Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 5, 1 May 2011 — Aloha mai kākou, [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Aloha mai kākou,

I was proud to be part of the recent launeh of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' new digital library known as Papakilo Database. With this new venture, OHA is embracing the power of technology to create a unique database that bridges the knowledge and wisdom of the past with the speed and efficiency of the World Wide Web. The Papakilo Database will be a central repository of all types of Hawaiian knowledge. For the first time, Hawaiian historical and cultural infonnation of this magnitude has been pulled together in one plaee, accessible worldwide and at no cost to the user. These include historic documents from the Māhele 'Āina Index, newspapers written in the Hawaiian language, Hawaiian Genealogy Indexes, State Historic Preservation Department's Index of Reports, various digitized reports and maps compiled by OHA, and mueh more. The infonnation stored in the database is important to preserve the Hawaiian language, culture and history, and lays the foundation for self-detennination. Four years in the making, this effort would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of our partners, including Awaiaulu, Bishop Museum, DL Consulting,

Hawai'i State Archives, Ho'olaupa'i, Ka'iwakāoumoku Hawaiian Cultural Center, Kumu Pono Associates, The Nature Conservancy and Ulukau. Papakilo means "a foundation for seeking, searching and observing." Creating a repository of Hawaiian knowledge is the noblest of all goals, and Papakilo is really just the beginning of OHA's long-tenn commitment to building the capacity of knowledge within OHA and the community. Helping Native Hawaiians gain knowledge and excel at educational opportunities is among OHA's Strategic Priorities. So is uplifting the health and well-being of our Hawaiian keiki. May is National Foster Care Month, serving as a reminder of a emeial need in our communities. Last year 1,071 keiki of Native Hawaiian ancestry eame into foster care in Hawai'i. They comprised 46 percent of the foster children statewide. However grim, these statistics are an improvement since 2003, when Hawaiians represented 53 percent of youth in foster care. There are other bright spots, too. In our cover story, writer Melissa Moniz describes partnerships that are making a difference and shares insight from the Muaina family of Lā'ie. The Muainas, with several grown children of their own, have adopted two Hawaiian children. They also foster two more

children, bringing their 'ohana numbers to 1 1 strong. As father lohn Muaina notes: "What we have leamed through this is that we ean change people's lives by * things that we do. And it's been beneficial for all of M us, not just the kids that we foster." Yes, there remains a pressing need to care for H our Hawaiian foster children, and foster children as awhole. But we ean further build upon the strides b that have been made. And they, in turn, ean only be achieved through the compassion of people and . famihes that together build communities. Together, we ean.

Meka 'oia'i'o, Clyde W. Nāmu'o Chief Executive 0fficer |