Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 2012 — Farewell to OHA's CEO [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Farewell to OHA's CEO

On Dec. 30, 2011, Clyde William Nāmu'o ended his 10-year tenure with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as he retired

from his position as the Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Nāmu'o has served the people of Hawai'i for the past 40 years. Thirty of those years he spent with the Judiciary of the State of Hawai'i and the last 10 years were with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. In September 2001, Mr. Nāmu'o heeame the new Administrator at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Prior to coming to OHA he rose to

tne posmon or ueputy v.ourts Administrator and was responsible for the supervision of more than 1,800 personnel and the management of all of the judiciary's facilities throughout the State of Hawai'i. He brought with him many qualities that have changed OHA to the organization that it is today. With his vast experience and negotiation skills he addressed longstanding obstacles and challenges from prior administrations known as "legacy challenges." His negotiation skills resolved the 20-year-old Hāna Village Marketplace issue with the Eeonomie Development Administration. OHA saved more than $1.1 million and ended its role in the project. Under his leadership OHA also negotiated the stalemated OHA-DOE Consent Decree, where the DOE agreed to enhanee and ensure its support of Hawaiian language immersion programs. He oversaw successful results in 115 kuleana quiet title cases and in longstanding litigation such as the HCDCH case, whieh allowed OHA to settle issues with the state, resulting in passage of moratorium legislation affecting the state's sale of ceded lands; the Day and Kuroiwa cases, whieh gave authoritative decision on OHA's broad discretion to use trust funds for the betterment of all Hawaiians; and the OHA v. Gates case, whieh resulted in access to army bases to identify and protect cultural sites and artifacts. He also oversaw OHA's

intervention in the Nā Wai 'Ehā contested case to restore water flow on Maui to the "The Four Great Waters." Mr. Nāmu'o spearheaded the ■ creation of two beneficiary legal

service programs. They are the OHA Conflict Representation Program for beneficiaries ineligible for services from Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. because of conflict. The other is a program funded by OHA in partnership with the University of Hawai'i Law School. It is a Quiet Title Legal Clinic where pro se beneficiaries, or those representing themselves, are able to gain information on

quiet tme actions. At OHA he addressed years of negative audit findings by the State Auditor of prior OHA operations. Through these efforts there were reductions of major negative findings by the State Auditor. In 2009, the State Auditor recognized strides made by OHA, including the consistency and stability in the administrator position over the past seven years that contributed to the overall improvements in OHA's governance structures. Mr. Nāmu 'o encouraged a study that led to the creation of a report on the effects of the Justice System on Native Hawaiians. A sobering report was published on the disparate treatment of Native Hawaiians in the criminal justice system. His leadership led to the acquisition of Wao Kele O Puna, Waimea Valley and Makaweli Poi. He actively advocated for the nomination of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as a cultural and natural World Heritage Site and successfully advocated for OHA's role as a manager of Papahānaumokuākea. He has been and will continue to be an outstanding advocate for the Native Hawaiian beneficiaries of OHA. My heartfelt appreciation and gratitude goes out to Clyde for working tirelessly in making our Hawaiian community and Hawai'i a better plaee. I am grateful for his friendship and his dedicated, loving and committed service to all Hawaiians. Mahalo nui loa. ■

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Cūlette Y. Machade ChairpErsūn, TrustEE Muluka'i aud Lāua'i