Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 2022 — Robert E. Peters [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Robert E. Peters

Age | did not answer Occupation | did not answer Where did you grow up | did not answer Schooling | did not answer Current residence | did not answer Website | n/a

1 1 1) Founder, producer of Wai'anae's first community carnival. E.K Fernandes games/rides 15 - 20 food/game booths. ineome for lāhui); 2) Founder/cultural director, Kaka'ako Native Hawaiian Community Cultural Center. 3) Rallied and stopped the construction of two Japanese golf courses to be built in the Lualualei ahupua'a, and the 'Ohikilolo Ranch in Mākua. 4) Together with Albert and Uieola Silva, and Gabe Kila, I served as master of ceremonies at several 'Ōhikilolo Ranch's Annual Mother's Day Lū'au celebrations. 5) Served as arbitrator for HCAP's Wai'anae Community School Concerns Coalition. 6) Past member of the Wai'anae Neighborhood Board.

2 & 3 | Project implementation, working or collaborating with professionals to establish policies (these two categories are interlaced together: 1) I implemented and received a grant to fund HCAP'S Wai'anae School Concerns Coalition director position. My responsibility was to arbitrate disputes between Wai'anae puhlie school administrators and concerned parents. 2) Worked in concert with the Nānākuli High School principal to receive a grant to fund a two-year choral directors teaching position at Nānākuli High School and Nānāikapono Elementary School as a music specialist. 3) Collaborated with former House Speaker Henry Peters, to arrange for my Nānākuli choir to perform at the opening day of the legislature. 4) As a Wai'anae rotarian, I worked to improve the conditions of the Wai'anae lāhui, and to advance their lifestyle. 5) The Hawaiian Music Foundation commissioned me to write about the development of falsetto singing in Hawai'i in conjunction with the hrst falsetto concert to be held at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. 6) Together with the concerned lāhui of Nānākuli, we petitioned Hawaiian Electric for damages to the Kahe Point shoreline. A monetary settlement was reached. 4 & 5 | OHA'S laek of transparency and their mantra of fear and intimidation of the Hawaiian lāhui is manifested on a daily basis by OHA as they attempt to reshape their ideals and not those of the lāhui. Two state audits and an independent audit by CLA concluded by saying "OHA continues to be remiss of major core responsibilities: a) improving the conditions of the lāhui; and, b) lacking a comprehensive plan for bettering the conditions of the lāhui." Until OHA ean establish a land acquisition and management infrastructure, to adequately address homelessness, eeonomie stability, and affordable housing, they must focus on strategic priorities for improving eeonomie self-sufficiency, education, culture, aina, health, self-governance, honoring the past, and preparing for the future. ■