Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 8, 1 August 1991 — Dean, Sheldon, Kapaona are new officers [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Dean, Sheldon, Kapaona are new officers

Josef "Chuki" Dean of Lahainaluna High School has been elected the speaker of the house for the 1991 'Aha 'Opio O OHA. Dean said he talked about rūnning for the position with last year's speaker, and decided he

wanted to try a new experience. "I wanted to see if 1 could do that." Dean said he applied to the 'Aha 'Opio O OHA program because as president of his senior class at Lahainaluna, his advisor thought they should be involved and leam about the legislative process. "At first I thought I wouldn't fit in, and it (the legislature) seemed so difficult. But the people here are real niee," he said. A bonus for being a part of the program was getting a new suit from his parents, a required uniform for legislative sessions. Dean said being speaker of the house has taught him how to lead, and what it means to have power. "It also gives me a ehanee to experience what goes on in a legislature," he said. During a speech at the closing ceremonies, Dean said, "The purpose of this wasn't really to pass and kill bills. It was to leam about yourself and believe in your Hawaiian background ... I think this conference has taught me a lot." His parents are Paul and Grayce Dean of Lahainaluna, Maui.

This year's Kalaimoku, I advisor, Kaylene Kauwila Sheldon, a student at Kahuku High School, I said her motivation [ to run for office stemmed from her j desire "to make a dif- ] ference, and to help in

governmental decisions.

Sheldon interprets her election into office as the first step she has ever taken in trying to help Hawaiians. "When 1 was in intermediate, my kumu hula inspired me," she remembered. "Then I and some of my other hula sisters went on a trip to the Big Island with my kumu hula to meet a male kumu hula. I expected to see a big, Hawaiian-looking man, but this man was a pure ha'ole who was raised by Hawaiians. "This ha'ole man chanted in Hawaiian, introduced us to Hawaiian plants and animals, and really knew and respected the Hawaiian forest. 1 felt so ashamed after I met him because I am Hawaiian and he knew more about my culture than I did." Sheldon's future goals include attending a college in California and majoring in psychology and sociology. "But right now, I feel like I want to be in the House of Representatives," she said. Sheldon's parents are Mervin and Annamarie Byouie of Kahuku.

Roosevelt High School's senior class president Brittney Kapaona is this year's Konohiki, advisor to the lieutenant govemor. Kapaona chose to run for the position because "as senior class president, l'm used to pushing people to do things.

I feel I have the leadership ability to encourage the lieutenant governor." Kapaona is unique in that she has been involved with the 'Aha 'Opio O OHA since its inception four years ago. During the first program she was a legislative page. Her poliheal interests eome from her work in the past poliheal campaign of Brickwood Galuteria and she is also related to state Sen. Malama Solomon. She also credits activities at Kawanankoa Intermediate School for giving her the opportunity to become involved in committees and organizations. As Konohiki, Kapaona would like to develop the present 'Aha 'Opio program. "I think having a preconference learning session is a good idea. A lot of us didn't know what we were getting ourselves into when we signed up for the program," she said. After high school, Kapaona plans to attend college in Hawai'i, and major in Hawaiian Studies with a minor in poliheal science. Kapaona's parents are Sonny and Mahina Ferreira, and Kent Kapaona. _ -

V 'A ' \ W > «V Josef "Chuki" Dean

Kaylene Sheldon

Brittney Kapaona