Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 1, 1 January 2015 — OHA 2014 INVESTITURE STRIVING FOR PONO [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA 2014 INVESTITURE STRIVING FOR PONO

With the elections just behind them, five newly elected trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs formally took office at the 2014 OHA Investiture ceremony, amid a reorganization of the Board of Trustees that saw Hawai'i Island Trustee Robert Lindsey ascend to the chairmanship. At-large Trustees Rowena Akana, John Waihe'e IV and Lei Ahu Isa, a first-time trustee, together with O'ahu Trustee Peter Apo and Maui Trustee Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey formally took office Dec. 10 during a ceremony at Central Union Church. As the five trustees stood at the head of the church and faced the pews, their loved ones simultaneously tied lei hulu, feather lei, around their necks, whieh they wore as symbols of office for Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees. Addressing the crowd of hundreds of attendees, Board Chairman Robert Lindsey and OHA Ka Pouhana, CEO Kamana'opono Crabbe congratulated the new trustees and pledged to work together.

"As the new chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, I am extremely honored and privileged to weleome our five newly elected trustees who will be serving us as servant leaders at our peoples' table to continue to do the hard work that we need to do on behalf of our beneficiaries. ..." Lindsey said. "It is with enthusiasm and hope that I look forward to working closely with all of you to fulfill our obligation to helping create a better future for our beneficiaries." Offering his congratulations, Crabbe told the new trustees in his address, "I look forward to working with eaeh and every one of you as well as the board leadership, and consistent with this year's theme, "E na'i i ka Pono," in the words of our great king and

sovereign Kamehameha 'Ekahi, I look forward to our continued efforts as a eall to all of our people to stand together to strive to obtain not just pono but justice. There is mueh work ahead of us that remains to be accomplished - to fulfill not only his legacy but the monarchs thereafter." Following the day's theme of "E na'i i ka Pono, Strive to Obtain Pono," speakers tailored their remarks, at least in part, around the SEE INVESTITURE ON PAGE 17

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs shares in mourning the passing of Hawaiian featherwork (haku hulu) master artist Paulette Nohealani Kahalepuna. Together with her late mother, master artist Mary Louise Kaleonahenahe Kekuewa, they expressed their dedication to OHA's mission through their delicate craft. For many years, the two created the lei hulu (feather lei) presented to newly installed trustees. These precious works symbolize the tremendous responsibility that OHA trustees bear as leaders of our lāhui. The Kahalepuna legacy lives on in the skilled hands of Paulette's daughter, Mele Kahalepuna Chun, who continues their tradition of crafting and sharing the art of feather work with others. ■

MO'OLELO NUI C0VER FEATURE

Newly elected trustees receive their lei hulu, from left, Leina'ala Ahu lsa, Rowena Akana, Peter Apo, Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey and John Waihe'e IV. - Photo : Francine Murray

Trustee Colette Machado of Moloka'i, second from left, mingled with OHA staff as Kamehameha Schools Trustee Corbett Kalama stood nearby. - Photo:Alexis Panoneillo

OHA staff danced hula as the musicians of Project t Kuleana led the singing of "Ka Na'i Aupuni," with help from OHA Trustees Haunani Apoliona, not pictured, « Peter Apo, Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey an| Rowena Akana. ; - Photo: Pmeine Murray am»

OHA Chairman Robert Lindsey, left, and newly elected Gov. David lge. The two served in the state Legislature together in thel980s, when they served in the House of Representatives. - Photo: īaeh Villanueva

Paulette Kahalepuna, right, and her mother, Mary Louise Kekuewa. - Courtesy: Iwalani Walsh īseu Foundation Breast CancerAwareness Project/Marc Bchechter nhoto

word "pono," Hawaiian for upright and good. "The value of pono is a very sacred value," said Kahu David Kaunu. as all nine

trustees stood before him. "It is sacred of course in the scriptures. Sacred in the New Testament as well as the 01d Testament. It is sacred also for the Kingdomof Hawai'i," he said. He was referring to the words uttered by King Kamehameha III in 1843 upon the restoration of the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom after a brief takeover by a British lord. Those words - Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono - live on through the state's motto, often translated as "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." "You will recall that Kamehameha with his

wisdom instituted the 'ōlelo no'eau that has heeome for us the motto of our land," Kaupu said. "And in that motto he declared that righteousness, or pono, is the only way is the only proper way for our people and our 'āina." In his address, Crabbe renewed a eall for working toward Hawaiian self-

governance. "This past year we endured many ehallenges with respect to renewed efforts to address opportunities to achieve political recognition as well as re-establish our sovereign status. President Ohama is often quoted that 'the arc of history bends towards justice.' If such is true then this is a unique moment in time for kanaka maoli that we must all ensure that we create the kinds of opportunities to seek justice whenever and wherever possible. "After 2 1 years of struggle, it is hope - hope for our children, hope for our grandchildren that shall be the heaeon to sustain our desires for a better future for Hawai'i not just for Native Hawaiians but for all who live in our one hanau, the birthsands of our kūpuna."

