Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 11, 1 November 2016 — Self-Assessment's First Question: What Is Our Mission? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Self-Assessment's First Question: What Is Our Mission?

Weleome to my November eolumn of the Ka Wai Ola\ Hau'oli M*tM

Nowemapa! Last month, I discussed and shared why Self-As-sessment was important for an organization. Remember Drucker said, "The SelfAssessment tool forces an organization to focus on its mission." So I looked up OHA's mission on www. oha.org. It is expressed as

follows: M i s s i o n Statement: To mālama (protect) Hawai'i's people and environmental resources and OHA's assets, toward ensuring the perpetuation of the culture, the enhancement of lifestyle and the protection of entitlements of Native Hawaiians, while enabling the buildina of

a strong and healthy Hawaiian people and nation,

recognized nationally and internationally." Every social sector institution exists to make a distinctive differenee in the lives of its Individuals and Society. Making this difference IS the mission — the organization's purpose and the very reason for being. "Changing Lives" is always the starting point and ending point. A mission cannot be impersonal. It has to have a deep meaning . . . be something you believe in... and, something you know is pono (right). A fundamental responsibility of

OHA's leadership is to make sure that everybody knows the mission, understands it, and lives it! Every Board member, volunteer, and staff person

should be able to see the mission and say, "Yes! This is something I want to be remembered for." First of all, the mission cannot be only focused on the past. Demographics change and need change. Leadership has no ehoiee but to anticipate the future and attempt to mold it,

bearing in mind that whoever ) is content will "rise with the tide and will , also fall with it." — (Drucker, j The Five Most Important Questions, p.8). One cautionary note: Never subordinate the mission in order to get money. If there are opportunities that threaten the integrity of I the oraaniza-

i tion, you must say "NO!" Otherwise, you sell your soul! I feel

you will lose too mueh by eompromising basic principles...Core values must eome first. Let us keep the question: "What is our mission?"...in front of us throughout the Self-Assessment process. Step by step, we will analyze challenges and opportunities, identify our beneficiaries, leam what it is they value, and define our results. In closing, I want to wish you a sincere Hau'oli La Ho'omaika'i! — Trustee Leina'ala ■

<LEO 'ELELE V www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org TRUSTEE MESSSAGES ' NATIVE HAWAMAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

EeMo^ note: In accordance with an Office ofHawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees policy based on state ethics guidelines, any trustee running for re-election is suspended from publishing his or her regular eolumn until the elections are eompieie, except for those trustees running unopposed.

Leina'ala Ahu lsa, Ph.D. Trustee, At-large

Kahu Willowdean Gomes, who won the Kalan Ali'i award whieh exemplifies our mission! Ahahui Ka'ahumanu. - Photo: Courtesy