Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 1, 1 January 2020 — MESSAGES FROM CEO & CHAIR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MESSAGES FROM CEO & CHAIR

Aloha mai kakou, Fiscal Year 2018-2019 will be remembered as the ealm between "storms." It was a year of transition, a period to recoverfrom the natural disasters that turned two rural Hawaiian communities upside down, while bracing for an oncoming political storm that would shake up the entire state. The Fiscal Year started with OHA joining forces with the rest of the state to provide much-need-ed resources to families impacted by the North Kaua'i rains and the Puna lava flow. When the Hawai'i Supreme Court issued an October 2018 ruling that cleared the last legal hurdle for the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope,

most predicted what would ultimately happen: a major standoff on Maunakea, whieh started right after FY18-19 ended. Still, the 12 months between these events are noteworthy, filled with successes and achievements that shouldn't be overshadowed. For example, OHA won the 2018 Native Hawaiian Housing Award at the 17th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention, hosted by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA). OHA was recognized for investing $1.5 million in Hawaiian Community Assets' (HCA) housing programs since 2011, whieh helped 538 Native Hawaiian households obtain rentals, purchase homes and prevent foreclosures. This resulted in stable housing for 1,251 Native Hawaiian adults and children. OHA's investment in HCA represents just a fraction of the $40 million OHA directed towards supporting the housing security needs of Native Hawaiians over the last decade. OHA also partnered with Kamehameha Schools, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), Waimea Valley, Polynesian Voyaging Society, DTL Hawai'i, Mana Maoli and the Aikau Foundation, to bring back The Eddie Aikau Big Wave lnvitational, whieh had not run since 2016. OHA supported the event for two reasons. First, we wanted to celebrate the life and legacy of the legendary Hawaiian waterman Eddie Aikau, who died tragically trying to save his fellow crew members after the Hōkūle'a capsized in 1978. Secondly, we want to reclaim surfing as a Hawaiian cultural practice. OHA sees The Eddie, whieh is the most viewed surf contest in the world, as an opportunity to encourage more Native Hawaiians to participate in their national sport and to promote the history and traditional aspects of surfing as a reminder to the world of its cultural heritage. I am proud to present this annual report, whieh documents OHA's support of our beneficiaries and community from July 1, 2018 toJune 30, 2019. Often times the programs we fund are overlooked by the media, because they aren't controversial. We support these programs because they help our beneficiaries who are in the greatest of need. And these programs are proven to work, often without fanfare. I encourage you to read and review this annual report to see how your OHA has contributed to and supported the successes of our community during this year of transition. Me ka 'oia'i'o,

Sylvia M. Hussey, Ed.D. CEO | KA POUHANA