Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 5, 1 Mei 2020 — Aloha mai kākou, [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Aloha mai kākou,

J 'ŌLELO A KA POUHANA V ~ MFSRAnF FRDM THF HFO '

WE F I N D OURSELVES IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Offtce of Hawaiian Affairs' priority is to maintain safe and healthy community and work environments for OHA staff and beneficiaries, while limiting disruptions in our services to the lāhui. Following federal and state mandates, OHA closed all of its offices to the puhlie and staff and Trustees are teleworking from home. Nevertheless, modified services to our beneficiaries, following federal and state guidance on social distancing, continue during this period via phone, e-mail, website and social media. OHA's response to this pandemic has focused on ensuring that emergency resources and services - from the government, the private sector as well as our own trust - are directed at meeting the critical needs of our communities and families. To this end, we are working directly with community members to assess beneficiary needs and support ongoing efforts. We are also in constant communication with partner organizations to ensure services are complementary and not duplicative. Furthermore, we have been advocating for our lāhui at the loeal, state, and federal levels. For example, OHA is continuing to advocate for preventing eviction for non-payment of rent or mortgage; access to elean showers and bathrooms for homeless beneficiaries; criminal justice monitoring for our pa'ahao; and access to federal dollars for education. OHA is also releasing trust resources directly into the community. OHA's emergency financial assistance grant is administered via the Oouneil for Native Hawaiian Advancement' s Kahiau Community Assistance Program and represents almost $1.7 million in community support over two years. OHA's $3 million in support, also over two years, for 17 Hawai-ian-focused charter schools throughout the pae 'āina, enable schools to pivot and meet the educational needs of their communities during this COVID-19 time. Another OHA-funded program is our Kaiāulu Meals program. Launched in early April, OHA's $450,000 Kaiāulu Meals program is supporting 13 community-based service providers' efforts to distribute enough food for three meals per week to Native Hawaiian kūpuna, ages 60 years and older. The groups have worked with their communities to identify kūpuna who demonstrate the most need. The program will distribute thousands of meals and more than 500 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) food packages every week to kūpuna on every island. The origin of Kaiāulu Meals is rooted in the self-sustainability of our communities. Early on during this crisis, a number of organizations assessed the immediate needs of their eommunities and identified food insecurity as a major issue facing 'ohana and especially kūpuna. These community groups, located on eaeh island, quickly stepped up to provide prepared meals and loeal produce for their communities. In addition, these service providers are working with Hawai'i small businesses and farmers to ensure that meals and the CSA include loeal products.

OHA is working for the lāhui and adapting to the changing times. We will eonhnue to be strong champions for our 'ohana, community, mo'omeheu and 'āina. However, we must be vigilant and maka'ala as elected officials navigate their responses to this crisis. This is where the community comes in. We cannot let them neglect the kuleana they have to Native Hawaiians and Hawai'i. We need your voices. We need to pay attention. Our people are strong and resilient. We have overcome hardships throughout our history. Like our ancestors before us, we must be steadfast, remain cautious, but never lose touch with our traditions, culture, and our spirit of aloha. Together, we will overcome this, as well. He po'i na kai uli, kai ko'o, 'a'ohe hina pūko'a Though the sea be deep and rough, the coral rock remains standing Take care of yourselves and your 'ohana. Aloha kekahi i kekahi. Stay safe and healthy. ■ E mālama pono,

Colette Y. Machado Chair | Trustee Moloka'i & Lāna'i

Sylvia M. Hussey, Ed.D. Ka Pouhana/Chief Executive Officer