Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 2, 1 February 2015 — Kūlana ʻŌiwi celebration [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kūlana ʻŌiwi celebration

As 2014 eame to an end, the staff of partnering agencies here at Kūlana 'Oiwi gathered for their annual year-end celebration. On Dec. 18, 2014, the Native Hawaiian organizations here on Moloka'i - Alu Like Ine., Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Kamehameha Schools, Nā Pu'uwai Native Hawaiian Health Care System, Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center

- eame together for a special luneheon in appreciation of the employees at eaeh agency for their service and dedication they provide to our Native Hawaiian people. This yearly luneheon is coordinated by Kūlana 'Ōiwi's Social Committee. The Social Committee is made up of one representative from eaeh of the agencies located in the Kūlana 'Ōiwi Complex. For thepast two years, the Social Committee has alternated eaeh agency to coordinate and host these two special events. This year

OH A was selected by the eommiūee to take on this task, and everyone was

treated to a special roast beef luneheon and a slew of door prizes. As part of this celebration, eaeh agency selected a needy family and presented them with a food basket for this holiday season. Eaeh year the Association of Owners from Kūlana 'Ōiwi eommemorates two special occasions, the first being the end-of-year celebration and the second is the opening of the complex. On July 17 Kūlana 'Ōiwi celebrated its 15th anniversary. This complex was the

first Native Hawaiian One-Stop Center of its kind in the State of Hawai'i. Kūlana 'Ōiwi Complex also holds a back-to-school drive where every agency in the complex would invite their clients and families who need assistance with school supplies, clothing, slippers and health information to eome and get items that are donated and also partake in a light luneh and fun games for the keiki. A brief history of Kūlana 'Ōiwi - "Kūlana' " is a site, a plaee of purpose and " 'Ōiwi" is a

person born of the 'āina. The purpose of Kūlana 'Ōiwi is that it is a Native Hawaiian One-Stop Service Complex Center. Kūpuna visualized a plaee where people of this 'āina could eome and use the knowledge and wisdom from services of Native Hawaiian agencies. These

agencies were then approached with this concept with an understanding of the great need to reach out to our Native Hawaiian people to become more sustainable, independent and successful for themselves, their family and their community. ■

Cūlette Y. Machade TrustEE Muluka'i and Lāna'i

Staff from the Kūlana 'Ōiwi Complex. - Photo: Gayla Haliniak-Lloyd