LEO 'ELELE - TRUSTEE MESSAGES

My hope for Hawaiians, OHA

Boyd P. Mossman Trustee, Maui

Hope is a word that distinguishes the determined from the uncertain, the faithful from the unbelieving, the leader from the loser. We can live 30 days without food but without hope, 30 seconds. We all have hope to some degree and for those who press forward from there with faith, they will obtain their dreams. It is with this hope that I believe we Hawaiians will endure the storms of adversity from both within and without and that as a people with a common bond to our ancestors and our 'āina, we will prevail.

Prevail against what? Well, those who threaten our survival for starters. The groups that sue OHA and DHHL in the courts arguing racial discrimination. The groups of unholy alliances that combine to stop the Akaka Bill. The groups that threaten to secede. The groups that demand return to a long-gone past by agitating for complete independence and nothing less. The groups that claim title to Hawai'i over any other. These threats to our future can be likely thwarted with knowledge, patience and a hope for a better Hawai'i for our posterity.

Then there are the internal struggles Hawaiians face with OHA frequently front and center. In this election year much distasteful and disrespectful talk has been heard against OHA trustees running for re-election. Our chairperson, Haunani Apoliona, who has ably led the board all the time I have been a trustee, has been the subject of inaccurate, misleading and malevolent accusations that begin with a grain of truth then distort and morph into plain old fiction, which some actually believe. This type of reaction to honest effort and hard work by dedicated and committed leaders who have done a superb job in lifting Hawaiians during their terms is uncalled for, selfishly motivated and contrary to our Hawaiian values. It is my hope that Hawaiians like Trustee Apoliona and Trustee Machado will continue to work for our people and will rise above these low-level attacks from within our own community.

The course we sail is filled with hope and OHA is fully prepared to lead the way. Some don't consider OHA their leaders. A leader guides, directs, is authorized and understands his role. All trustees are elected by the people of Hawai'i. Representatives and senators in our Legislature win with anywhere from a thousand to maybe 5,000 or even up to 10,000 votes. Trustees regularly win with more than 10 times that amount. The board has a fiduciary duty to protect the trust fund and to provide for the betterment of Hawaiians. Those on the board today are all college grads, have wide experience in the community, are culturally in tune and are competent and capable of leading our people. My hope is that OHA will continue to move forward and not turn to the past; that it will make the tough decisions and plan for the future; that the board will work together and not as individuals and politicians. And that that one trustee who has abandoned ship will return and contribute positively to the organization she was elected to five times.

As we voyage together with OHA into an uncertain future, we can rest assured that our course has been diligently planned and that the waves of change facing us can be to our advantage if we hang on to hope, dream big dreams and act with respect and honor in seeking to preserve a better future for Hawaiians and for all Hawai'i. Let us press forward in faith that our people, our culture and our 'āina can continue to be preserved evermore.