Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 7, 1 July 1997 — Enough fussing, grabbing and politicking, let's conduct a business [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Enough fussing, grabbing and politicking, let's conduct a business

It has been 17 years

since the start of OHA. First we were without funds. Thanks to those trustees who eame before me, we have ample capital to double our ineome through investment diversity. Our liquidity is too mueh to be content to live on the dole without investing. Look at the capital available: 1. Operational cost of takeout programs. $13 Million SELECTED AVAILABLE FUNDS FOR INVESTMENT EXPANSION 2. Investment portfolio, $208 Million Market Value 3. RevoIving Loan Fund. $14 Million More than half of recipients view loan as grants 4. $38 Million in cash available. Recently, Trustees and DHHL Commissioners inquired of Maori, AIaskan and Ameiiean Indian board members about their significantly multiplying Investment Programs. The exchange was held at the Halekulani Hotel. Their tribal over 18 years of age beneficiaries were mueh fewer than our 100,000 census population. Their corporate philosophic ethic allowed board members a proportionately greater latitude to make creative business decisions. Separate income-generat-

ing entities were established to funnel ineome proceeds to holding companies for beneficiaries who could partake of a share of the offerings whether in programs supported by the ineome earned or with dividends. They underscored the need to tap the business aeu-

men available in the capital market plaee. Their boards did not build massive direct service bureaucracies for their wounded and apprentices. lnstead, partnerships were formed with the most cost-effi-cient providers whether they were of their minority group or not. Exceedingly accountable, detailed reporting is a statutory requirement. Beneficiary input is collected by established houses of registered rosters of tribal representatives. Members vote on major policy proposals considered by the umbrella board. Thereafter, the implementing decision-making authority is given the elected boards of the corporate subsidiaries, holding companies or venture partnerships. The Alaskan Corporation receives its directives at the annual shareholder's meetings. I f the shareholders object, they ean opt to vote out the directors. The turnover rate is very low. THE MORAL I gleaned for Hawaiians

was to organize knd count ourselves by preferences instead of eaeh group professing to speak for all. Their boards had the same components and mission: 1 . They were elected. 2. Their mission was to increase the benefits of their people, be they shareholders of 1/4 the blood quantum or tribal members of any quantum established by the genealogy. 3. They created specific avenues for input and evaluation from the beneficiaries. a. Tribal leaders report the preferences of their tribe or identified group. b. Shareholders, regardless of sovereignty preference, vote at annual meetings of their corporation. Hawaiians, instead, are open to a multitude of lobbying/ pressure groups who assert that their priorities should be embraced by all. Capitalism and westernization are bad words. The myriad of cultural authorities insist that OHA fund their interpretation of Hawaiianism. Honolulu and O'ahu, the Meeea of Hawaiian wealth, is vilified. Dreams are painted of the charm of spacious, bucolic rural non-existent neighbor island "subsistence" or "sustainable" eom-

munities. Theeconomic depression is sloughed for the majority to support. The denigrators of citified O'AHU advocate massive out migration. To manage assets for growth and ineome for subsequent distribution amongst all is deemed non-Hawaiian.

Individuals adopt the slogan that they shattered our culture, they stole our land and denied us our right to self determination. OHA'S BOARD HAS NO MEMBER OF THE SECESSIONISTS KA PA KAUKAU, OF KA LAHUI, OF THE NATION OF KU, NOR OF THE NATION OF HAWAI'I. All are expecting TRUSTEES to IMPOSE THEIR DREAMS ON ALL. Some groups go to the legislature or OHA to fund their QUEST TO TELL US WHAT TO DO AS HAWAIIANS. They utilize public funding to project their paid for retreat TO STRATEGICALLY PLAN FOR US, by spending and not generating revenues. NO ONE GROUP HAS THE FORMULA. WE MUST THINK OF A PLAN FOR MORE ORDERLY, RESPONSIBLE INPUT - ANY IDEAS? E MAIL: billie@hgea.org Web site: http:/ / www.hgea.org/~billie

9 * '«I*4 vJ Trustee Messages OHA trustees' individual views expressed do not nece$sarily represent the official position of the Board of Trustees. OHA is not respon$ible for accuracy of these commentaries. The trustees weleome comment. Write to Ka Wai Ola o OHA, 711 Kapi'olani Blvd. Suite500, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813. . ... .V, j

0u7 4f too tmneA to Ce eontent to (fte oh tAe Me wHAoui 4HVe*t4H$.

fceAtnef Trustee, At-Large