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.

Why do you want to be an OHA trustee? I love our people, and I am concerned about our future. OHA trustees are eonfr onted eaeh and every day with important issues and must make crucial, ealeulated decisions for the benefit of Hawaiian beneficiaries. I am trained, willing and ready to continue to fulfill the duties of OHA trustee for the next four years. With the right direction and leadership, OHA ean represent the highest level that is beneficial to our beneficiaries, and I am burning with passion to be an integral part of this process. What qualities wouid you bring to the position? Respect, dedication, open-mindedness, hardworking, and commitment are all qualities that I hope to bring to the position. I also bring with me the ability to be a fair and compassionate leader as

demonstrated in my 20+ years of service as fire fighter and fire chief. Most importantly, I bring with me a deep sense of humility and pride in being Hawaiian. What do you consider the most important issues confronting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and/or the Hawaiian people? The issue of Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination is very important to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and its beneficiaries. Compensation from the State of Hawai'i for the Ceded Lands Trust is also a heated issue for OHA. Related to these issues is the issue of the legal status of Hawaiians whieh is very important in the legislative process. As an OHA trustee, how would you resolve those concerns? As a current trustee, I am actively involved in the land & sovereignty eom-

mittee as co-chair of the sub-committee on sovereignty. I am also involved in the negotiations team, along with Trustee Apoliona and Chairperson DeSoto. That is working with the state on the issue of the ceded lands trust. As chairperson of the Legislative & Governmental Affairs Committee, I have worked extensively with legislation that deals with the legal status of Hawaiians. Through these avenues, I am actively involved in the resolution of these issues. If you could only accomplish one goal as an OHA trustee, what would it he? As an OHA trustee, my ultimate vision is to establish full heallh insurance coverage for our kūpuna. The health of our kūpuna is vital to the well-being of our Hawai'inei. When our kūpuna are healthy, we, as a people, will benefit. ■

Why do you want to be an OHA trustee? It is my deep and sincere desire to serve the Hawaiian people in ways that will help improve conditions and better their future status in these islands where our ancestors provided us with a heritage and unique lifestyle whieh we must preserve and amplify for our children and grandchildren. Service as a trustee for OHA will provide me with authority to open doors to engage in the essential efforts required to make certain all the benefits and services the Hawaiian people are entitled to are available, now and in the future. One of the most urgent priorities is building OHA's pool of resources to increase its capacity to assist Hawaiians in achieving their goals. I want to vigorously pursue both state entitlements and federal reparations that are the right of the Hawaiian people. What qualities would you bring to the position? My experience as a former OHA trustee as well as my many years in government service are my strongest assets that qualify me for the OHA board. The knowledge that I have obtained in my hands-on experience dealing with people at all levels, and my past experience in OHA, particularly with the interaction of the trustees and their decision-making process, have increased my understanding of the job required and of what it takes to make sure it is done properly. I

have served two terms as OHA trustee and this experience has consolidated my knowledge and eagerness to get things moving in the right direction. In addition, as a Native Hawaiian and a product of the Hawaiian homesteads, I am all too familiar with the plight of the Hawaiian community.

What do you consider the most important issues confronting the Office of Hawaiian Af fairs and/or the Hawaiian people?

There are many important issues eonfronting OHA and the Hawaiian people. My gravest eoneem is UNITY. The worrisome problem of disunity within OHA itself, particularly among the trustees must be overcome. We must have unity in order to proceed, and the trustees currently on the board have displayed an alarming laek of unity. The trustees must establish examples of unity. Without this unity, how ean we unify the broader Hawaiian community? All one has to do is read the trustees' mana'o in Ka Wai Ola and one can't help but get the impression of animosity and negativism in their dealings with one another. The other issue is external. Current information regarding negotiations with the state in settling payments due OHA and the Hawaiian community have yet to be shared. The process is not very clear and should be shared with the Hawaiian people.

As an OHA trustee how would you resolve those concerns? The 1998 OHA election is primarily about leadership and perhaps the laek of it where it counts most, with the OHA Board of Trustees. The issue concerning unity ean be resolved with a change of leadership, particularly the way this leadership is demonstrated. Power, status and control must give way to shared responsibilities among the elected trustees. They are given a trust they must respect and protect, and they ean only do so by engendering trust and respect among themselves. Instead of constantly disagreeing and dividing into contrary forces, it is incumbent upon them to work toward solutions through compromise and good will. I feel the trustees must revisit the overall goals and objectives and determine the priorities for OHA and then stay locked with the play until the objectives are met. If you could only accomplish one goal as an OHA trustee, what would it be? UNITY! How ean we speak of nationhood and sovereignty when solidarity continues to be a problem? A solution eludes us and we must concentrate ardently if we are to fulfill our dreams and hopes. We should not tolerate disunity. That is why I have entered the OHA election this year. ■

Herbert A. K. Campos, Jr. Maui

Louis Hao Maui M4 ^ *