Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 12, 1 December 2002 — The close of a year a new beginning for OHA Ua ao Hawaii ke ʻölino nei mälamalama [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The close of a year a new beginning for OHA Ua ao Hawaii ke ʻölino nei mälamalama

Aloha mai e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino. While this Ka Wai Ola issue brings to a close our year of work, it signals a fresh OHA beginning, enlightened by the brightness of day. OHA trustees are elected, and by the wisdom of the electorate, now are all Native Hawaiian. Despite periodic setbacks since 1996, adm inistrative and governanee reforms continue at the Office of Hawaiian Affaim. OHA's strategic plan for 2002-2007 is being implemented. OHA budgets approved for spending are consistent with the priorities of the OHA strategic plan. OHA organization restructuring supports implementation of the OHA strategic plan. OHA Trustee governance eomplements the OHA strategic plan and administrative directions. Program development, implementation and evaluation and the OHA grants program are ramping up. The waves of external challenges, poliheal and legal, since 1996, and specifically since 2000, bash at the side of our eanoe, yet we paddle on, adjusting course as needed but never drifting

in despair or without keeping the horizonin sight. Nor as Trustees do we give up when we stand at the foot of a mountain of challenge; indeed, our 'ōlelo no'eau, ancestral wisdom, will not let us. "'A'ohe pu'u ki'eki'e ke ho'ā'o 'ia e pi'i — No cliff is so tall that it cannot be scaled. No problem is too great when one tries hard to solve it." As

a Board, we appeciate the significant issues impacting our Hawaiian community related to land use and en\rironmental issues as they impact cultural and traditional practices and well-being of our 'ohana across our homeland. We respond with our ancestral wisdom, "E ala, e hoa i ka malo. Get up and gird your loincloths. A eall to rise and get to work." Further we recognize that in

going forward in the year 2003 and beyond, in tackling the long-stand-ing issue of ceded lands revenue due the Native Hawaiian Trust administered by the Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affair, and in tackling the litigation poised to erode our native and indigenous entitlements and in tackling the opportunity for federal recognition forNative Hawaiians, we must prepare. Again, ancestral wisdom, 'ōlelo no'eau, tell us, "'A'ohe 'ulu e loa'a i ka pōkole o ka lou. No breadfruit ean be reached when the picking stick is too short. There is no success without preparation". And further as we work in uncharted areas, "E 'au mālie i ke kai pāpa'u o paki ka wai a pulu ka maka. Swim quietly in shallow water lest it splash in your eyes, a cautioning to go carefully where one isn't sure of conditions." As Trustees and staff of OHA we know that achievement, success, and quality outcomes for our beneficiaries comes when the palms are down. "Aia nō ka pono o ka ho'ohuli i ka lima i lalo, 'a'ole o ka

ho'ohuli i luna. That is what it should be - to turn the hands palms down, not palms up. No one ean work with the palms of his hands turned up. When a person is always busy, he is said to keep his palms down." The success in achieving the vision of OHA — Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha — the mission and the mandate, will be measured by our beneficiari.es and the community by what we produce. "Ehō' ike mai ana ka lā'aua ke kia manu. The stick of the birdcatcher will tell all." We will know how successful one is by what he produces. One knew whether a birdcatcher was successful by counting the birds on his gummed stick. "'A'ole e 'ai 'ia he maunu 'ino. It will not be taken by the fish; it is poor bait. People will pay no attention to poor production. When itis good, itwill attractattention." Ua ao OHA ke 'ōlino nei māla - malama. Hau 'oli Kau Kalikimaka. (24/48) ■

'E ala, e hoa i ka malo. Get up and gird your loincloths. ' — A eall to rise and get to work.

Haunani Apoliona, MSW

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Trustee, At-large