Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 36, Number 8, 1 March 2019 — OHA's Peak Opportunities in 2019... IMUA!!! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA's Peak Opportunities in 2019... IMUA!!!

LEO 'ELELE TRUSTEE MESSSAGES

loha Mai Kakou! As OHA approaches a eul-

mination in 2019 of L 40 years of effort and \accomplishments, it is

very important to review just what we have been trying to achieve and how we have been going about it. The more solidly we lay the foundations for OHA's success, the greater capability for achievement at this time. But if we have broken the rules, done what is not pono, and have taken shortcuts, then we have only ourselves to blame. For

kūpuna, this is one of the most important times in our lives. It is almost as if you have been climbing a mountain for many years, and now the "peak" is in sight. The areas where OHA has prepared carefully will now become tremendously productive. Our opportunities are at a "peak" for achievement and for additional responsibility and power. If OHA tries to avoid its increased responsibilities, we might run the risk of losing everything, even in the areas where we have prepared well and have taken responsibility. Completing our Financial Sustainability Plan gives us the ability to work on particularly exacting and detailed creative projects, from education, heahh and culture. The degree of stability achieved at this time will greatly help our

beneficiaries have a solid core of assets into perpetuity.

OHA will survive only if we are able to satisfy the "REAL" needs of our people. We must be particularly conscious of this now. The more "REAL" our objectives are, the more OHA ean help our beneficiaries by making benevolent choices. Communication will take on a more important role at OHA. We need to share with everyone the new insights that we are working on, and become a proselytizer for

new ideas as we try to break others out of their rigid patterns of thinking. If we take advantage of these opportunities and create a need for "newness of life" at OHA, great things are possible. OHA should be striving to improve conditions of all Native Hawaiians around us. . .to use our inhuenee to help everyone concerned to grow with us. Pahenee and perseverance will carry us through. Even though or lawmakers might resist our efforts, I think it is advisable to work patiently to bring them around to our point of view. We shouldn't withdraw from the confrontations, but also not fight blindly. That would guarantee defeat. We ean still accomplish a great deal by transferring our energies to productive areas. 'Onipa'a! ! ! A hui hou, Trustee Leina'ala ■

Leina'ala Ahu lsa. Ph.D. TrustBB, At-lsrgB

Photo: Courtesy teina'ala Ahu Isa