Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 2, 1 February 2017 — No Hassle with Tassill [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

No Hassle with Tassill

Tliis eoīumn was authored guest writer Kama Hopkins, who served with Commissioner Renwick "Unele Joe" Tassill on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Commis-

sion. When I think about him, I remember the story he would tell as he would often share his thoughts at Hawaiian Homes Commission meetings. He would talk about how he should have died as an infant. However, he was taken home. . ,to Waimānalo. There, he was cared for, raised and taught the value of

aloha. Aloha wasn't just a word. . ,it was a way oflife. He exemplified ALOH A in his own way.

He reminded people often that he was onee an ACTIVIST who had heeome an ADVOCATE. He stood up for the rights of our people. Earlier in life, he wasn't afraid of being arrested

in order to prove his point. Later in life, he encouraged people to organize and fight with their intelligence, not with their fists. Stand up for those who need help. Fight for those who have been wronged. That was his way, his 'ano. I leave these questions with you as he would often leave with us when he believed we needed to help our beneficiaries...our people. "If not you, who? And if not now, when?" May we all

continue his legacy of service. I will miss him. . .1 will miss my friend. Aloha . . . ■

j LEO 'ELELE ^ % TRUSTEE MESSSAGES f~

Rūbert K. Lindsey, Jr. Trustee, Hawai'i

Commissioner Renwick "Unele Joe" Tassill. - Photo: Courtesy