Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 40, Number 7, 1 July 2023 — OHA Leadership Goes to D.C. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Leadership Goes to D.C.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees and executive leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., in early June. While there, they participated in the Kamehameha Statue Lei Draping Ceremony in celebration of Kamehameha Day on June 11, 2023. The statue of Kamehameha 'Ekahi is located in Emaneipaīion Hall in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. The statue was made from a mold of the statue in Honolulu and gifted by the State of Hawai'i in 1969 along with a statue of Father Damien (now Saint Damien) of Mololea'i. Pictured (l-r): OHA CEO Dr. Sylvia Hussey, OHA Chief of Staff Colin Kippen, attorney Sherry Broder, Trustees Luana Alapa, Dan Ahuna, Hulu Lindsey, Keoni Souza, John Waihe'e and Kalei Akalea with her baby, Ana. - Courtesy Photo

While in Washington, OHA trustees and executives also hosted an Open House to bless OHA's D.C. Bureau Office, paid visits to Hawai'i's Congressional Delegates, and attended the 7th annual "Hawai'i on the Hill" - a two-day event that brings Hawai'i companies to D.C. to hear from policymalcers on issues of importance to Hawai'i businesses. Pictured here following a meeting with U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz are (l-r) Trustees Mililani Traslc, Keoni Souza, Kalei Akaka, Sen. Schatz, Trustees Hulu Lindsey, Dan Ahuna, Luana Alapa, John Waihe'e, and OHA CEO Dr. Sylvia Hussey. - Courtesy Photo