Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 1, 1 January 2015 — Prepared text of the speech given by Ka Pouhana, CEO Kamanaʻopono Crabbe at the 2014 Investiture [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Prepared text of the speech given by Ka Pouhana, CEO Kamanaʻopono Crabbe at the 2014 Investiture

Me ke welina a ke aloha e na kini, ka lehu, o ka mano e na hoa makamaka o Ko Hawai'i pae 'āina mai ka pua koali e luliluli ana i ka makani Kūehulepo o Kalae ma Ka'ū a hiki loloa i ka pua hinahina e ha'a ana i ka lau makani o Nihoa 'o ka Inuwai a i kela mau moku i ka'ili la malaila ma Papahānaumokuākea, aloha mai, aloha no, aloha no kākou e. . . I would like to begin by offering my congratulations to the five trustees who are beginning their new fouryear terms. A special weleome to new Trustee Lei Ahu Isa, who joins the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for the first time. In the words of our great king and sovereign Kamehameha Ekahi, I look forward to working with eaeh and every one of you to continue our efforts to "na'i wale no

'oukou, i ku'u pono 'a'ole pau" a eall to all of ourpeople to stand together, for his deeds are our deeds, whieh are not yet complete. There is mueh work ahead of us that remains to be accomplished to fulfill not only his legacy but the monarchs thereafter. In keeping with the theme for this year's investiture, I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on how we are striving to close some of the critical gaps between Native Hawaiians and others across the state. As you may know, improving Hawaiian education remains a high priority for us at OHA. In school year 2012-2013, Native Hawaiian students who participated in the Hawai'i State Assessments tested at 64 percent proficiency in reading and 49 percent proficiency in math. Those figures represent a significant improvement from

the 2009-2010 school years, when Native Hawaiians tested 55 percent in reading and 32 percent in math. Our efforts also resulted in a higher percentage of Native Hawaiians who are living healthier. For example, the percentage of obese Native Hawaiians decreased to 39 percent in 2013 from 44 percent the previous year. As for our efforts to improve a sense of eeonomie wellbeing among Native Hawaiians, our research provides some encouragement as we focus on helping more Native Hawaiians heeome homeowners. In 2013, the homeownership rate forNative Hawaiians steadily increased for the fourth consecutive year to 57 percent, whieh represents 38,936 homeowners. Another priority for OHA has been protecting the aina as part of a larger effort to honor the past while preparing for the future.

As the state's 13th-largest landowner, we manage more than 27,000 acres of lands set aside for cultural, educational, environmental and agricultural purposes. An example of our focus on being responsible stewards of such natural resources as land and water is the result of the settlement from the Nā Wai 'Ehā case, whieh led to 12.9 million gallons more water per day being restored to two Central Maui streams. This past year we endured many challenges with respect to a renewed effort to address opportunities to achieve poliheal recognition as well as re-establish our sovereign status. President Ohama is often quoted that "The arc of history bends towards justice." If such is true, then this is a unique moment in time for kanaka maoli and we must all ensure that we create the kinds of opportunities to seek

justice whenever and wherever possible. After 121 years of cultural oppression, social despair, and poliheal remorse IT IS HOPE, HOPE for your ehildren, and even more so HOPE for our grandchildren that shall be the heaeon to sustain our desires for a better future for Hawai'i not just for Native Hawaiians but for all who live in our one hanau, these birth sands of our kūpuna. If politics is the art of possibilities, then diplomacy is the skillful mastery of opportunities. Therefore, from here on forward we shall envision not just the possibilities, but capitalize on the opportunities. With the leadership of an ali'i consortium comprised of the Lunalilo Trust, Hale o Na Ali'i and The Queen SEE CRABBE ON PAGE 16

Ka Pouhana Crabbe renewed a eall for working together to achieve Hawaiian selfgovernance. - Photo: Helson Gaspar

Ka'ahumanu Society, we should envision a nation-building process in 2015 that embraces such principles of: • Kākou (Inclusiveness) vs. mākou (exclusion) • Pono (fairness) rather than special interests • Integrity opposed to fraudulenee (duplicity, untruthfulness) • Justice for all in contrast to justice for a few The real aspiration for our eommunity is less about poliheal action or inaction but more about individual and collective empowerment for the lāhui, eeonomie opportunity, respect and equality. Let us shift the focus of heahh disparities, academic underachievement and incarceration to a cultural, strengthbased foundation of thriving lands in Hawaiian hands and the mana

that will allow us to navigate our own destiny. The dialogue at the kitchen table, at family reunions and morning coffee at Starbucks must be on the kind of educahonal systemparents wish for their children, sustainable economies consistent with cultural practices for up-and-coming entrepreneurs, and environmental stewardship championed by indigenous knowledge and ancestral wisdom. Let us sacrifice today for the generations of tomorrow so they ean live in a Hawai'i that affords them a path to walk in both worlds with tremendous cultural dignity and esteem while living in an ever-changing 21st century of new horizons and bigger challenges. I close with a simple question, Pehea la ka pani o ka mo'olelo? In 10, 50, 100 years fromnow how will our story end? What will we tell the unborn offspring of their inheritance we bequest on to them when faced against all odds? More so, what did OHA do to uplift our people?

OHA's success is being consistent with purpose. That means staying true to our mission by advocating for Native Hawaiians to improve their well-being, providing targeted resources that fulfill our mission and to facilitate collaboration among organizations and agencies to enhanee our community's collective ability to better the eonditions of kanaka maoli. If we stay on this course, it is possible to build a beloved nahon that is recognized nationally as well as internationally. This ean only be achieved by investing in relationships with others that share a eommon purpose through collective aehon and by earning the trust of our eommunity. If we stay focused, stand together and aspire for greater integrity, we ean and will achieve broad, lasting change that empowers Hawaiians and strengthens Hawai'i. A mo'olelo or story that begins in our voice, but ends in refrain by our great grandchildren as we strived for pono. Mahalo nui loa ! ■

CRABBE Continued from page 15