Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 12, 1 December 1997 — It's not too early to consider the vote you'll cast in 1998 [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

It's not too early to consider the vote you'll cast in 1998

AS THE end of the year draws near, I feel it is necessary to remind all beneficiaries that 1998 will be an eleeūon year. Seeking re-election are Rowena Akana, Frenchy De Soto, and Biliie Beamer, all trustees-at-large, and Clayton Hee, O'ahu trustee. Meet your candidates, listen to the issues, monitor your boanl Yes, YOUR board!!! We recently moved into a new era with the loss of Trustee Hee's experience and initiative, and into the new regime of Chairman Frenchy De Soto, Trustee Beamer and the Nā Lei Lōkahi.

Your new leaders have a very heavy burden. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has grown into a huge and overwhelming entity. Your new leaders must have the foresight to keep our well-estab-lished portfolio functioning at its highest capacity. Since Oct. 14, one month ago at this writing, almost $1 million has been appropriated whieh includes funds for 10 new positions to eollect, sort and classify data stored throughout the office. Ouradministrator says, however, this ean be accomplished "in house." The positions include a transcriber for min-

utes that should also be done "in house" and a chief of staff with a

salary increased by $9,000. Who benefits ffom this allocation? Definitely not the beneftciaries. One month, $lmillion. Twomonths, $2million? My friends, make sure your seat backs are in their full, upright positions. Tighten those seat belts. My screen shows turbulenee ahead. I did not always agree with former Chairman Hee, and I told him so. I did believe he was visionary and on the right track in building our assets for the future of our kamali'i and the future of OHA. Building our assets is one goal and the other is building programs to service our people with those assets. Let's learn a valuable lesson from the Bishop Estate. What applies there applies to our Hawai-

ian trust. The difference is OHA is a public trust and Bishop Estate is a private trust. Thevoterscan scrutinize OHA but not the Bishop Estate. So the power is in your hands. When you go to the polls in November 1 998, you are not only voting for OHA trustees, you are voting for candidates for the Legislature. So make your votes count! "And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy whieh shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, whieh is Christ the Lord.'" Luke 1.10-11. In keeping with the holiday spirit, I take this time to wish eaeh and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. ■

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