Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 10, 1 October 2008 — Let the facts inform your vote [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Let the facts inform your vote

Bnyd P. Mūssman TrustEE, Maui

Aloha All, As we proceed deeper into the election season we seem to also get deeper into the mire, putting it mildly, that politicians and would-be politicians believe is necessary to attract votes. The problem with many is that they profess knowledge but demonstrate ignorance hoping to convince the public to believe their claims despite the facts. When I first ran for office I did so reluctantly, not wanting to be associated with the past OHA Board and administration but deeming it emeial that Hawaiians have more legal assistance to secure their continued existence in view of the lawsuits pending against OHA. When I got on board I became aware of the Akaka Bill and focused my efforts on its passage as an absolute must for the legal survival of the Hawaiian people. OHA has fought in court and in Congress against those seeking the annihilation through assimilation of the Hawaiian people claiming we exist only because of our blood no matter how little. We have hired the best lobbyists and attorneys available with the finn belief that loss in the courts will be the end of our identity and of our future as Hawaiians. Is there an amount that we should say is too mueh to save our people and to preserve our culture for our posterity? No amount is too mueh since if we lose we lose not only OHA itself but more importantly our entire existence as a people. Forget any claims to our lands or our current access to education, housing, health, employment and other assistance from the federal and state governments. There is no Hawaiian family that will not be severely and terminally affected despite the calls from the independents and some of their supporters that

OHA is only hot air. Believe me, believe our attorneys, believe the courts, believe our governor, our Legislature, our mayors, the majority of Congress, the OHA Board; all were elected to serve you and all agree that the Akaka Bill is the best solution for our future. And that's a fact. When I first became a Trustee, I stated to the Board that though we had to become politicians to become Trustees, we should now act as Trustees. Some old Board members were still counting votes and planning overthrows in a conspiratorial environment I found to be inherent in the old Board organization. Trustees Apoliona, Stender and Machado offered a way around this by reducing the five-committee fiefdom setup to two. I was for one only but agreed two would be far superior to five, where politics and ego ruled and not duty and efficiency. And except for one throwback, the Board has run smoothly without poliīieal intrigue and jealousy. In other words we are committed but not coimnanded, united but independent, focused but without blinders, and professional though elected. And that's a fact. Finally, the leadership by our Administrator, Clyde Nāmu'o, was recognized four years ago with an unprecedented eight-year contract, whieh allows OHA to utilize his services without worry of the repeated instability of the past. Under him OHA has given way more in grants in the last five years than the previous 25 thereby using our trust fund for current needs and seeking to help as many as possible. Kau Inoa was initiated to help Hawaiians along the way to self-determination. We have acquired thousands of acres of land from zero. We almost reached a historie settlement with the state for past-due ceded lands payments but for a handful of Senators with the help of disgruntled former OHA employees and others. And that's a fact. So whether it's a vote for OHA Trustee or a vote for Con Con, don't just rely on biased claims. Get the facts and vote. □