Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 4, 1 April 2022 — ROBERT CLEMENT KAMAMOONĀPUA CROWELL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ROBERT CLEMENT KAMAMOONĀPUA CROWELL

' Meet the 'OHAna V * OHA STAFF PROFILES *

Loan Processor OHA Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund 14 years at OHA FROM: Lā'ie (ahupua'a), Ko'olauloa (moku), O'ahu (mokupuni) EDUCATION: • Kahuku High School • BYU_Hawai'i (B.S. lnformation Technology)

What is your kuleana at OHA? I review incoming loan applications and help beneficiaries start the loan application process. I also share information about OHA's loan fund program with our lāhui at community events ( this was paused during the pandemic), and respond to inquiries about OHA's various loan products. In terms of current projects, I am involved in seeking and developing innovative ways to improve our loanfund program and operations. Why did you choose to work at OHA? I wanted to workforan organization that makes a big difference in the eommunity. OHA supports our Native Hawaiian community with support and services. What is the best thing about working at OHA? I enjoy the daily interaction with our lāhui and I get really excited when a beneficiary's loan application is approved. What is something interesting for people to know about you? I was raised to put the needs ofour 'ohana and my community first - this is my priority - a value passed down to me by my parents. I also enjoy Hawaiian music and my all-time favorite group is the Mākaha Sons ofNi'ihau. Who has been your role model? Myparents were my role models. They taught me, through their daily examples, the many ways to show aloha. What is your best OHA memory? I really enjoy it when the entire OHA 'ohana comes together for all-day work activities that build pilina and increase our understanding of mo'omeheu and 'āina. ■