Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 12, 1 December 2016 — About OHA [ARTICLE]

About OHA

Vision "Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha" - To Raise a Beloved Nation. OHA's vision statement blends the thoughts and leadership of both King Kalākaua, and his sister, Queen Lili'uokalani. Both faced tumultuous times as we do today, and met their challenges head on. "Ho'oulu Lāhui" was King Kalākaua's motto. "Aloha" expresses the high values of Queen Lili'uokalani. Mission Statement To mālama (protect) Hawai'i's people and environmental resources and OHA's assets, toward ensuring the perpemation of the culture, the enhancement of lifestyle and the protection of entitlements of Native Hawaiians, while enabling the building of a strong and healthy Hawaiian people and nahon, recognized nationally and intemationally. Overview The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is a puhlie agency with a high degree of autonomy. OHA is responsible for improving the well-being of Native Hawaiians. OHA is govemed by a Board of Tmstees made up of nine members who are elected statewide for four-year terms to set policy for the agency. OHA is administered by a Ka Pouhana (Chief Executive Officer) who is appointed by the Board of Tmstees to oversee a staff of about 170 people.