Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 2016 — Aloha mai kākou [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Aloha mai kākou

\ow that the contentious eleehon cycle is behind us, it's time to set the record straight on some of the "trash talk" that has been directed at this agency. Rather than fortify our defenses, our response is to be more proactive about demonstrating our integrity, building our credibility and being more transparent about the quality and breadth of our work, as well as its impact. Too many think the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is only concemed with attention-grabbing issues like governance, or iwi kupuna, or Mauna Kea. We do care deeply about those things, of course; they fall under OHA's role as an ombudsman for our community. As government watchdogs, our kuleana is to assure that the state complies with laws and regulations in areas like the environment, education, health and development. But divisive issues draw attention away from our other meaningful work, such as programs and activities that reach into communities and empower our beneficiaries. We eonhnue to advocate for the perpetuation of traditional customary rights and at the same time are trying to make a difference by increasing job opportunities, providing assistance with housing and rentals and raising the number of Native Hawaiian-owned businesses. We don't have the resources to do everything asked of us but we ean strive to collaborate when we ean, take up the mantle ourselves when the time is right and leverage our political and

judicial standing as appropriate. Internally, we're taking a look at our programs to make sure they align with OHA' s mission and vision. We need to know what we're doing - as well as how, when and why we're doing it. When funding leaves the agency, we need to be able to report on its impact. Don't just take my word on it. This issue of Ka Wai Ola includes OHA's annual report. I encourage people to read it, critique it, provide feedback and hold us accountable. I have a Māori proverb on my wall: "Ignorance is the oppressor. Vigilance is the liberator." To me, vigilance means spending money prudently and within budget, planning activities that are consistent with our mission, collecting information that demonstrates both the aehon and the outcome and reporting back to the community. To me, that equates to integrity and credibility. 'O au iho nō me ke aloha a me ka 'oia'i'o, Kamana'opono M. Crabbe, Ph.D. Ka Pouhana/Chief Executive Officer

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