Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 2015 — Native Hawaiian Scholarship ʻAha Time [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian Scholarship ʻAha Time

A loha from Kaua'i and /\ Ni'ihau!

AMahalo this month to my fellow Trustees, who have elected me Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. In this role, I will work with our newly elected Chair of the Board, Trustee Bob Lindsey of Hawai'i Island, to lead our fellow Trustees. I will also serve as Vice Chair of the Land and Property Conunittee, chaired by Trustee Hulu Lindsey of Maui. With these new leadership roles eome increased responsibilities

to my fellow Trustees, to OHA and to our beneficiaries. I look forward to working with the Trustees, our Administration and everyone else who wants to work to lift up our Hawaiian people. Other leaders elected to serve the next two years are: • Asset and Resource Management Committee: Trustee Rowena Akana (Chair) and Trustee John Waihe'e IV (Vice Chair) • Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment Committee: Trustee John Waihe'e IV (Chair) and Trustee Peter Apo (Vice Chair) In November, I attended the Native Hawaiian Scholarship 'Aha that was held on Kaua'i at Kaua'i Conununity College's One Stop Center. Attendees learned about scholarships available to Native Hawaiian college students and had the opportunity to meet with scholarship providers from Kamehameha Schools, Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation, Hawai'i Conununity Foundation, Liko A'e Native Hawaiian Leadership Program, Native Hawaiian Heahh Scholarship Program, and Alu Like. This event, whieh OHA co-sponsors, continues to gain heavy interest. It was moved to a larger venue and still had a packed room. I wanted to share with you what I shared with those who eame that night, when I extended my aloha from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs,

including my fellow Trustees, and all of our employees, from

Llhu'e to Hilo to Washington, D.C. The scholarship 'aha is one small way OHA is working to build a better Native Hawaiian eonununity that is wiser, healthier and equipped with more opportunities. Education is so basic, yet it is one of the very areas where our people need the most help. There is money out there for anyone who wants to go to college and everyone ean afford it. It will take time and conunitment on the part of students, but they ean make it happen.

By attending an 'aha, attendees are taking some of the first steps to help get you on the road to a eollege degree, and additional life and job skills to help them build a better life. College is not just about going to class, reading books and writing papers. Rather, it is an investment in a person and having a better future. Over a lifetime, a college graduate will earn over $1 million more than a non-graduate. And I want anyone who reads this to have that opportunity. The path to a college degree is not always easy, and will sometimes be hard. But money shouldn't be part of those difficulties. Instead, people should worry about succeeding in their chosen programs. During any challenges, remember to stay positive and focus on achieving good results and that life is about giving it your personal best. Also, here's a shout-out to Waimea Valley, whieh held its third annual Makahiki Festival featuring the return of the Ke'alohi Hula Competition in November. Eight hālau competed in this event, whieh recognizes Ke'alohi Hula 'o Waimea (Waimea's Brilliant Hula Dancer). Finally, I want to send a sincere mahalo and my very best wishes to Capsun Poe, who worked as my Senior Aide, as he moves to the staff of OHA Chair Bob Lindsey where he will serve as Secretary of the Board of Trustees. Mahalo nui loa for reading! ■

Dan Ahuna VicE Chair, TrustEE, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau