Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 12, 1 December 2002 — Mahalo for the privilege to serve [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mahalo for the privilege to serve

Iwant to take this opportunity to thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve a second term as a Trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Please be assured that I will discharge my duties with dedication and commitment for the betterment of our Hawaiian people. I want to weleome our two new Trustees, Boyd Mossman and Dante Carpenter. With mueh anticipation I look forward to working together to continue the momentum begun in 2001 to fulfi.ll our commitment of service to our beneficiaries. We, as Trustees, along with our dedicated staff must bring closure

to the ceded land issue, establish an independent eeonomie base for OHA's operations, and assist our Hawaiian people in our quest for sovereignty. We must include the broader Hawai'i community in the resolution of these issues. We, as Trustees, must resolve to the commitment of our strategic planning process, to empower our staff, to assist the Trustees in responding to the needs of our people, to organize ourselves; and to design systems of managarnent that are all inclusive, collaborative, and efficient in service. It is my hope that eaeh one of us, as Trustees of

the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, will work as a team so that we ean do great things for all Hawaiians. When I look to the future of the Office of Hawaiian Affaim and our Hawaiian people, I also reflect on this past year and realize all the blessings that have been given me and my family. My life is richer because I have been given countless opportunities to seme our people and I have met and embraced many. Through my service in this office, I have been able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. This time of year reminds me to be thahkful for my life, for my good

health, and for the many good peo~ ple who have accompanied me on my journey in life. Because I have been given mueh, I will continue to make parsonal sacrifices to help my Hawaiian brothem and sisters. I will continue to strive to do the right thing; my Lord and Savior has set the example for me. Mlahalo again to all of you for giving me the privilege to serve in this office again, and may eaeh of you continue to share in the richness of His love during the holiday season and throughout the next year. Me ke aloha pumehana. ■

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Oz Stender Trustee, At-large