Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 10, 1 October 2006 — ROBIN PUANANI DANNER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ROBIN PUANANI DANNER

Aloha kākou. My name is Robin Puanani Danner and I am a candidate for OHA At-Larse.

I am from the Keokilele Llkeke 'ohana, born on the island of Kaua'i to Lorraine Kawahine Kilomana Koloand John William Danner. Both my parents were teachers dedicated to Native children, and, as a result, they raised their six children in traditional Native Hawaiian, Indian and Alaska Native communities, from Niumalu, Kaua'i, to the reservations of the Navajo and Hopi peoples, to arctic Alaska, the homelands of the Inupiaq. I am native Hawaiian and live on Hawaiian Home Lands, where my husband and I have raised our own four children and helped to raise five nieces and nephews. I am passionate about family, service to community and positive energy in addressing challenges. As a public trust and government agency, OHA represents all of us in the state in managing trust funds for the betterment of our native people in Hawai'i. It is a tremendous responsibility, and it is an opportunity to impact the well-being of the Hawaiian eommunity that will undoubtedly improve the quality of life and strength of Hawaiian

culture for all in Hawai'i. I am running for OHA trustee to add my experience, energy and desire to continue to serve our people, our communities and our state. I have 20 years of executive management experience in business, banking, munieipal government and native trusts and programs. I am a great believer in bringing people together to get things done - always facing difficult challenges through collaboration and positive attitudes. I believe great leadership includes servant leadership - the kind that puts titles aside to create dialogue and genuine understanding of the challenges and asserts humility to embrace solutions and partnerships for action. As the CEO of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, I have witnessed incredible talent at every level of OHA's administration. I believe OHA is the right agency with the right resources to advance many of the priorities of our communities, and in doing so. advancing the prosperity of the entire state. Accountability and transparency are critical first steps to building stronger relationships and forging new partnerships. Marshaling trust resources into the hands of partners and stakeholders on the front line is important - I believe in investing OHA's trust resources, the people's resources, in the people's priorities. For example, building facilities for charter schools, directly investing with DHHL to build neighborhoods across the state and dedicating resources to grow small businesses that create loeal jobs and keep more dollars working in our economy. These are just a few. When our Hawaiian community advances - when Hawaiian culture and traditions flourish - all of Hawai'i advances. I support recognition of the Native Hawaiian people by our federal government. It is a special status that not only honors Native Hawaiians, but honors Hawai'i. I have a great deal of confidence in our people, in our state and have great optimism for the journey we must all take together. Federal recognition is about Native Hawaiians taking responsibility for our resources, embracing our obligation to ensure that the native culture, traditions and ideas about Hawai'i survive and thrive. As an OHA trustee, I will listen, share openly and act on the people's priorities. I am unafraid to work hard and to ehampion community solutions. Hawaiians are a great people, and shoulder-to-shoulder with all the people of Hawai'i, we ean meet the ehallenges of today with the spirit of our Native Hawaiian culture. Please vote Robin Puanani Danner on November 7th to bring fresh ideas, clear action and energy to OHA. Mahalo a nui loa.