Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 35, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 2018 — OHA TRUSTEE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA TRUSTEE

THE QUESTIONS The Kai Wai Ola urges all voters to take part in the November 6 election. Kai Wai Ola surveyed the 2 candidates for the OHA Maui Trustee seat.

®Question 1 How will your skillsandexperiencesenhancethe policymaking role of the OHA Board of Trustees?

®Question 2 As a trustee how would you fulfillyourfiduciarydutiesand defend 0HA's constitutional and statutory obligations to ensure 0HA's trust resources are specifically expended ti benefit Native Hawaiians?

®Question 3 0HA's 2010-2018 Strategic Plan outlines six strategic priorities to improve the conditions of Native Hawaiians. As this plan comes to a close, what strategic priorities would you suggest be the focus of 0HA's next Strategic Plan and why?

MAUI TRUSTEE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS / STATE OF HAWAI'I

KAPU, KE'EAUMOKU NONPARTISAN AGE: 55 OCCUPATION: Cultural Coordinator for Na'aikane o Maui Cultural Center, Lahaina HOMETOWN: Lahainā, Maui E: kapukapuakea@qmail.com P: (808) 298-5639 W: None

1. I have been a strong advocate to Native Hawaiian entitlements while serving on boards and commissions for over 16 plus years in understanding first ot all our constitutional rights under article 12 sec-

tion 7. County HRS 343 rules the States protection of ' historicproperties under HRS 6E HAR 13-300, and by being at the forefront of every issue that comes to the table for discussion and

to assure there is accountability when advocating for every and all problematic situation tor Native Hawaiians. Our cultural integrity, customary practices and the protection and preservation of our historical sacred sites and especially the respect tor our burials that are being disturbed and are not being clearly addressed. 2. 1 believe as a trustee we need to first understand our source of authority and power to govern our selves and demonstrate our resolve through unity and clarity of purpose in serving the interest of our people here in Hawaii. We need to empower our communities so they heeome the decision makers in carving out our rightful plaee here in Hawaii through the legislative body of the Office of Hawaiian Atfairs. 3. By providing the necessary tools to our Native Hawaiian stake holders that way they heeome empowered when it comes to understanding our rights and responsibilities to our resources. To show them ways of taking ownership as was during the Mahele and assuring that we no longer accept status quo in our efforts to achieve selt reliance, cultural integrity, eeonomie viability and organizational reliability. I am very confident that by having the necessary leadership and the right human resource capacity to make measured progress we ean start serving our beneficiaries with the tools they will need to find success, and it elected I will make it my priority toget itdone.

LINDSEY, CARMEN HULU NONPARTISAN AGE: 74 OCCUPATION: Maui OHA Trustee HOMETOWN: Kula, Maui, Hl E: kahulu@maui.net P: (808) 572-0453 W: None

1. The experience I have gained serving as the Maui Trustee forthe past six years has definitely given me the skillsto continue servingina policymaking role on the OHA Board of Trustees. I have seen our successes

and our weaknesses. As the Chairperson ot the Resource ' Management Committee, I have initiated an "internal" audit by an "external auditor" for OHA,

tocusing on fraud, waste and abuse. This audit was approved in February 2017 by the Board of Trustees and would examine activities and disbursements of our people's trust assets. 2. 1 would do what I have been doing-asking a lot of questions and initiating policy changes to strengthen our agency so we ean fulfill our mandate to improve the conditions of our beneficiaries. We must also be fair in our dealings and be more accountable and transparent to regain the trust ot our beneticiaries. Trustees must support and work with the State Auditor for complete disclosure ot all information, fiscal and programmatic. The Board of Trustees have begun implementing the Audit recommendations, giving priority to areas where there was inadequate oversight of fiscal allocations. 3. A recent survey of our beneficiaries indicated that they believe our Strategic Plan should mainly focus on bread and butter issues-housing, employment, health (drug abuse), and education. Our people need decent work in order to purchase a home and afford a mortgage. Government must be innovative and involved in constructing affordable housing. The average person does not earn $39 an hour, whieh is the ineome one must earn to qualify for a home that is categorized as affordable today in Hawaii. We must provide OHA funds to create programs that will help our people that are drug users so that they ean heeome functioning adults in our communities. Our children need to be protected from drug dealers that attempt to exploit them. Finally, no student should be denied the opportunity for higher education. OHA needs to continue the education grants and increase the amount invested in our young people as we decrease the costs of our operations.