Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 11, 1 November 2000 — A new experience and opportunity [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A new experience and opportunity

BY THE time you read this message, the OHA election will be over. I wih either be in a seat for a two-year seat, or I will just be Nālani 01ds, citizen. What ever the case may be, I have some thoughts to share with you. If I am seated as a trastee, then this will be my commit-

ment to myself and « to you. If I | am Nālani 01ds, citizen, then I would hope j that the new trastees will j consider these thoughts. Being an appointed Interim Trastee has j been inter- j esting, to say the least. I

have never considered being in any kind of public office, so being asked by the governor to serve, placed me in a new world. I have leamed a myriad of things in a very short period of time. It has been kind of like forced leaming, as I don't get to choose the subject, the plaee, or the time. It is just put before you and you do it, whatever it is, and you get the flack, by phone and in person. They eall you names you wouldn't even think of, degrade and disrespect you. Others are kinder, although they let you know they wish to be heard. In turn, you smile at them and thank them, all the while praying to keep yourself ealm and focused on the issues before you. I've been playing catch-up. Reading all the information I ean get my hands on, asking lots of questions, coming into the office early in the moming and leaving long after everyone has gone. Preparing myself so that I am armed with enough information to be able to conduct myself in an intelligent and informed manner. This is not a part-time job,

it is an all-consuming, 24-hour-a-day commitment. In my real life I was able to see my mo'opuna several times a week. If I see them onee a week now I feel blessed. This interim period requires us to keep OHA functioning responsibly. When things move into a state of normalcy, Kalanikapu,

l Kuali i, I Pi'imaikanalu and j Hōpoekalehua'ulaohilo ! will be seeing their Kūkū more often. If I am to eonūnue in this job, these are the things | I will commit I to. They have | to do with I values my | kupuna " wahine instilled in

me to be - FAIR, HONEST, and OPEN, HUMBLE and COURAGEOUS. These values provide the basis for good leadership by: • Trastees who are always mindful of their mandate to serve by perpetuating the trast and serving the needs of our Hawaiian people. • Trastees who dare to ask the critical questions, and are open to hearing the answers without being biased. • Trastees who are willing to eall for the facts and information no matter the subject, and, committed to taking action, no matter what that action might look like. • Trastees who will work together towards peaceful resolution. Trastees who are willing to stand in integrity for, and with, the trath. • Trastees who will work with humility, using their gifts from Ke Akua for Hawaiian people, and thus, all of Hawai'i. If elected, I will serve with diligence, care and respect. If I am just Nālani 01ds the citizen, I will have walked away from my appointed job with no regrets. ■

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