Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 12, 1 December 2014 — Holomua aku kākou i ka lanakila [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Holomua aku kākou i ka lanakila

Aloha e na '5iwi 'Slina, na pulapula a Haloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau, puni ke ao malamalama . Significant transitions continue here at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs: bidding aloha to our beloved friend and colleague Trustee Stender, who no doubt has new chapters he will write; welcoming the Trustee who now replaces Stender, Trustee-elect Ahu Isa; the official swearing-in and sitting of five Trustees-elect this December who will serve four years; the election of Board Chair, Vice-Chair and BOT Committees; and the

affirming continuing service of our Pouhana, OHA's Chief Executive Officer Kamana'o Crabbe. Even in the midst of all this activity, my staff and I want to be sure to extend our "mahalo a nunui loa ia 'oukoupakahi" for your continued support of us and our work here at

the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, "mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau a puni ke ao malamalama." Here are a few thoughts we share with you: "E hana kakou me ke ahonui, pili me ka ha a ke aloha, 'oiai e kulia i ka nu'u, a kau i ka 'iu o luna." "Working for our "lahui," our Native Hawaiian people, we have a lot of work ahead. I commit myself to do the very best I can in working to assist Trustee Apoliona as her Trustee Aide and in turn advancing our collective mission to serving Native Hawaiians." "It is a privilege to serve Hawai'i's communities. If not for the encouragement of the people, we would not have this honor. We look forward to accomplishing good things in every aspect that is important to the Native Hawaiian people and the people of Hawai'i." "May we all be blessed with peace and prosperity, of body, mind and spirit in the new year as we pre-

pare ourselves for 2015." The transition from 2014 to 2015 will bring opportunities to advance Native Hawaiians and all of Hawai'i - if we stay focused, disciplined, committed and ethical in our dealings and interactions, collectively. There is unfinished business that awaits Native Hawaiians. Business that must not languish through bickering, but rather must emerge in action through collective efforts, public and private, to ensure certain doors-of-opportunity do not slam shut for Native Hawaiians. For Native Hawaiian Governance, there is

a time and place for engagement at multiple levels. Engagements can be multiple and can overlap as integrated systems to advance the cause for Native Hawaiians in the International, Federal and State "systems" on behalf of and in collaboration with Native Hawaiians. The insight, "the 'ike," comes in political, socio-

economic and spiritual discernment of "the right time, the right place and the right strategy." We must stay on course and navigate well through this "sea of self-determination." We must share a common vision for the future. Closer to home, Kaka'ako Makai beckons the Native Hawaiian Trust of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to demonstrate the will and committment toward a serious, sound and timely strategy and exacting execution to fulfill this multimillion-dollar "call to action." "Ka'i mai e na hoa hoa kui lima, lei 'ia i ka pua lehua, akaka wale ho'i ka mana'o, i ka 'a o ke ahi awakea." "March forward partners together, arm in arm, wearing adornments of crimson (lehua), thoughts are clear and focused as the torch is lit at mid-day." Holomua aku kakou. 24/48 U

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Haunani Apoliona, MSW Trustee, At-large

Trustee Apoliona, right, posed with her staff, trustee aides Louise Yee Hoy, left, and Reynold Freitas. - Photo: Lisa Asato