Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 4, 1 April 1993 — Operation ʻOhana moves forward [ARTICLE]

Operation ʻOhana moves forward

by Kimberly Kau Assistant Coordinator, Operation 'Ohana Operation 'Ohana is a Hawaiian enrollment program being conducted by the education division of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Hawaiians are currently eligible for a variety of services and benefits throughout the state; OHA anticipates additional entitlements provided that federal legislation on land claims and restitution is passed.

Operation 'Ohana seeks to locate Hawaiians, and verify their ancestry, so that every Hawaiian eligible for benefits ean elaim them. More than simply enrollment, it provides a consistent and universal means of identification of the Hawaiian people. Staffed by Mana Kaina and Kimberly Kau, Operation 'Ohana is proceeding in two stages: enrollment and verification of Hawaiian ancestry. Currently, both steps are combined in the enrollment process. If you are already enrolled, now is the time to submit your documents for

verification. Onee enrolled in Operation 'Ohana, individuals receive a "membership" card identifying them as Hawaiian. The benefits of Operation 'Ohana to Hawaiians as individuals and as a people are many. They include: • preserving genealogies and creating a genealogical database; • validating Hawaiian ancestry; • a Hawaiian ID card and benefits brochure; • compilation of a comprehensive Hawaiian census; and • compilation of Hawaiian needs by membership surveys.

Operation 'Ohana builds upon Hawaiian values and traditions, primarily that of 'ohana, the extended family that is the backbone of Hawaiian society. 'Ohana is the foundation in assistng in this important project by registering themselves, their families and others. Help OHA provide all Hawaiians the opportunity to make a difference and ho'olahui (to rebuild a nation). Contact Operation 'Ohana at 586-3754 or 586-3751 to register or to volunteer to distribute enrollment forms.