Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 12, 1 December 1985 — Kanahele Sees lncreased Role for Hawaiians [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kanahele Sees lncreased Role for Hawaiians

Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have selected a new Administrator to supervise the operations of the office. The position has been vacant since last May when former Administrator T.C. Yim retired. The appointment of Kamaki A. Kanahele III was announced at a sp>ecial meeting of the OHA Board of Trustees Nov. 6. A selection committee, comprised of five OHA Trustees, had narrowed the list of candidates to eight finalists after a six-month review process. A total of 105 individuals submitted applications for the position whieh is comparable in responsibility and salary to that of a state department head. Kanahele was the unanimous ehoiee of the full OHA board. The 40-year-old Administrator was born on Oahu and spent some of his early childhood on Niihau. He is a graduate of Waianae High School and the Church College of Hawaii where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Art and Education. Kanahele received a Master of Arts degree in Education from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and was a doctorial candidate at that institution. He currently serves as Assistant Director/Administrator

of the Artists in Education Program of the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C. Kanahele taught high school in Salt Lake City where he also owned an importexport business, a Polynesian dance studio and a touring hula troupe. The new Administrator was trained in Polynesian arts and culture, hula and chant by his parents and grandparents. At a news conference held a few days after his appointment, Kanahele gave the press an insight into some of his goals for OHA in future years. Kanahele said he feels OHA's position in the future should be to have the main say as to the direction in whieh the State of Hawaii moves as far as the native Hawaiian people are concerned. He went on to say that one of his most important tasks is to see to it that Hawaiians are free to chart their own destiny. "Give us an opportunity to decide our fate, not other people," he declared. Kanahele also predicted that "Hawaiians are going to have a strong say as to who will be the next Governor of Hawaii, who should be representing us in Washington, D.C. and speaking for us". The new Administrator will assume his OHA duties Jan. 6.

New Office of Hawaiian Affairs Administrator Kamaki A. Kanahele III is pictured with five trustees at press conferenee. To his right are Trustees Louis Hao and Gard Kealoha. On his left are Joseph G. Kealoha Jr., chairman, and Trustees Moses Keale and Moanikeala Akaka.