Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 9, 1 September 2014 — Storm damage reminds us to help those in need [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Storm damage reminds us to help those in need

Aloha from Kaua'i and Ni'ihau! As this eolumn is being submitted, we are still

# *seeing news out of Puna on Hawai'i Island, whieh took the brunt of the foree from the reeent Hurrieane/Tropieal Storm Iselle. A lot of the media aūenhon has been on how this may affeet the undeeided raees in the primary eleehon. But for me, eoming from Kaua'i, we know the more important story is just how powerful and damaging storms ean be. While it was not 'Iniki, Katrina or Sandy, there is still a lot of damage to be repaired. When we see Puna

in its time of need, it is heartwarming to see and hear about the efforts many are taking on an individual or smallgroup basis to send money, food, iee and supplies to the people of Puna. In faet, First Hawaiian Bank has just established an Aloha for Puna fund to assist the Puna region with relief and reeovery efforts; donations are being aeeepted at all FHB branehes through Sept. 30. In an emergeney situation, it's easy to identify a eommunity's needs andpriorities. But there are eommunities that need help on smaller, yet still important, issues. For example, on my home island of Kaua'i, Ka Hale Pono, a grassroots organization from Anahola, reeently held its annual basie sehool-supplies distribution. The group allowed me

to partner with it to purehase some of the supplies and bring OHA volunteers to assist. This is one small way that people ean help provide a

helping hand in their own eommunities. And by supporting edueation in sueh a basie way, we ean help empower our next generation of Hawaiians, where our future leaders will one day eome from. As the lyries to a famous song go, "Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand, put a little love in your heart." With love, aloha and aetion, we ean overeome the ehallenges thrown at us in Puna, in Anahola and everywhere our Hawai-

ian people are. Finally, here's a shoutout to Hui Maka'āinana o Makana, a group dedieated to perpetuating and teaehing the skills, knowledge and praetiees of our kūpuna through the interpretation, restoration, eare and proteetion of the natural and eultural resourees that are loeated within Hā'ena State Park. I joined them at a reeent

workday to present them with an OHA Board of Trustees Resolution Supporting Community Based Subsistenee Fishing Area Designations and Rules that the Trustees passed in February. Hui Maka'āinana is making steady and fast progress on its CBSFA rules - and with the eommunity's support, may be the first to get them passed. Aeeepting on behalf of Hui Maka'āinana were Unele Samson Mahuiki, Unele Tom Hashimoto, Keli'i Alapa and Presley Wann. A speeial mahalo to Maka'ala Kaaumoana of the Hanalei Watershed Hui, Kawika Winter of Limahuli Garden and Preserve and Kevin Chang of Kua'āina Ulu 'Auamo (KUA) for their help on the ground and behind the seenes with the Hui. Mahalo nui loa! ■

Dan Ahuna

TrustEE, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau

From left, Keli'i Alapai, Unele Tom Hashimoto and Unele Samson Mahuiki of Hui Maka'ōinana o Makana with Trustee Dan Ahuna, who presented them framed copies of an OHA Board of Trustees resolution supporting community-based subsistence fishing area designations and rules. - Photo: Capsun Poe