Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 40, Number 1, 1 January 2023 — Special Lei Hulu Created for Investiture of Newly Elected Trustees [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Special Lei Hulu Created for Investiture of Newly Elected Trustees

As part of a long-standing tradition, special lei hulu (feather lei) were created for this year's newly elected OHA trustees and presented to them during investiture ceremonies. The stunning lei hulu design, by master lei-maker Kawika Lum-Nelmeida and pictured here, was inspired by OHA's vision, "Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha" (To Raise a Beloved Lāhui). Board Chair Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey asked only that the base color for the lei hulu be hlaek - the design itself was left to Lum-Nelmeida. Working with OHA CEO Dr. Sylvia Hussey and Operations Support Coordinator Remy Keliihoomalu, Lum-Nelmeida based the hnal design for the lei hulu on the

organization's strategic foundations: 'ohana, mo'omeheu (culture) and 'āina. In the center of the lei, the yellow band complemented with green and hlaek represents 'ohana. On either side, the green band offset with brown and hlaek represents mo'omeheu, while the red band offset with brown and hlaek represents 'āina. Together the elements of the lei hulu are symbolic of OHA's kuleana to help restore and uplift our lāhui. By accepting the lei hulu and the kaona that it represents, trustees accept their kuleana and carry it forward.