Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 40, Number 2, 1 February 2023 — December Updates, Talk-Story Sessions and Hakuone [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

December Updates, Talk-Story Sessions and Hakuone

/ LEO 'ELELE ^ TRUSTEE MESSAGES

As we move into the 2023 legislative session, OHA continues efforts to acquire votes needed to get development exemptions for OHA to have highest and best use of its lands at Kaka'ako Makai (now called Hakuone). The Board of Trustees was briefed on the outreach effort of engaging the community in designing the final vision for Hakuone. The law currently allows

for the area to build as high at 200 ft., but with the cost to mitigate soil conditions

and other issues, OHA will need to be able to plan for highest revenue potential and part of this is dependent on increasing the building height limit to 400 ft. Our Board of Trustees will continue to have updates ffom the Hakuone initiatives. To learn more about Hakuone information ean be accessed on OHA's website at www.oha.org/ hakuone. OHA's approved legislative package is currently being considered as of the writing of this eolumn.

Luana Alapa Trustee, Moloka'i and Lāna'i

Trustee Alapa's mother, Kauano Pukohi, and sister, Ohelo Alopo, help tie her lei hulu during the investiture ceremony on Dec. 8. - (ourtesy Photos

Trustee Alopo enjoying time spent with friends ot the investiture luneh. Seoted (l-r) Cheryl Vierro ond Kenlyn Urosoki. Stonding (l-r) Komono'o Aweou, Trustee Alopo, ond Kim Sullivon.

I'm happy to share that, as your Moloka'i and Lāna'i trustee, I plan to meet more ffequently with island beneficiaries in one-on-one meetings. I will be taking ofHce meetings at Kūlana 'Ōiwi every Monday and holding more talk story sessions. Please feel free to email my aide, Pohai Ryan, at pohair@oha.org if you wish to set a meeting or talk to me. In December, I had the blessed opportunity to finally experience a formal trustee investiture as the ceremony following my election in 2020 was postponed due to the pandemic. It was niee to have ffiends and family attend. In December, I hosted a Gingerbread House Contest for Moloka'i keiki! Everyone had a great time with prizes awarded to the top three best and most creative gingerbread houses. I look forward to staging more events for my community in 2023. ■

Keiki at the Gingerbread House Contest on Moloka'i proudly show off their tosty creotions.