Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 2, 1 February 2011 — OHA's 2011 legislative general fund request [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA's 2011 legislative general fund request

n September of 2010, nearly five months ago, the Board of Trustees approved OHA's General Funds BienniumBudget for the next two fiscal vears.

The primary purpose of the OHA general funds received from the State of Hawai'i is to provide services and assistance to Native Hawaiians in the areas of: 1. Social services to OHA beneficiaries to: include information and referral services whieh include those relating to education assistance, employment and ineome security, individual and family care, health needs, housing, legal services, gene-

alogy research, business assistance and general information. 2. Legal services and legal representation to OHA beneficiaries for: the assertion and defense of quiet title actions; assistance with ahupua'a and kuleana tenant rights, including rights of access andrights to water, land title assistance, including review of title and genealogy, preservation of traditional and customary practices, protection of culturally significant places, and preservation of Native Hawaiian land trust entitlements. 3. Educational enrichment programs for Native Hawaiian children in grades K through 12 to: optimize learning for Hawaiian students, develop a stronger interest in learning, connect learning and education to one's Hawaiian identity and explore possible educational, career and academic goals the students may not have considered. In pursuit of its mission, OHA partners with a number of state agencies and the University of Hawai'i. During the fiscal years FY 2005 through FY 2010, OHA expended a total of $29,834,967 in trust funds to support a number of state programs and services including: • DHHL for debt service on bonds • Charter schools funding • DOE for various grants and programs • DHHL for home ownership assistance to lessees and first-time buyers • DAGS for emergency and transitional housing for homeless • DOH grant for the Caregiver Training and Apprenticeship Program

• DOE for various grants and programs, including the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program • University of Hawai'i System ° Universitv of Hawai'i:

Achieving the Dream legislative proviso (budgeted trust fund portion) ° Support for UH School of Social Work master's candidates ° College of Education 'Aha Ho'ona'auao 'Ōiwiprogram ° Study on the criminal justice system and Native Hawaiians, Richardson School of Law William S. Richardson School of Law Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law ° Ho'okulāiwi Center for Hawaiian and Indigenous Education

° Kawaihuelani programs for ceded lands inventory, agriculture, aquaculture and oceanography •University of Hawai'i at Hilo: ° Nā Pua No'eau (budgeted trust fund portion) ° Ka Haka 'Ula O Ke'elikōlani Hawaiian Language College ° 'Imiloa Astronomy Center Pocket Theatre ° Hawaiian language and literature master's and bachelor's degree program In September of 2009, with the adoption of a new Strategic Plan, OHA recognized the need to change from serving individual needs to applying our resources to programs and activities that will lead to systemic change and maximize the impact we have on all Hawaiians. We believe that by focusing our efforts on a few key areas, rather than dispersing our strength, we ean maximize the impact we have for all Hawaiians. Our three primary roles will focus on Advocacy, Research and Asset Management. It is a paradigm shift for OHA and our beneficiaries, from being reactive to being proactive and progressive in our focus. In this legislative session, OHA seeks your help to strongly advocate with us on behalf of the measures that affect our Hawaiian programs. While the state's general fund contribution to OHA is minimal in comparison to other departments, the benefits to our Hawaiian communities and families is significant. Mahalo for your continued support and blessings for the New Year. ■

LEO 'ELELE TRUSTEE MESSSAGES

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Cūlette Y. Machade Chairpersūn, Trustee Muluka'i and Lāna'i