Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 7, 1 July 2014 — WAIHEE, [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WAIHEE,

John D. B St.Joseph, Michigan H Hawaiian Mission Academy C Waikīkī, O'ahu K Hawai'i

1. Aloha kākou. Here are some of my policy priorities: As fiduciaries and the 13th-largest landowner in Hawai'i, our duty obligates that our land acguisitions be based on a strong financial foundation. To that end, the OHA Board of Trustees must create guidelines to balance our real estate portfolio and develop a real estate strategy and investment policy. The OHA B0T must also develop a Master Plan for the development of our Kaka'ako Makai lands that preserves their cultural significance while enhancing the revenue generated from them. Additionally, the B0T must ensure that we have the administrative infrastructure in plaee to manage all our landholdings. As 0HA's grants program is the foundation by whieh we administer our mandate, it is important that it be run effectively and proficiently. To that end, the OHA B0T must continue to monitor, evaluate and create policies to improve it when necessary. Linally,as land and water in Hawai'i are a limited puhlie resource and trust, usage of either should be considerate and appropriate. To that end, the OHA B0T must create policies that encourage proper development of land and water and allow us to advocate guickly and effectively on issues relating to them. 2. 1 believe that the experience and contacts l've built up as an OHA Trustee for the past 13 years have put me in a position to effectively advocate on behalf of our beneficiaries. My learned knowledge of how OHA works and fits into the bigger community has allowed me to prudently manage the Native HawaiianTrust Lund and successfully protect our beneficiaries' eguitable proprietary interest in it, while fulfilling my mandate to them. Most recently l've had the honor of chairing 0HA's Committee on Beneficiary Advocacyand Empowerment.Through thisexperience I have beenabletocultivate important relationships in Hawai'i and abroad and personally advocate on behalf of our beneficiaries. More importantly, l've gotten to work closely with 0HA's own advocacy staff members and learn how the B0T ean best empower them to advocate effectively. I believe that these relationships have helped lead to some of 0HA's most successful Legislative sessions ever in terms of bills passed. Linally, I realize that I am aTrustee and not a supreme authority over a polity. My duties, first and foremost, are to defend the Native Hawaiian Trust Lund and be loyal to, and administer in the best interest of, our beneficiaries.