Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 7, 1 July 2015 — Never too soon ... only too late [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Never too soon ... only too late

ō e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a I Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihauapunikeaomāla-

I malama. Enlightening and eompelling is the mana'o of Winona Kealamapuana Ellis Rubin urging noteworthy 'Aha delegates in 2015 to "step up and step out" to envision and deliver on a preferred future forourlāhui 'ōiwi Hawai'i. For over 50 years, Mrs. Rubin, an acknowledged voice of credibilty and compassion, living the shared struggles for Native Hawaiian self-determination, continues to offer sound counsel to

those discerning enough "to hear what is not said, and to see what cannot be seen." The '60s and '70s, charted her course to Kamehameha Schools as the lst Dean of Students; high school division Principal and lst Director of Student Personnel Services K-12. The '70s and '80s launched ALU LIKE ine. statewide, leading the way as a Native Hawaiian grantee advocating federal programs and multi-year fundina

directly benefiting Native Hawaiians. In the '80s Winona was the first Woman Director of Hawaiian īelephone Company, first Woman Recipient of the 'Ō'Ō Award, recipent of David Malo Award, UH Distinguished Alumni Award, Ke Ali'i Pauahi Award, and Extraordinary Women of Hawai'i and Leadership Advocacy Awards. In the '80s she served two terms in the Waihe'e Administration as Director of DHS, retiring in 1996. Over the decades, unceasingly committed to the betterment and selfsuffiency of Native Hawaiians, Mrs. R. continues to "serve" even now. I have served OHA since 1996 and recall my decade as OHA Chairperson witnessing the "ean do - hiki no" spirit Mrs. Rubin sparked and elevated as a member of our team, including the "multigenerational" dimensions of kuleana she honored and shaped in our dedicated staff. I remain ever grateful, appreciative and humbled by our collective work. "Hiki no" work must continue to push forward as has been noted by

Mrs. Rubin's present eall to action in KWO' s May and June message. Five years ago, at 80, Mrs.

Rubin awaited passage of the NHGRA. She noted, "if this imperfect legislation survives its birth after 10 years of struggling at the congressional level, Hawaiians will have a ehanee at improving upon this enabling legislation." Sadly, in 2010, passage of NHGRA by Congress failed; subpositioning "legal and political" opportunities administratively, awaiting when and if Native Hawaiians choose to seize the advantage. Evolving discussion

relating to the Kingdom of Hawai'i is just that, "evolving," sitting squarely juxtapositioned to the pre- , senting dilemma of powers still haunting this century. The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission and Na'i Aupuni forge on tenaciously. Native Hawaiians, who have and will sign the "registration," ask, are we ready ? Simply stated by Winona, "top priority for Native Hawaiians must be self-aovernance."

Equally important, "Native Hawaiians must elect 'Aha delegates who are wellprepared, ready to accept the challenge, and who will be noteworthy in achieving our expectations: inspired and steeped in lōkahi, committed to living, practicing and exemplifying our cultural values, honor our ancestral kūpuna, are strategic, analytical, focused, responsible, deliberative, passionate, and humble in victory and defeat." Mrs. Rubin notes, "what is certain ... unless we see and act upon the larger pieture rather than bickering about smaller time-consuming details, groups such as Grassroot Institute who have eome from the continent to infiltrate Hawai'i's eeonomie structure, will destroy progress that indigenous people have made to date in moving toward a better tomorrow. In the past, such groups have been well-funded from sources outside Hawai'i that do not intend for Hawaiians to succeed and want Hawaiian lands and assets badly. Astute decisions and actions now will ensure our survival and a meaningful future for generations to eome." E ō, Mrs. R. 31/48 ■

Haunani Apnlinna, MSW TrustEE, At-largE

Winona Rubin. - Courtesy photo