Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 2017 — ʻAnoʻai and Happy New Year! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAnoʻai and Happy New Year!

n 20 17, OHA makes 37 years old. For a very young organization, I am very proud of

the many aehievements OHA has made in our eommunity and for our benefieiaries. In 1980, the first eleetion was held to seleet the first 9 trustees: Roy Benham, Rod Burgess, Malama Solomon, Unele Tommy Kaulukukui, Frenehy DeSoto, Walter Ritte, Moses Keale, Joe Kealoha and Peter Apo. During the first 10 years

ot OHA, the trustees tound themselves with very little money and a huge mandate to earry out, as spelled out in Hawai'i Revised Statutes Chapter 10. They found themselves embattled with the state over the 20 pereent ceded land revenue that OHA was entitled to but was not receiving. Trustees had no salary, no medical coverage and were basically step-children of the state. Many Hawaiians were disappointed with OHA because they expected OHA to be doing more for them. But with a few hundred thousand dollars a year it was a difficult task. Ten years later in 1990, the year I was elected to OHA, the new members to the board found ourselves in the middle of a negotiation with the Waihe'e administration for the ceded land settlement. In 1993, we settled with the state, in a partial settlement, for approximately $129 million. Trustees did our due diligence and invested in the stock market. By the year 2000, OHA was worth $400 million. In 1993, we immediately started using our money to help our beneficiaries. We set aside $20 million in a revolving loan fund for Hawaiian homesteaders on the waiting list for their down payments for new homes, and for those homestead-

ers that needed loans for repairing their homes. We bought the first Hawaiian language school

īn Hiio, Ke Kuia O Nāwahīokalani'ōpu'u. We started a masters and doctorate program at the University of Hawai'i. We set up a scholarship fund for all Hawaiian students. And we did self-help housing on all islands. While OHA has done many good things in our community, I personally feel OHA as an organization has somehow lost its

connection to our peopie. Somewhere along the way we have lost sight of what a trust is and its true purpose. A new year brings new hope that OHA ean finally make the changes it needs to improve its overall effectiveness. We must refocus our administrative staff toward areas our beneficiaries have told us are important to them, such as health and housing, and getting our fiscal house in order so that our trust will be there for future generations to eome. OHA must be innovative when looking toward the future and leave nothing to ehanee. All ideas and opportunities must and should be explored when thinking of how we will sustain our trust for future generations. Eeonomie development will be one of OHA's priorities. And partnerships with private and governmental entities will be a must. OHA cannot do this alone, it will need the help of the community and partnerships. And, all of you. I look forward to the new year, knowing that it will present many challenges. But, as I face those challenges, I believe that God will be there to guide me through the troubled waters. I wish you all a very happy new year and God bless you all. ■

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

Rūwena Akana Chair, TrustEE, At-largE