Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 9, 1 September 1996 — Choose your leadership carefully [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Choose your leadership carefully

by the Rev. Moses Keale Trustee. Kaua'i and Ni'ihau The history of OHA has often been a colorful and controversial saga. I should know because I have been here from the very first day. In spite of and despite its ups and downs, the personaI trials and tribulations that my asso-

ciation with OHA has thrown my way, I continue to persevere. At times OHA has survived in spite of itself. OHA has many accomplishments for whieh it and I ean take great pride in having participated in, if not directing its establishment. In ] the area of education and leadership ] training of our young people, I ean proudly point to the 'AHA ŌPIO O j OHA legislative leadership pro-

gram whieh moves into its 10th year with over 500 graduates. These graduates have retumed from college and jobs to contribute to the leadership of future young people. Young adults who have learned the concepts of HO'OMAU, LŌKAHI, and 'OHANA. Secondly, we have the KŪPUNA PROGRAM whieh has grown from single half-day meetings to intensive multi-day retreats. This program has greatly enhanced the quality and quantity of our knowledge of who we were, who we are, and how we ean continue to impart upon our Hawaiian people the values of our ancestors. This program has flourished for more than 9 years. Then there is the NATIVE HAWAIIAN REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM. This program has had a major and positive impact on the status of Hawaiians in business. Through this model program, OHA has inspired and assisted many, many Hawaiian-owned businesses whieh would not have otherwise been successful without its loan fund, financial guidance and technical assistance. This is

another program whieh has existed for more than 8 years. But is this enough? 1 say it is never enough! What about housing? Where are the housing programs? For more than 6 years most of OHA's attempts at programs, most of OHA's announcements about new and great strides in deliverance of programs to assist

in the housing crises faced by Hawaiians have had little impact on the total needs of our people. The programs announced and funded with millions of dollars have been failures in one way or another. We now have hundreds of millions of dollars, but OHA's board spends its time bickering, fighting, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on wasted

programs, studies, and other such items whieh cannot, and will not, alleviate the problems faced daily by our people. I fought long and hard for this money. The programs I just mentioned above were implemented under my leadership when we had little or no money. I thought onee we had secured the money, these programs and many more like them would spring up throughout our program areas. But that has not materialized. What happened? POOR VISION AND POOR LEADERSHIP happened! Money ean be a most valuable tool, but it ean also be an evil that desecrates good people and great ideas. We are a board of nine individuals. Although no one person ean change the direction of the board, one person ean be its conscience. Only you ean make the difference. Think about the leadership you want. Choose your leadership carefully. Speak out clearly and decisively. Thank you for your confidence in me. I truly have been your humble servant and continue to be your dedicated voice.