Crabbe also called for collaboration. "With the leadership of an ali'i consortium comprised of Lunalilo Trust, the Queen Ka'ahumanu Societies and Hale o Na Ali'i, we should envision a nation-building process in 2015 that embraces such principles as

kākou, inclusivity, versus mākou, exclusion. Pono, fairness, rather than special interests. Integrity opposed to duplicity, and justice for all in contrast to justice for a few." In addition, Crabbe highlighted successes of the Hawaiian community, including: • Among Hawaiians in the state puhlie school system, proficiency increased to 64 percent from 55 percent in reading, and to 49 percent from 32 percent in math, from school years 2009-2010 to 2012-2013. • Native Hawaiians are graduating "at the highest rate we have ever seen," according to data collected from the University of Hawai'i system. • In heahh, the percentage of obese Native Hawaiians decreased to 39 percent in 2013

trom 44 percent the previous year. • As an example of OHA's responsible stewardship of natural resources, a settlement was reached in 2014 in the Nā Wai 'Ehā contested case, restoring an additional 12.9 million gallons of water per day to two Central Maui streams. The five newly elected trustees had been sworn in the day before the Investiture by Intermediate Court of Appeals Associate Judge Lisa Ginoza. The swearing-in was

followed by a board reorganization vote that placed Lindsey as chairman and Kaua'i and Ni'ihau Trustee Dan Ahuna as vice chair. (See story page 5.) Moloka'i Trustee Colette Machado said during the vote that she took the unprecedented step of giving up her charimanship after four years to make the transition as smooth as possible. During the Investiture ceremony, Lindsey took a moment to remember Paulette Kahalepuna, a master in the ancient Hawaiian art of feather lei making, who died in September. "We will joyfully honor her memory today by presenting to the five newly elected trustees the last lei hulu (feather lei) Paulette has made for our Investiture ceremony. These symbolic gifts are cherished in honor of the beauty, vibrancy and pride that reflect our Hawaiian culture. Let us honor our heritage as Hawaiian people and Paulette's memory by performing our duties in a

way that inspires confidence and support as we strive to obtain pono for our beneficiaries." Some 400 people attended the moming ceremony. Among the crowd were newly elected Gov. David Ige, former Gov. John Waihe'e, state lawmakers, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, new University of Hawai'i president David Lassner, trustees of ali'i tmsts, and

members of royal and benevolent societies. Kamehameha Schools Tmstee Corbett Kalama said the Investiture was "rejuvenating for me." "Every time you have something like this ... it's a reaffirmation that our Hawaiian people are important not only to our Hawaiian community but the state of Hawai'i," said Kalama, who is vice president of real estate investments and community affairs for Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and a former board member of

OHA s JNative Hawauan Kevoiving Loan Fund. Annelle Amaral, president-elect of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, called the ceremony a "lovely gathering done in a very dignified way. I thought it was very niee indeed." As for how OHA and the association will collaborate, she said she needs to sit down with the new trustees to see "how it is we ean work together." ■

INVESTITURE Continued from paāe 15

OHA Compliance Manager Kai Markell waited to lead a procession of pū blowers into the church, after whieh all the trustees and honored guests would follow. - Photo: laeh Villanueva

OHA Trustee Haunani Apoliona, left, and OHA Ka Pouhana Kamano'opono Crabbe, right, posed after the ceremony with Gov. David lge, staffer Denise lseri-Matsubara, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and lge's chief of staff Mike McCartney. - Photo: īaeh Villanueva

Board Chairman Robert Lindsey welcomed the five newly elected trustees, including first-time trustee Lei Ahu lsa. - Photo: īaeh Villanueva

[?]

Dan Ahuna of Kaua'i is the new vice chair of the Board of Trustees. - Photo: laeh Villanueva