Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 36, Number 8, 1 March 2019 — MEET YOUR TRUSTEE: Kaleihikina Akaka [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MEET YOUR TRUSTEE: Kaleihikina Akaka

lnterviewed by Ka Wai Ola Staff > What strengths do you bring to the OHA's Board? A fresh perspective, balanced with the wisdom of those before us. I feel it is very important to have that pono halanee, so that there ean be a healthy flow of ideas — and we ean make things work for the future, while respecting the values and traditions of our past and today. > What is the first thing you hope to accomplish? What is the biggest issue - or biggest area of need - affecting the Native Hawaiian community? To answer both of these together: I hope to look at a strategic plan that focuses on quality of life initiatives: housing, heahh and wellness, education and jobs. Those are our biggest, our core issues. I want to

strengthen our relationship with the Legislature, and through that strong bond they will be able to better understand why we need the funding from Puhlie Land Trust revenues to do the tasks at hand. I also want to strengthen our relationship on the city and county, and federal level, along with puhlie and private partnerships, to maximize the potential for doing even more good. One of my other goals is to put ( even more aloha into OHA, so that / the all the people of Hawai'i ean see and feel all the good things OHA : is doing. ' > What do you do for fun? i I enjoy quality time with my 1 family and friends, and taking time j to celebrate and enjoy the life that i we have together. j

How do you connect with the 'āina? When I'm on the water, sailing, in nature, or, even better, in Waipi'o with my 'ohana, it's like going back in time. I feel like I'm in my natural state. Being there grounds me. ■

newesf Trustee for O'ohu, Kaleihikina Akakū. - Photo: Sean Marrs