Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 12, 1 December 2015 — Wishing all a peaceful holiday [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Wishing all a peaceful holiday

As we weleome, herald in and celebrate the holiday season, let us remember thelessfortunate,

# ®the marginalized and the homeless as well as the houseless. Let's also not forget our war fighters in Iraq and Afghanistan, our President, as well as the leaders of our Country, State and Community. In addition, I will pause in reflection of the meaningful contributions of my fellow Trustees along with OHA's manaaement and

staff to a productive year. Together, we have had to face some very difficult issues: Mauna Kea, Haleakalā, Nā Wai 'Eha, and nation building — to name just a few. And yes, we have many "miles to go before we sleep." But with trusting and seeking the best in eaeh other, everything is possible as we Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha. For the sake of our People and our Nation Rising, we must lōkahi. This holiday season, I will hang nine special ornaments on our OHA tree: kākou, mālama, kuleana, kūlia, po'okela, ho'omau, transparency, accountability and integrity. Then, I will convert them into resolutions for the New Year. Despite the mix of successes and challenges that the year brought, some clear themes have brought focus to the board's push for the best results for our beneficiaries. Among them has been making well-considered policy decisions that inspire the confidence and support of our people. Examples include the significant amount of grant money the board approved in May for nearly 30 community-based partners whose missions are expected to enhanee our efforts to help our people improve their heahh; secure stable housing; upgrade their skills in reading as well as math; move up Hawai'i's socio-economic ladder; make ends

meet; and protect their legal rights. The funds for those grants eome from a two-year spending plan approved by the board

in June. But the spending plan doesn't just benefit our grants program. It is also expected to eontinue helping our people ease the burden of paying for college; helping Hawai-ian-focused charter schools continue to keep paee with growing enrollment; and helping make a meaningful contribution to housing and homelessness issues in Hawai'i. where we are

working with state and county officials to find mutually beneficial solutions. At the same time, the spending plan is allowing us to fund the nation-build-ing process, whieh is being facilitated by community leaders, as well as address some long-standing unresolved issues at Mauna Kea, where our attention has turned to ensuring that our people benefit from responsible stewardship of the mountain. Another theme has been establishing a trusting relationship between the board and the only employee we hire - the Chief Executive Officer. Simply put, we are attempting to closely work with the CEO to define how our respective roles will get the best results for our people. It is a renewed effort that is supposed to help us all understand that a trusting relationship between our board and the CEO is the most effective management tool OHA ean have to address its challenges. As I stated earlier, there is still mueh work to do in shaping a greater future for our people. But in the year ahead, our beneficiaries ean take comfort in my commitment as board chairperson to always do one thing: exercise reasonable care in all decision making, without placing the organization under unnecessary risk. Mele Kalikimaka from my ohana to yours. And may 2016 bring us all many more blessings! ■

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Rūbert K. Lindsey, Jr. Chair, TrustEE, Hawai'i