Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 12, 1 December 2016 — Holiday traditions strengthen ʻohana [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Holiday traditions strengthen ʻohana

It seems like just yesterday that we purchased new calendars for the year 2016 and here we are lookina towards

a new year. Our weather has finally changed and it is nippy here in beautiful Kula, Maui. I am so grateful for the blessing to have been born in Hawai'i, the most beautiful plaee on earth. When people ask me what makes Hawai'i so unique, I always answer "our people." Our people are unique. We are born with aloha in our hearts and raised to respect our fellow man — to love unconditionally and to kōkua when our neighbors need kōkua. We can't ask for a better plaee to

live. Having had the opportunity to visit many different countries, I know the true value of our people as I compare us to other cultures, practices and traditions. Christmas is soon approaching — the season to be mindful of the birth of our eldest brother, Jesus Christ, His sacrifice and His teachings. Especially during this season we should feel the desire to give of ourselves — to serve our neighbors, those who are less fortunate, our elderly, our sick and our lonely. We should reconnect with family members who have been distant — fix relationships that have been broken. We need to develop family traditions that ean strengthen the family unit and perpetuate these traditions for years to eome. In my family many of our traditions include our gatherings for celebrating special holidays or occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries. Our favorite holiday is Christmas where everyone's favorite food is served via the Teppanyaki pan. We have four teppanyaki pans for our family of 18 including in-laws and maybe a special guest or two added. Eaeh pan has two platters — one with the protein whieh includes beef, ehieken,

shrimp and tofu; the other with vegetables including wonhok cabbage, white and areen onions, beansprouts, mush-

rooms, zucchini and eggplant. Eaeh person is given a ehawan of rice, a little bowl of sauce (secret mixture) and little plate with chopsticks or fork. Eaeh person cooks on the pan whatever they want to eat with parents helping children and spouses feeding eaeh other. My family waits impatiently for this day all year long. When our meal is done at midday, we segregate the gifts that were delivered from eaeh family to my home for all. The Nakasone boys usually take the

lead for making individual piles for family members. When they are done with the little mountain of gifts, they ask permission to open their gifts. It is so mueh fun watching their reactions as they open eaeh gift with so mueh curiosity and excitement. Eaeh year there is a special gift that they are looking for within their piles. Christmas is also a time for us to reflect on our accomplishments for the year. What have we done? Could we have done better? How do we do better next year? I am thankful for the opportunities to better myself and how I may help those that need my help. I look back at all the beneficiaries I met with this year — their trials, their concerns, their problems and their opportunities as well. I have gone over eaeh eoneem in my mind and tried to craft a solution that ean benefit eaeh problem — whether it's a personal problem, a lāhui problem, or a County/State problem. If I ean be of service, I feel that this is the purpose of my election to the seat that I hold. I amgrateful for this opportunity to serve you, the beneficiaries of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Mele Kalikimaka a Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! ■

j LEO 'ELELE ^ > TRUSTEE MESSSAGES f

Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey Trustee, Maui