. The board has recognized his ability and competence with a favorable contract whieh hopefully will secure his talents for the next several years. Mr. Nāmu'o has an outstanding staff backing him up; I am not going to

identify them individually at the risk of leaving someone out. Suffice it to say that OHA has developed over the last four years a well-oiled maehine whieh, but for a glitch here or there, has been effective, responsible and successful. Not all employees at all times are going to be happy with any employer, and I acknowledge the difficulties of administration; however, by and large, OHA staff are about as good as they eome, from the receptionists to the deputies, and this small recognition will hopefully serve to advise them that their labors are not unnoticed. As we conclude another term for five trustees and look forward to the next, I am excited to look forward to a resolution of the past-due ceded lands payments from the state, the renewal of efforts to protect Native Hawaiians as an indigenous people from attacks of racial discrimination, the creation of a Hawaiian governing body of some form, the continuation of OHA's efforts to provide affordable housing to all Hawaiians and not only 50-percenters, the perfection of a Native Hawaiian communications network of sorts, and the investment in loeal business, whether via improved loans or actual investment in businesses for the benefit of Hawaiians. Education not only for eol-lege-bound but also vocation-oriented students, along with health issues, are always a eoneem and need to be further addressed. In closing, I do want to acknowledge the staff with whom I personally work: Melissa Beimes, my aide; Kira Higa, my secretary; Thelma Shimaoka, the CRC for Maui; and Roy Newton, the secretary for the Maui CRC. These four are as reliable and dedicated as all of the staff of OHA, and I have enjoyed the privilege of working with them all and hope to continue to do so as OHA prepares to exit, and a new governing body of Hawaiians, for Hawaiians and by Hawaiians within the United States Constitution comes to pass. May God bless you all. S

LEO 'ELELE ■ TRUSTEE MESSAGES