Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 3, 1 March 1989 — Investiture At Kawaiahaʻo Church [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Investiture At Kawaiahaʻo Church

Chairman Gives "State Of OHA" Address

During a solemn but colorful investiture ceremony at Kawaiaha'o Church on January 27, OHA Chairman Thomas K. Kaulukukui, Sr. was presented with the unique gold and green 'ahu'ula. . .a eape symbolizing leadership and authority. Members of Hawaii's royal societies in full regalia witnessed the "Ho'okau 'Ia Ka 'Ahu'ula," investiture of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees, following messages by representatives of three generations: kupuna, makua and 'opio. Kupuna Rachel Mahuiki, speaking entirely in Hawaiian, urged the trustees to look to the Lord to give them strength and knowledge. The Reverend Tyrone Rhinehardt, representing the makua, presented eaeh trustee with a kukui nut. He said for Queen Lili'uokalani it was a symbol of the light of her people and a hope for the future during a time of oppression. He said it also represents knowledge, and he prayed that the trustees would use that knowledge for the benefit of the Hawaiian people. Colleen Apo and Ann Ka'ahanui spoke for the 'opio generation. They told the trustees, "We look up to you as role models, and we depend on you to make important decisions whieh will affect the preservation of our culture." After receiving his 'ahu'ula from past board chairmen Louis Hao and Moses Keale, Chairman Kaulukukui delivered a "State of OHA" address. Here are some excerpts from that address:

" 'Ano'ai me ke aloha, "On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, I would like to weleome and thank all of you who are here today. "Many of you are our families and friends — the ones we hold most dear and must demand the most of as we seek the best fulfillment of our trust responsibilities. To you, as always, we again express our love and gratitude for your patience and understanding in supporting the work whieh we do. "Others of you — though friends and also loved by us — eome here today in the role of witness for the Hawaiian people and nation. While we gather as family, this investiture ceremony also celebrates the continuity and changes between the ancient, honored traditions of the Hawaiian people and our modern aspirations as reflected by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and our Board of Trustees. "I am deeply grateful for the honor and responsibiiity whieh comes with this 'ahu'ula of the Chairmanship. Unlike the royal emblems of old, this eape does not entitle me to assert royal privilege or demand or unfair favor. In fact, the strongest similarity between this 'ahu'ula and those of our ancestors is that in battle, I will be the most conspicuous target. "As I wear it today, it is a reminder of the beauty of our past, of the values and beliefs whieh have unified us as a people for more than two thousand years — and of the battles and challenges whieh we must face for the future. "Recently, we have heard both national and state leaders address these challenges as they saw them, and share their view of the future. I believe this occasion is the appropriate time to speak of

'The State of The Office of Hawaiian Affairs' and to outline the action agenda needed to assure a Hawaiian future as rich as our past. "First, we will continue to affirm and strengthen OHA's ability to plan and account for the beneficial use of trust assets managed for the Hawaiian people. In just the past year, we have: 1. Revised and adopted an OHA Master Plan, whieh was shared with sister Hawaiian service agencies for their response and the future coordination of activities through the eventual development of a Comprehensive Master Plan; 2. Developed two-year functional plans for eaeh program area drawn from the OHA Master Plan goals and objectives and linked to the Office biennium budget; 3. Conducted a first-ever referendum regarding a single beneficiary class definition for OHA — from whieh a decisive 84 percent to 15 percent margin in favor of such a change was recorded; and 4. Cooperated fully and successfully with an Attorney General Office's investigation of Board management and expenditure of OHA funds. "In addition, to garner understanding and support for this process of improved accountability, we initiated a series of ho'olokahi luneheons to enhanee networking with Hawaiian organizations and conducted 16 statewide public information meetings. On a more formalized level, we are also now reviewing policies and procedures necessary to the establishment of an OHA continued next page

OHA Chairman Kaulukukui gives "State of OHA" address.

Rachel Mahuiki

The Rev. Tyrone Rhinehardt presents trustee Frenchy DeSoto and Clarence Ching with kukui nuts, symbolic of the light of knowledge.

Colleen Apo and Ann Ka'ahanui.

OHA trustees listen as kupuna, makua and 'opio representatives give their messages.

"State of OHA", continued from previous page

clearinghouse mechanism to enhanee and coordinate programs serving the Hawaiian people. "Our Board is justifiably proud of the progress we are making. These efforts become especially significant when we recognize that they are the building blocks to achieving the full trust entitlement due OHA. As you know, OHA is engaged in on-going negotiations with the Governor's office. We remain optimistic that we will soon approach the State Legislature with the beginning of this settlement package. "Also of over-riding interest to our Office is the

iull impiementation and greater expansion ot federal entitlements due the Hawaiian people. "Right now, we are reviewing draft proposals to submit to our Congressional delegation regarding reparations. In addition, we are planning and have requested legislative appropriations for a eoordinated four-year effort to achieve justice for Hawaiians. It is my belief, that with the concerted effort of all Hawaiians, 1993 will mark the end of a "Century of Dishonor" between the United States and the Hawaiian nation. "In addition, we will continue to seek redress for those harms inflicted and daily suffered as a eonsequence of being a people dispossessed in our own homeland. "This past week, I attended the first meeting of Papa Ola Lokahi— a five-member planning and governing board recognized by Congress to develop and guide the progress of the Nahonal Native Hawaiian Health Act. "With OHA, Alu Like, E Ola Mau, the University of Hawai'i and the State Department of Health working together, and with the authorization of federal funds totalling more than $19 million over three years beginning in 1990 — we ean reverse the statistics of disease and early death whieh have taken so mueh of the joy out of Hawaiian families. "Today, through a grant administered by OHA and implemented by Castle Hospital and the Honolulu Poliee Department, we are already effectively intervening in drug abuse prevention and treatment. This grant program was recently recognized as among the three best in the nation. "Our achievements are growing. The list is virtually too long to share today — the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund, the kupuna program, the geneaology project, our OHA voter registration drive, traditional healing conferences, agreements with other Native Amenean nations. I could stand here for hours just listing the initiatives whieh have been set in motion. "Of course, I am not suggesting that there are no

continuing hardships or that we have found answers to every problem. But the point to be made is that we have made some impressive first and second steps, and that we will continue walking towards our goal. "Like the 'ahu'ula of old — the feathers of our eloak are gathered a few at a time, cherished, and added to, and as they are sewn together patterns of beauty are formed. With enough care and time, the eape will be finished — a sheltering glory whieh will inspire pride and strength."