Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 10, 1 October 2014 — Some brief updates even when we are busy [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Some brief updates even when we are busy

Aloha from Kaua'i and Ni'ihau! A lot ean happen in a single month. In the one month that

passes between eaeh of my columns, I see that firsthand. Between the meetings, appointments and events that I attend as a Trustee, I find myself traveling two or three days eaeh week. But all of this time and energy is spent trying to do my part to do something to better the lives of the Hawaiian people. There truly is so mueh that happens, from general updates on OHA

activities, to monitoring ourNative Hawaiian Trust Fund, to monitoring and influencing legislation at the Federal, State and loeal levels, to managing our real estate, there is a lot that OHA does every month. To report to you on every little thing would take more time and space than we are allotted, but I did want to point out some items that I think are worthy of your attention. Kaua 'i Museumrecently unveiled its newest exhibit, a Hawaiian Hale (Hale Hiamoe or Sleeping House). It was designed and built by Kaina Makua, who spent months gathering all the necessary parts. Honoring the past is one of our greatest cultural traditions as Hawaiians. The State's Board of Land and Natural Resources is coming to Kaua'i on Friday, Oct. 3 to hear puhlie testimony on the proposed Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area rules for the Hā'ena area. The rules are an effort at sustainability for this area (and others that choose to follow the process) to ensure future generations that there will be fish for them. The hearing will be held at Hanalei Elementary School on Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

OHA's grants staff will travel to Kaua'i for a grants orientation on Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 9-11 a.m. at Kaua'i Community College, OCET Room 105. To register,

contact Noalani Nakasone at 241-3390. These grants will be due Dec. 17 and awards will support nonprofit organizations whose projects and programs serve the Native Hawaiian community and align with OHA's Strategic Results. Grants are available for these areas: Housing Services, Employment Core and Career Support Services, Obesity and Physical

Heahh Improvement Services, Improving Middle and High School Testing Services, Perpetuating Hawaiian Culture, and Pae 'Āina Sustainability. More information is available at www.oha.org/grants. My fellow Trustees and I recently authorized our Administration to enter into a 65-year lease for property in Wailua on Kaua'i. This property acquisition will allow Ho'omana, a nonprofit led by Anela Pa and Rowena Pangan, to eonhnue to serve OHA's beneficiaries with its muhiple programs. Finally, one thing I am truly excited about is that due to recent technology updates in the OHA Kaua'i office, beneficiaries ean now view meetings of the Board of Trustees and its committees on our large-screen TV. I previously wrote about the meeting schedule and the ability to watch it on your own computer at home. But now, for those who may not have a computer, or may find it more convenient to just stop by, you have another way to stay informed about what the Trustees are doing. Mahalo nui loa! ■

Dan Ahuna TrustEE, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau