Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 2, 1 February 2000 — CHAIRPERSON'S MESSAGE Eholomua kākou [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHAIRPERSON'S MESSAGE Eholomua kākou

OHA IS not an island unto itself. It is neither the beginning nor the end for Hawaiians. It is not the salvation of the future of the Hawaiian people and it is certainly not the magic elixir for the ailments endured by the Hawaiian people yesterday, today and tomorrow. Unlike the federal, state and county governments, OHA does not have the authority to impose taxes as a means to raise revenue. Therefore, its sole means is the manner in whieh the limited source of existing revenue is invested so that more funds are derived through dividends. With the wise use of those funds OHA ean be a "hand up." It ean be a catalyst for change. It ean be the vehicle through whieh ideas and vision ean become meaningful venues for solutions. But having those funds is insufficient. A successful organization requires teamwork. It requires tmst. It requires a will to find a way. How else eoulel Hōkūle'a reach those far away places like Tahiti, Aotearoa and Rapa Nui? How else could Makali'i find Satawal in Micronesia? Or how else could June Jones lead the UH Rainbows to the WAC ehampionship? Success requires everyone. It requires

us to reach out and seek the advice of those experts in all occupations. It requires Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians working together collectively for a eommon goal: to better the conditions of our society. Eaeh home built on homestead land is one more for a non-Hawaiian in the marketplace. Eaeh Hawaiian child educated with OHA's help allows for one more non-Hawaiian to be educated with other public funds. We all win. Success also requires hstening. It requires us to lower our voices so that we might hear what others have to say. It requires understanding. We need fewer enemies; we need more friends. We don't need to be told of the kāki'o in others, rather, we need to focus on the talents of others. Success requires understanding. If politics is the art of what is possible, the art of the practical and the art of compromise then let us seek to evaluate those thresholds. If taking half a step, or a small bite of the apple is possible so that the other step and other bite of the apple become a closer reality, let us evaluate that step rather than immediately vilify the action and obstinately declare that it's "all or nothing." An "all or nothing" attitude usually ends up as "nothing." There is no pride in "nothing." For example, if a

"nation within a nation" is a means to complete independence, let us evaluate the merits of the concept first rather than immediately cast it aside as too little too late. finally, it requires patience. Rome, as is said, wasn't built in a day. The Hōkūle'a joumey was begun as an idea of a non-Hawaiian anthropologist who had a Polynesian belief decades ago. The actual joumey was accomplished minute by minute, day by day, crew member by crew member, fueled by a eommon belief. The Rainbow Warrior football team was built after a winless 1998 football season day by day, team member by team member, fueled by a will to win. Kamehameha is to have said, "Inu i ka wai "awa'awa." To understand success, we must first understand the bittemess of failure. Like the state and federal govemment, OHA cannot do everything and anyone who expects OHA to solve all that ails him or her is mistaken. Do you remember what our tūtū taught us years ago? "Kau ka lima i luna, pololi ka 'ōpū, kau ka lima i lalo, piha ka 'ōpū." E hana kaulike pākahi a pau. E holomua kākou. ■

"An 'all or nothing attitude' usually ends up as 'nothing.' There is no pride in 'nolhin^.'"

a*:.". ^ Pepeluali (Fcbmnry) '00

TRUSTEE MESSAGES

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