Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 6, 1 June 1998 — A sense of civic duty and pride [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A sense of civic duty and pride

WHEN MY friends and family members leamed that Govemor Cayetano had appointed me an interim trustee to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, many called. Some offered congratulations, but most asked me directly why I would aeeeph I have always thought that I was responsible to give some measure of kōkua for the betterment of my eom-

munity, if only a little bit. Hawaiians used to eall this sphere of responsibility their "kuleana," the plaee you would tend and nurture. It was this thought whieh encouraged me to accept this appointment. Not long after my arrival at OHA, I realized that I am not alone in this commitment. Throughout Hawai'i, there are more than 300 volunteers who are giving to Hawaiians and their community through their work for OHA.

Thus far in 1 998, they have given to you and OHA more than 1 9,000 hours that they could have easily spent in other ways. They have shared their time, energy, wisdom, humor and understanding of the needs that exist at OHA. They help prepare the information packets whieh are mailed when you request information on Operation 'Ohana. They serve on the Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Council and the Native Hawaiian Educational Council. They fold and staple the applications you piek up when seeking a Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan or OHA grant. If you saw any of the commercials that OHA aired during the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival recenty, then you saw some of our volunteers providing their very genuine voices, faces and novice acting talents to help OHA.

Every day these volunteers do the work of bettering the life of our land. Giving of yourself for your eommunity's future is not always easy. It ean require personal sacrifice. The famous eall to duty issued by Kamehameha to his warriors urged nā pōki'i to charge into battle and to drink of the bitter waters. Even in the short time I have been at OHA, I have seen these volunteers "drink of the bitter waters." Their contributions have at times been demeaned because of an association with OHA or dismissed because of a presumption or demand that they are

compelled to help or work for us. We only subtract from ourselves with this attitude. Yet I have seen the forgiveness in their eyes coupled with the generosity in their hearts. It must be what keeps them coming back. It must be what makes them not wait for someone else to make their community better, and that enhances our pride and trust in eaeh other. We develop a sense of community.

/vs i gei 10 Know me many new faces at OHA, I am also discovering all of the small success stories that sometimes go unnoticed. Thus, when I say that I am proud to be a trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, I feel that I am truly speaking for our community-and for what we ean accomplish together. If you are interested in becoming an OHA volunteer, eall 594-1885. And if you are interested in becoming an OHA trustee, please contact the Office of Elections on your island or at 4538683 on O'ahu. Think about serving your community. There are so many needs that must be filled by people who have nothing more than a desire to do what is right. The time is now for us all to search for that plaee in our community that needs our help. If you find that plaee, go there. ■

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