Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 11, 1 November 1997 — REORGANIZATION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REORGANIZATION

OHA board changes leadership, makes eall for inclusiveness

By Ryan M. Mlelke A new leadership was ushered in at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Oct. 14 as Trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto was elected by the OHA Board of Trustees to replace Trustee Clayton Hee as chair. A crowd of more than 75 beneficia-

ries, general public and OHA staff members filled the board room and spilled into the halls to witness the reorganization of the board — a reorganization that also saw changes in leadership for all of OHA's committees. Known to some as the "mother of OHA," Madame Chair A. Frenchy DeSoto's position of leadership brings full circle her role in the organization, as she was not only the first chairperson to head the OHA Board of Trustees, but she was also one of the brain trusts behind its creation at the 1978 Hawai'i Constitutional Convention. A lot has changed, however, since her last time in OHA's top position. The trust managed by OHA has grown from virtually nothing to nearly $300 million, with the possibility of that trust climbing to more than $1.5 hillion under DeSoto's leadership, pending the outcome of currently unscheduled settlement negotiations with the state and/or a ruling by the Hawai'i Supreme Court. Numbers, however, were not what DeSoto chose to convey to those who watched the reorganization take plaee. Rather, it was a eall for a new, consen-sus-building team to emerge and take control of the direction of OHA. "As elected trustees, we are called upon by our people to act as a team, to be

approachable, to be fair and careful about how we approach our responsibilities — so that our people will not be at the table begging while we spend extraordinarily large amounts of money on other kinds of activities." DeSoto made an impassioned eall for strong and inelusive leadership. It's a leadership style that she said will not only be willing to

make bold statements, but also wilhng to listen, to hear, talk with Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians." Before that could take plaee, however, committee assignments were given and names changed for leadership positions (see box at right). The leadership change caps six eonsecutive years of leadership under Hee. Hee's chairmanship also saw the purchase of a Hawaiian language immersion school, the establishment of an advanced degree in Hawaiian language and literature. Also funded under Hee's ehaiimanship were various housing programs, such as a $ 1 0 million grant to Habitat for Humanity, and the creation of an education foundation. As the new leadership at OHA approaches its one-month anniversary, key challenges await the organization with the opening of the next Hawai'i legislative session in January. The upcoming session may address issues such as the $15.1 million annual payments to OHA, ceded lands settlement negotiations, procurement procedures, native rights, etc. Yet as those ehallenges arise, DeSoto, and Trustee Haunani Apoliona, vice-chair, and other trustees have said there will be a new level of communication with the beneficiaries and OHA staff that will help OHA overcome challenges to its mission of ensuring the betterment of conditions for Hawaiians and Native Hawaiians.

"Let there be no mistake," said DeSoto, as her eyes scanned the board room, "the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will be ready for the challenges and the opportunities that not only face the Hawaiian people but all of the people of Hawaii, too." ■

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