Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 8, 1 August 2009 — Make the decade count [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Make the decade count

Haunani Apaliana. MSW Chairpersūn, TrustEE, At-large

Aloha e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau puni ke ao mālamalama. In five months, 2009 will make way for 2010, the second decade of the 21st century. Maximize Native Hawaiian counts for Census 2010. The ensuing 10 years will be the decade of transformation and transition for the Native Hawaiians in Hawai'i and away from our shores. Organizing the Native Hawaiian governing entity will remain at the forefront followed on by negotiations between the Native Hawaiian government, Hawai'i State Govermnent and United States Government to resolve native claims of national lands. This will occur in tandem with implementation of the Native Hawaiian Govermnent Reorganization Act and has been framed by the recent enactment of Act 176 signed into law on July 13, 2009, by Governor Lingle. Meanwhile, OHA will pursue resolution of the "disputed" past-due revenues from the State of Hawai'i in order to bring certainty and fair closure to this 30-year issue and to build the future asset base for the Native Hawaiian govermnent. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is laying our foundation for the decade as we update our own strategic plan focused on the next three bienniums, six years, with intent to keep six years ahead at all times. The 2010-2019 decade will mark major milestones for Native Hawaiians; and, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is poised to serve as catalyst, facilitator, partner and leader as may be needed. Readiness for this role is apparent. In 2010, OHA will be 30 years old. In recent months, both public media and regulatory voices have acknowledged the positive maturing of OHA over the last nine years or so. A Honoluhi Advertiser columnist in his inaugural editorial opinion of July 2001 spoke of the OHA "mess," "dysfunction" and "chaos" occurring in 1999, 2000 and part of 2001.

That same columnist for the Advertiser on June 17, 2009, opined, "Whatever your politieal views about OHA, no public agency has achieved more improvement in the way it operates for the benefit of its constituents." The recently completed 2009 Hawai'i State Audit of OHA notes, OHA was "found to be a mueh more stable and functional organization that is focused on its strategic mission." The State Auditor further advised: "We found during this audit that within the last decade, the contentiousness that clouded the atmosphere within OHA's boardroom has progressively cleared. The tone of governance at the top reflects a higher level of awareness of the role of the trustees in setting policy and performing oversight of OHA to better serve the needs of the Hawaiian people." Therefore, the time for OHA's planning approach is ripe. In drafting and approving the strategic priorities for OHA's plan, considerations have included integrating the approach to defined priorities guided by the importance of roles and collaboration opportunities given the limited life span of OHA and ultimate asset transfer to a Native Hawaiian govermnent. In May 2009, the OHA Board approved six strategic priority statements relating to education (ho'ona'auao); eeonomie self-sufficiency (kahua waiwai); land ('āina); health (mauli ola); culture (mo'omeheu) and governance (ke ea). Work continues and the OHA strategic plan will be adopted by OHA Trustees in the third or fourth quarter of 2009 with staff implementation to follow. Outcomes of the Strategic Plan priorities, strategies and actions will be tied directly to achieving measurable results that integrate and align OHA budget, resources and capacity. Major milestones for the Native Hawaiian community with positive outcomes for all Hawai'i nei are inuninent, and with the united support of all Hawai'i we are ready for the ehallenges and opportunities of the next decade. E mau kākou. Ka'i mai e nā hoa kuilima, lei 'ia i ka pua lehua, akaka wale ho'i ka mana'o i ka 'ā o ke ahi awakea. March forward partners together, arm in arm, wearing adormnents of crimson; thoughts are clear and focused as the torch is ignited at mid-day. 8/48 ■