Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 9, 1 September 1989 — Lei Hulu Mamo Award to Dr. George H. Mills [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Lei Hulu Mamo Award to Dr. George H. Mills

Dr. George Hiilani Mills, a former state senator and physician known for his long record of contributions to the Hawiian communtity, was honored Aug. 4 as the recipient of the third annual Lei Hulu Mamo award. The award, presented at a banquet held by the Hawaiian Civic Political Action Committee, is presented to an outstanding individual of Hawaiian ancestry for a lifetime contribution to politics in the state of Hawai'i, Previous recipients of the award are U.S. Representative Daniel K. Akaka, and Richard Lyman, Jr. Messages of congratulations were presented from Hawaii's congressional members and by elected officials of the Hawai'i state legislature and county governments. Dr. Mills was medical director of Kamehameha Schools and Maunalani Hospital for many years until his recent retirement. He was a Hawai'i state senator from the third senatorial district from 1971-1974. He served as president of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs for eight years and was unanimously acclaimed president emeritus of the association in 1980. Mills was instrumental in the formation of, and is an active sustainer of, the Hawaiian Civic Political Action Committee of the association. In addition, he has served on the boards of most major medical associations in Hawai'i and has been honored by numerous health and eom-

munity agencies for his outstanding contributions. He continues to participate in the legislative process by following bills pertaining to health and native Hawaiian issues. Dr. Mills was one of Hawaii's first doctors of Hawaaian ancestry. His interest in island politics he said may eome from political "genes." His grandfather, Harry T. Mills, was a "soapbox" orator in the 1920s and early 1930s on issues important to Hawaiians. His father, George K. Mills, was a secretary Territorial Legislature, and was a secretary to Price Kuhio. "Doc" Mills grew up in Keaukaha, Hawai'i in the

1930s. He said even as a boy he looked forward to political rallies, though more for the food than the speeches and music. He attended the Kamehameha Schools then Colorado College where he met his future wife, Barbara Whitney Freeman of Boston. Mills said he cherishes the privilege of participating in the process of making laws especially since people in many countries do not have freedom to express a political opinion. He believes the civic clubs, HACPAC, and all Hawaiians must take time to become involved in current issues, especially those affecting Hawaiians such as education, health, the environment, Hawaiian Home Lands, and sovereignty. "Politics is not a dirty word," he said. "It is the Na'au of our life."

His lei hulu mamo worn proudly, Dr. George Mills and wife Barbara are festooned with leis at the HACPAC banquet.