Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 12, 1 November 1994 — You decide OHA's future with your vote [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

You decide OHA's future with your vote

by Clayton Hee, Chairman Trustee, O'ahu You have an opportunity to direct the future of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs by casting your vote on Tuesday, November 8, General Election Day. The people elected will directly decide the future of expenditures valued at approximately $180 million with an approximate annual

ineome stream of an additional $30 million. I have been blessed to have served during a time when the entire value of OHA was just $25 million. I have been fortunate to have played a part in the growth of the portfolio to its present value. Onee the bulk of the revenues arrived in July 1993, OHA immediately established two financing

programs, both for the Department of Hawaiian Home

Lands; one for home repair, and one for second mortgages. Both programs have had no fewer that 400 inquiries from homesteaders seeking additional information on how to apply for these programs.

More that $1.76 million has been granted to Hawaiians seeking funding for a range of activities; from performing arts to education to farming. In December 1993, $700,000 was granted and in September 1994, an additional $1.06 million. More than $100.000 has been awarded to students for scholar-

ships to continue their college education. OHA has set aside

approximately $9 million along with the federal government to expand the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund. With the help of the federal government, OHA is embarking on what will become the first kupuna elderly housing rentals.

The critical period for Hawaiians is coming. Sovereignty and the shape of sovereignty will take up mueh of our energies at OHA. Social services, such as caring for elderly at Lunalilo Home, will become a bigger part of OHA's social agenda. Hawaiian language classes will become a part of our annual

budget expenditures. All of the above are noble causes; yet they are just the very tip of what is to eome for us Hawaiians. The dark period of sadness whieh began 101 years ago with the overthrow of our kingdom has finally begun to lift, and we are coming into our own onee again as a people and in the future, a nation. My only regret is that our kūpuna, our ancestors who suffered so mueh during the last hundred years, are not here to wimess the dawn of a new day. But as always, their spirits are with us, guiding us, and leading us forward with love and wisdom. E lanakila kākou. I ho'okahi pu'uwai me ka lōkahi. Let us move forward with one heart, strengthened by unity.