Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 40, Number 1, 1 January 2023 — Aloha mai kākou, [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Aloha mai kākou,

V 'OLELO A KA POUHANA V ^ MESSAGE FROM THE CEO *

A F0RCE T0 BE RECK0NED WITH Lōkahi (nvs. Unity, agreement, accord, unison, harmony, agreed, in unity)

'Umia ka hanu! Ho'okahi ka umauma, ke kipoohiwi i ke kipoohiwi; Hold the breath! Walk abreast, shoulder to shoulder. This 'ōlelo no'eau speaks to the importance of being in one accord, as in "exerting every effort to lift a heavy weight to the shoulder and to keep together in carrying it along." It is an appropriate reminder as we begin this new year at the Oflice of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). This olelo no'eau is a vision of all nine trustees working in one accord, unified as leaders of our organization and our people, and together shouldering the kaumaha (weight) of their collective kuleana to our lāhui. It is the very image of lōkahi - a concept that Chair Hulu speaks passionately about and models with the Board of Trustees. At its most basic, lōkahi means "unity." But it is more than simply presenting a united front - it also refers to an "agreement in mind" or a "unanimity of sentiment." There is mueh work ahead this year for OHA - and to achieve our goals we absolutely must work together, fully embracing a spirit of lōkahi. The state s failure to provide OHA with its rightful 20% pro rata share of Puhlie Land Trust (PLT) revenue continues to hinder our efforts to provide the level of funding, programs, research and advocacy needed to make the kind of social-economic-political impact that our people deserve. OHA's involvment on the state's PLT working group in the coming year will be critical. Another focus for 2023 is Hakuone, OHA's 30 acres of land at Kaka'ako Makai. At issue is an outdated 17-year-old law that prevents the development of homes ma kai of Ala Moana Boulevard - despite the preponderance of luxury condos being built on the ma uka side of the street.

We will push to have that law changed during the upcoming legislative session to enahle OHA to fulfill its vision of developing the area as an "eeonomie engine" for our lāhui - a distinctly Hawaiian gathering plaee in Honolulu that includes Native Hawaiian businesses, heahh and healing areas, art centers, restaurants - and housing that kama aina ean actually afford. I am optimistic about our future. The legislature's Native Hawaiian Caucus remain staunch allies. And Gov. Josh Green's recently announced cabinet picks in-

clude Native Hawaiians in key roles including Housing Chief Nani Medeiros, Hawaiian Homes Commission Chair Ikaika Ander-

son, Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen, and, for the first time in history, two Native Hawaiian women - Board of Land and Natural Resources Chair Dawn Chang

and Department of Land and Natural Resources First Deputy Laura Ka'akua - will lead the state in the stewardship of our lands.

While there is tremendous work ahead in so many different areas, if Native Hawaiians join together in lōkahi, and stay focused on that whieh unites us - our aloha for our 'ohana, mo'omeheu (culture) and aina - we will be a force to be reckoned with. ■

Sylvia M. Hussey, Ed.D. Chief Executive Officer