Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 36, Number 8, 1 August 2019 — A Trustee's Call to Listen Carefully, Seeking Knowledge and Understanding... [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Trustee's Call to Listen Carefully, Seeking Knowledge and Understanding...

LEO 'ELELE TRUSTEE MESSSAGES

ATrustee's eall is to strengthen and build specific gifted skills. Listening and Referring are two such skills. Listening skills are key when working with beneficiaries of the trust. Good listening comes when listeners are interested in what the speaker has to say, and when they create room for the speaker to share honestly and fully.

Good listening does not eome naturally to everyone, but it is critical. When a person is heard, he or she feels valued and able to share, It is important when listening to another's story to keep the conversation confidential, unless someone's wellbeing is threatened. Truste e s m u s t understand eonfidentiality and the importance it plays in building relationships. At times, the Trustees ean work with their beneficia-

ries and find the resources they need, resources beyond what the Trustees ean offer. This is where Referral becomes important. Trustees should be authentie in their

relationships with others. They share appropriately from their experiences. They listen carefully, seeking knowledge and Eaeh Trustee is different and brings various gifts and skills to his/her position. But among these, it does not include pontificating but more of servant leadership. Being a very unique position as it is an elected one, they are placed here to have OHA help families that are facing difficulties. . . some are homeless, some are caregivers, and many are lonely. Listening 'i n rl rpennnHino and

by Referring with compassion is a major part of servant leadership. Queen Liliuokal a ni ' s reign ean be a lesson to eaeh of us. She did not know her future . . . and advocates, "Weneverknow how mueh time we have, so Iet us do the best we ean eaeh day of our lives, and love and listen to our people passionately. "

AlohaAuIā Oe! A hui hou until September, Trustee Leina'ala Ahu Isa ■

Leina'ala Ahu lsa, Ph.D. TrustBE, At-lsrgE

Kia'i Lanakila Manguil and Trustee Lei Ahu lsa - Photo: Courtesy