Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 9, 1 September 2007 — OHA volunteers on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA volunteers on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi

Aia ke ola i ka hana Labor produces what is needed — 'Ōlelo No'eau On August 25, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs held a special mahalo ceremony for our volunteers from the islands of Moloka'i and Lāna'i. Although the Lāna'i office is still fairly new, Pearl Ah Ho, the Community Resource Coordinator (CRC), has already amassed a handful of helping hands. In appreciation of their love and support, the Lāna'i CRC and her faithful followers traveled to Moloka'i by ferry to join Moloka'i volunteers in the modest ceremony. When asked to say a few words about the volunteers on her island, Pearl was longwinded and encouraging. "The volunteers from Lāna'i are two state retirees, a kupuna hailing from Oregon, a produce entrepreneur, a cultural resources manager, a food server, and an llth grade student. Mr. an Mrs. lohn Basques, Lorraine Dyer, Alberta deletley, Noelani Watanabe, Ieremy Higaki and Tristan Lopes all became volunteers because they wanted to help. 'How ean I help' - that's all it took for them to become volunteers." "Not all of them are beneficiaries with the koko," added Pearl, "but they are all beneficiaries at heart." Pearl's diverse supporters are always willing to lend a hand, registering beneficiaries for Kau Inoa and OHA's Hawaiian Registry. The volunteers provided assistance in the opening of the new office by doing whatever asked, from arranging flowers to small-scale carpentry. Pearl is quick to add that all services eome with

"a smile that will melt your heart." While hurricane Flossie caused the cancellation of August's Board of Trustees annual visit, the volunteers were critical in the preparation process. With the rescheduling of the board's annual Lāna'i community meeting to November, these volunteers are priceless. Meanwhile, the Moloka'i OHA office has an army to thank also. Irene Kaahanui calls her volunteers "arch angels." "Our volunteers are the heartbeat of our networking team," she says. "In our operations we have a saying that "there are no barriers that we cannot overcome." Irene believes it's "because we always pull together as a team. Whatever the situation is, whether it's for resource purposes, or being the 'right hands' of our projects — they are right there for us." Irene knows that she ean count on her volunteers for anything, even spiritual words, or words of encouragement. Whether it's offering technical and clerieal support, putting up signs, or gathering beneficiaries for Kau Inoa, the Moloka'i volunteers are a phone eall away. "Our volunteers love us," she adds. "We all feel the pride of being a part of our eommunity, our conunitment to our beneficiaries and peers, and more so to our trustee and her staff on O'ahu. Our volunteers are the spirit and essence of our Moloka'i OHA office." Irene notes that she cannot mention all of the people who've been a part of the effort, but the following individuals have been a blessing in the past year: Anna Lou Arakaki, Lali Kaai, Judy Caparida, Gayla Ann Haliniak-Lloyd, Cecilia Ellertsen, Edwina Cacoulidis, Ruth Manu, Sherry Sasada, Mickey Pauole, Alvin Burrows, Gay Kaopuiki, Myron Akutagawa, Kapena Johnston, and John Keohuloa. Mahalo to all those who take the time out of their busy lives to help our offices on Moloka'i and Lāna'i. We appreciate you for your time, your words of encouragement, and especially your conunitment. S

Cūlette Y. Machadū TrustEE, Mūlūka'i and Lāna'i