Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 12, 1 November 1994 — "Lōkahi for success" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

"Lōkahi for success"

by Abraham Aiona T rustee, Maui The Board of Trustees of OHA is continually working for the betterment oi the native Hawaiians" through initiatives that etnbrace entitlements, housing, education. heahh and human services, legislation and other important services. As I look back throuah the vears. we have been verv

successful in our dealings with the state in resolving and obtaining our first settlement of past-due entitlements of $129 million. including 10 percent statutory interest. In January this year, we filed a suit in Circuit Court for approximately $97 million due OHA from ceded lands revenues. Deloitte & Touche. our audi-

tors, have done a good job in their review of state department books relative to revenue eamed, and owed to OHA. The board entered into a contract with PBR for an inventoiy and appraisal of ceded lands to determine value and potential use of parcels. As we proceed towards sovereignty, we will need to know what lands will be suited for highest and best use in the invenlory for our land base. The Board has been clearly supporting sovereignty for many years and endorses the restoration and recognition of a sovereign nation. It is clear that it is the right of the Hawaiian people to selecl a model of their own choosing. The Board approved $347.000 of trust funds to match a $900,000 appropriation from the State Legislature for the work of the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council mandated by law. Education of our people and the nonHawaiian population is very important to our success; and for the creation of a sovereign nation. Currently, 120 Hawaiiatt businesses are benefit-

ting from loans under the authorized Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund Program. The board established two revolving loan fund program of $10 million eaeh for down payments and improvements lor Hawaiian homesteaders. This has helped the DHHL qualify native Hawaiians for new homes and allowed renovations on older homes. The board authorized $10 million ol' trust funds

l"or the Education Foundation and disbursed funds for post-secondary education. We continued support of the Native Hawaiian Land Title Project through the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation by authorizing two large grants of $147,000 and $174,000 this year. This was in addition to the regular appropriation in our OHA budget. We supported the retum of Kaho'olawe and :ooperated with the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana who worked a long time and against many odds, in an effort whieh culminated in

Kaho'olawe's retum to the state. The ceremonies at Palauea Beach on Maui made it a historical and memorable event. As in any organization there are times when things do not go smoothly. We have had this happen on the board at times simply because trustees ntay not agree with proposals that weie not to their liking or because it was not their idea. We lost some initiatives because of these reasons and some bccause of personal biases. This should not be. However, the makeup of the board is such that it's almost impossible to obtain a elean cut, unanimous decision on all matters that eome before us. Under Chainnan Clayton Hee and his style of leadership. we have succeeded in making an impact throughout the state. The plusses clearly out number the negatives and we have become a "major" player in our state. OHA is an institulion that will be around for a long time working to "better the conditions of the native Hawaiians." Mālama pono kākou!