Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 12, 1 December 1988 — Ward Named Ka Wai Ola O OHA Editor [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ward Named Ka Wai Ola O OHA Editor

Effective November 1 Deborah Noelani Lee Ward was appointed editor of Ka Wai Ola O OHA, following a twomonth process whieh included reviewing more than 35 applications for the position. OHA Public Information Officer Ed Miehelman said he is deliqhted with Mrs.

Ward's appointment. "She has demonstrated a high degree of journalistic skill and is in the process of implementing a number of exciting changes in the format of our newspaper," Miehelman said. Ward joined OHA as publications assistant in January, 1988. In August, she became acting editor following the resignation of former editor Kenny Haina, who is now public information officer for the Hawaii State Library System. Her permanent appointment was approved by the OHA Board of T rustees at its October 29 meeting on Moloka'i. Ward is a 1969 graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, and a 1973 graduate of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, where she earned a B.A. degree in journalism. Before coming to OHA, she was public information assistant at Bishop Museum where her duties included editing the monthly membership newsletter and a variety of other public information activities.

Her career as a writer and editor has included positions as information specialist for the State of Hawai'i Department of Planning and Eeonomie Development, University of Hawai'i Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, reporter/copy editor for a Japanese-owned, English-language business magazine, and freelance education correspondent for the Oregonian in Portland, Oregon. Ward is married to Dr. Laurence Kaipoaloha Wafd, a naturopathic physician. She is the daughter of Edward E. Lee and Lei Kamakaiwi Lee of Makiki. She has one brother, Bruce Kimo Lee, a 1974 Kamehameha Schools graduate, who is a graphic designer in New York City. Ward said she is grateful to the trustees for their confidence, and is pleased at her new assignment but recognizes the great challenge and responsibility whieh goes with the job. She credited editor Haina with building the newspaper in his four-year term into a strong, effective and appealing publication for, by and about Hawaiians. She calls upon Hawaiians to share their information and mana'o to help Ka Wai Ola O OHA "truly develop as the voice of the Hawaiian community." "I plan to be developing more articles of relevance to Hawaiians, and to publish more information on OHA's activities and services to our Hawaiian beneficiaries." Ward says she shares the goals of the agency to wo' k for the betterment of conditions for fellow Hawaiians, and feels OHA provides "an opportunity for all Hawaiians to work togetner and achieve great things for our people. . . .These are times of great change and great challenge for Hawaiians. As we together create the vision of our future, we ean be wisely guided by the knowledge of our past."

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