Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 1, 1 January 2021 — Hopes to Bring New Energy to OHA's Board of Trustees [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hopes to Bring New Energy to OHA's Board of Trustees

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By Ed Kalama One thing is clear when it comes to new Moloka'i and Lāna'i Trustee Luana Alapa: she's here to serve. "As a trustee my mission is to serve our people and to bring accountability and transparency to OHA. I hope to have a positive impact through my service, and I intend to be accessible, include others and remain positive moving forward. My aloha for Moloka'i and Lāna'i is of utmost importance." A graduate of Kamehameha Schools and UH Mānoa, Alapa is a former professional dancer and model, a businesswoman and a motivational speaker.

Trustee Alapa and her 'ohana (L-R): Mark Hee, Kyla Hee, Marcus Hee and Luana Alapa. - Photo: Courtesy of īrustee Alapa

Alapa is currently a state licensed insuranee agent, but she is best known for her work in the personal development industry, and for her L.A. Productions Hawai'i company whieh, for the past 29 years, has produced special events including fashion shows and state pageants. As a trustee, Alapa said she wants to hear from her constituents. "I'm approachable and open minded. I'm sincerely interested in people's eoncerns and suggestions for constructive solutions. "The reason why I wanted to become a trustee is to help ensure our Hawaiian community would be served through

an open-door policy. I want community members to express their concerns with me and help us find viable solutions that are attainable. The goal of raising and sustaining the highest quality of life for our Hawaiian people will be my ultimate goal as trustee," she said. Alapa is strong, secure and self-assured in who she is as a person, and ready to make her contribution to uplift the lāhui. "I'm confident in who I am. I know my truth and my values, and I have eonfidence that I ean help make a difference," she said. "I have a reputation for getting things done, and infusing enthusiasm to accomplish goals; it's the entrepreneurial mindset that I've had the past 30 years. "I'm goal-oriented, loyal, dedicated, compassionate and an

independent thinker, and I enjoy meeting people. These business attributes and personal characteristics are qualities that will help me to bring a fresh new energy to the board. "As a businessperson, I'm concerned about the eeonomie wellbeing of the Hawaiian people. OHA has a $600 million portfolio in land and funds and I will work tirelessly to grow that

trust with the goal of becoming a billiondollar fund so that we may expand the scope with whieh OHA serves our beneficiaries," she said. Alapa said she's excited about the opportunity to serve the lāhui. "I'm truly humbled by the voters who elected me," she said. "I believe they feel that I'm someone they are confident ean help restore trust, faith and honesty in OHA." She said that one of the best things about being elected has been receiving hundreds of congratulatory messages from people throughout the state. "The support has been incredible, to say the least." ■