Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 11, 1 November 2014 — A lifetime of pure aloha... [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A lifetime of pure aloha...

Aloha e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau, punike ao mālamalama. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is in the midst of significant transitions. The first begins with one of our distinguished OHA Board members. Whether you know himas Trustee Stender, Mr. Stender, Unele 0z, O.K., Papa, Dad, Ozzie or Oswald Kofoad, he remains beloved, respected, honored and always will be, undeniably and simply, "Oz." Born in 1931 in

Hau'ula, Oz attri- ' butes his foundation of values, character and wisdom to his Tūtū man as well as to the legacy of Queen Lili'uokalani; his secondary and high school success to the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop as Kamehameha graduate of 1950; his disciplined and broader educational worldview to the U.S. Marine Corps; and his higher education scholarship studies to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Oz spent 16 years in real estate at the James

Campbell Estate, spent two years with Grosvenor International, returned to Campbell Estate 1976-1988 as CEO and 1988-1989 as Senior Advisor to the Campbell Estate Trustees. Oz then served as Trustee of the Bishop Estate from 1990 until his resignation in 1999. I was elected to OHA in 1996; Oz in 2000. The "intersect" of our work together as Trustees continues forward to the present. I served as OHA's longest-serving Chairperson and Oz served as B &F Chair, then Asset and Resource Management Chairperson from 2000 to 2010. Oz had a major role in what ean be called "OHA's Decade Three: 2000-2010 Improving Oversight Management and Preparing for Rebuilding Native Hawaiian Govemance." OHA initiated a new investment policy process using the "manager of manager's" approach that has been adapted and

improved to the present time. Act 34 (2003) increased OHA revenues from "zero to $9.5 million"; Act 178 (2006) provided $17.5 million in back payment for July 2001-2005, increased transferof OHArevenues to $15.1 million annually, also requiring DLNR to provide an accounting for certain lands as specified by law. The ceded lands settlement for approximately $200 million initiated by OHA and the Lingle administration was completed by OH A and Governor Abercrombie in 2012. OHA canital-

ized Hi'ilei Aloha LLC 1 to manage proj ects that include Hi'ipaka LLC and others. A $90 million loan guarantee (debt service $3m/30 years) was provided to DHHL by OHA. UNESCO World Heritage designation for Papahānaumokuākea in 2010 done with I expected OHA designation as a fourth Co-Trustee underway. 1 Oz has played a major role to advance OHA. My OHA staff, * past and present, feel the same way about Oz. Having served during the 14 years with him, they offer

the following eomments about him: "... consistently steps up to strengthen community-based initiatives focused on collective well-being and sustainability for Hawai'i and Native Hawaiians ... one of very few Trustees who best served Native Hawaiian beneficiaries judiciously and devoid of polhieal or personal agendas ... decisions made for Hawai'i vision 25 years henee, not for the short term ... we owe him a debt of gratitude for his service ... he exudes gentleness, kindness, goodness ... and the greatest gift he shared is love ... well done, good and faithful servant, may your radiant light shine eternal." Oz, mahalo for being a steady and reliable colleague, strong in spirit, wise and discerning, and unwavering in our mission to "Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha." Blessings to you, Aunty Lei, Lei-Ann and your 'ohana always. 23/48 ■

Haunani Apnlinna, MSW TrustEE, At-largE

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