Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 4, 1 April 2010 — OHA meets with Piʻilani HCC [ARTICLE]

OHA meets with Piʻilani HCC

By Aulani Apoliona 0HA Community Advocate forthe Continent

At the invitation of Lynette Asperin, president, andMark Kunimune, first vice president, of the Pi'ilani Hawaiian Civic Club of Colorado, OHA traveled to Denver to bring important and timely information to the Pi'ilani HCC 'ohana on Feb. 23. It was a beautiful evening meeting at the St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church in Englewood, Colorado, where 25 Hawaiians and supporters gathered to meet and hear from Clyde W. Nāmu'o, OHA CEO, and me on issues critical to Hawaiians, including the Akaka Bill, the U.S. 2010 Census, OHA's new strategic plan and the assistance OHA ean offer to keep members of the community "in touch" using video conference technology. Although it was a cold, snowy evening outside, the aloha spirit and the 'ono mea 'ai shared inside created a warm and comfortable atmosphere where the questions and answers and discussion flowed freely. It was our first time to meet many members of the Pi'ilani HCC and a wonderful ehanee to experienee their enthusiastic energy and commitment to keep the Pi'ilani HCC informed and engaged. At the end of the evening, everyone left with a greater understanding and appreciation of the intricacies and urgencies of the certain critical Hawaiian issues and invited Mr. Nāmu'o and me to meet with them onee again in August when the Pi'ilani Hawaiian Civic Club hosts the Mainland Council of Hawaiian Civic Club's quarterly meeting in Colorado. ■

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