Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 10, 1 October 1998 — ʻ98 candidates in focus [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻ98 candidates in focus

The views and opinions expressed in '98 candidates infocus are of the individual candidates and do not necessarily reflect those of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. JFjĒ!iM mJm Ē ' r:

Why do you want to be an OHA trustee? I want to be an OHA trustee so that I may serve the Hawaiian people, bring accountability to the office and initiate program changes in housing, health and other areas. What qualities would you bring to the position? Extensive background in Hawaiian Homes and Ceded Lands Trusts; Extensive background in civil rights violations against Hawaiians; significant legal and legislative history in the loeal, national and international arenas. What do you consider the most important issues confronting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and/or the Hawaiian people?

Establishment of a sovereign representative for Hawaiians and trust lands issues. As an OHA trustee how would you resolve those concerns? OHA needs to press the United States and the State of Hawai'i for a compre- 4hensive inventory of the trust assets with a commitment to segregate the trusts; OHA should fund consensus building efforts. If you could only accomplish one goal as an OHA trustee, what would it be? Obtaining a comprehensive and aeeurate assessment of the native trusts. ■ -4

Aloha! The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will make decisions whieh will determine our future for generations to eome. I want to be part of the force to help forge our Hawaiian community into the sovereign nation we desire. Over the past 20 years, we have seen a renaissance and reaffirmation in our language and culture. Hawaiian immersion education has received national and international recognition for progress done. We fought to keep our language, traditions and culture alive. The work is not pau; there are efforts in plaee to take all that is rightfully ours, including lands, water, land revenues and mineral deposits. We need trustees at OHA who ean put their egos and personal agendas on the side to get the work done. The in-fight-ing must end; we must concentrate on

the "bigger picture." I believe trustees ean act in a respectful manner, the voters need respectful and responsible trustees. Now is the time! I am an administrator with sound work ethics. I worked for the State Department of Transportation for 15 years, most of whieh was in harbors. I am a former director of Pūnana Leo o Honolulu and am currently the associate executive director for Waipahu Cultural Garden Park. I am the po'o of our family organization, Nā Pua Aloha. I am a single parent to a nine-year-old. My son Kalawina is a student at Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'o Ānuenue in Pālolo. Family is very important to me, our 'ohana is the foundation of our culture. Currently, I am a member of the Native Hawaiian Education Council for O'ahu island. I believe education is a

key to the betterment of the Hawaiian people. I also believe OHA must continue support of valuable programs and create more eeonomie development enterprises for the Hawaiian community. Issues involving Hawaiian autonomy must be initiated by the Hawaiian eommunity. HeaUh, housing and education programs are all important components to a better quality of life for Hawaiians. These important issues must be met head on by responsible trustees who ean focus on the issues. No one trustee ean do all the work; it takes a body of administrators who ean work diligently within the highest ethical standards of conduct. I want to be part of that body. I ask for your support on Nov. 3. Na Ke Akua e hele pū me kākou a pau, mahalo nui loa. ■

Occupation: Marketing/Sales - Transportation Services. Experience: USDAGraduate School Instructor (1990-1994. Business/Education Consultant (19881990) Member of Hawai'i state senate - 1986 - 1988 Member of Hawai'i state house - 1980 - 1982 & 1986 Co-founder - Hawaii National Educational Institute; Member Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Or_der of Kamehameha, Board member - HĀ Hawaii (Native Hawaiian Convention) Holds bachelor's degree in education and master's in administration from the University of Hawai'i. Did graduate work | at UCLA. Former head basketball eoaeh at Chaminade University. Holds five U.S. patents. The most important issue confronting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is its ability to deal with change. Although the fiduciary responsibilities of OHA trustees have remained the same over the past 20

years, what has changed significantly are the values of the present and future (i.e. land) assets that OHA administers and manages "to provide for the betterment of conditions of Hawaiian people." The fact that the conditions of the Hawaiian people have not improved relative to the increased value of OHA's assets are due to a variety of reasons. Recent management and fiscal organizational audits have revealed certain weaknesses within the Office of Hawaiian Affairs planning, reporting and control systems. Formulating and implementing an action plan to satisfy the recommendations of the audit, although a high priority, has been slow. These managerial weaknesses contribute to loss of revenue and resources that otherwise would go to the betterment of beneficiaries. For example, in 1996, twenty-seven percent of Native Hawaiians were receiving some form of public assistance and were the largest single ethnic group receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children and Food Stamps. Native Hawaiians have the

highest rates of child abuse and the lowest life expectancy in Hawai'i. They also are the highest percent of those in Hawai'i prisons. OHA's problems will not be solved by the same people who created them. What's needed are fresh ideas, determination to get things done, and genuine lead- " ership that is not afraid to make the hard decisions, such as the elimination of the blood quantum requirement, for the long term good of OHA's beneficiaries. After 20 years, I believe that OHA must re-examine its purpose of existence and chart a new path for its beneficiaries because OHA cannot depend on federal and state dollars to fund its operations and programs forever. During this transformation, OHA must structure its assets to meet present and future needs of all Hawaiians. What is important in today's age of intelligence and communication is that OHA provide opportunities for beneficiaries to acquire the necessary skills to See W0NG on paqe 26

Mililani B. Trask At-Large

B. Mokihana Watson - A WW At-Large

Jimmy Wong At-Large I 1 ' =

From page 17 compete in a global market, to access long term heakh care and to finally live on Hawaiian land. We have eome to the realization that our greatest resources are our beneficiaries. Creating and marketing products, computer programming and the ability to master mathematics, science

and languages are important skills to acquire. In the long term, exporting our knowledge and spirit of Aloha internationally is our highest priority. I am seeking an at-large seat on the OHA Board of Trustees because I want to be part of a transition team that will lead the Hawaiian people into the next millennium. I have the necessary skills and expertise to meet the needs and demands of our beneficiaries. I have

the ability to create and propose policies and strategies to accommodate changing conditions in our eeonomie, financial and social environment to benefit our people. This OHA election is pivotal. Benefi ciaries have the ehoiee to make real changes in the way OHA operates by electing trustees who possess the neeessary qualifications, experience and expertise to manage OHA more like a

business, not a bureaucracy. I am confident that as a member of this transition team, I will make a significant contribution to strategically manage and direct OHA, on behalf of its beneficiaries, into the next century. I humbly ask for one of your three at-large votes to represent you on the OHA Board of Trustees. ■

WONG