Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 8, 1 August 2022 — Kealii Makekau [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kealii Makekau

1 1 In building management and the transportation industry Native Hawaiians are struggling if not last to get access to both these programs. Tragically I've seen firsthand Native Hawaiians not being able to qualify for housing programs because they're the poorest of all racial groups statewide. When dealing with transportation "medical" over half of my ridership was Native Hawaiian. Working under United Healthcare, 'Ohana and Aloha Healthcare insurance eompanies, Native Hawaiians were very dependent on this service because of health, laek of housing and geographical location "homestead." With the cost of living skyrocketing out of

control, transportation companies are folding and insurance coverage is no longer affordable, thus our people's health is bad and is only projected to get even worse. 2 | The last six years driving for a private handy-van LLC whieh provides transportation for all peoples who required transportation for medical purposes. From doctors appointments, physical therapy, to picking up medical prescriptions a lot of kūpuna are totally dependent on this type of service. With the Native Hawaiian community being hit the hardest by COVID-19 it's a top priority to see these types of services continue and OHA is in a position to help. 3 | For myself having been actively involved and engaged with OHA since 2000, whether it was exposing fraud and waste with the federal recognition attempts, or getting the OHA primary election bill passed into law, protecting the PLT, defending Maunakea, supporting an independent audit of OHA itself and trying to get Kaka'ako Makai lands rezoned for commercial development. Attending existing workshops on policy making and land management have greatly increased my knowledge on how OHA works. 4 1 First off the legislature. We have to keep a presence there to ensure laws are obeyed and payments for things like ceded land use are made. Second partnerships with both private and mainland developers to ensure we identify and develop OHA properties that will yield great eeonomie return and provide adequate housing opportunities. Lastly all the ali'i trusts. 5 1 DHHL already has a relationship with OHA and receives up to $3 million dollars annually to assist them with building homes on Hawaiian homestead lands. Kamehameha Schools and Howard Hughes corporation hold properties neighboring the Kaka'ako Makai lands owned buy OHA and have already been to OHA via committee to discuss their land use and development. Developers like Ikaika construction, Stanford car, Nan ine., and more need to be consulted as to how and what it takes to build either traditional housing or condo type housing. With OHA purchasing and receiving lands, housing is expected to be the top priority facing native Hawaiians. These types of collaborations have to happen now! ■