Ho'okele • Planning

More Hawaiians report a stronger optimism for the next five years

By Stanton K. Enomoto / Special Assistant to the OHA Administrator

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs took a significant step forward in May toward the completion of its new six-year Strategic Plan. The OHA Board adopted six Strategic Priorities to serve as the foundation of the Strategic Plan and guide the development of specific strategies and actions. These six priority areas are: health, education, governance, land, economic self-sufficiency and culture.

Enomoto

Substantial input from the Hawaiian community in March was essential in the development of these priorities. A variety of methods were used, including a telephone survey, an online survey, a student survey and a survey in the February edition of Ka Wai Ola. Additionally, focus groups and interviews were conducted with OHA staff, trustees and community stakeholders.

The telephone survey was statistically representative and asked Native Hawaiians statewide about their perspectives of Hawaiians today compared to five years ago, and their perspectives on Hawaiians five years from now. The results to the first question were normally distributed, where nearly half the respondents believe that the conditions of Hawaiians are the same as they were five years ago; and the other half evenly divided in their views of the conditions being better or worse. This was in contrast to a stronger sense of optimism about the future, where more than 40 percent believe that Native Hawaiians will be better off over the next five years and only 20 percent believe conditions will get worse. A table summarizing the survey results is provided below.

In the aggregate, this six-part research effort secured responses from 2,306 individuals, who collectively provided more than 3,000 responses on the issues and trends that are facing Native Hawaiians in 2009 and the years ahead. Among these responses were comments such as:

• "Educational achievement has yielded economic, professional and technological opportunities. Education is the key."
  
  
• "Native Hawaiians suffer more and are disproportionately impacted when the economy is bad."
  
  
• "The economy impacts education, jobs and health care."
  
  
• "Culturally based education has made a difference."
  
  
• "Land issues are important, such as ceded lands and the cost of land."
  
  
• "There is a sharper divide between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' "
  
  
• "Native Hawaiians face a very challenging legal and political environment."
  
  
• "There is hope in the future, the younger generations are better educated and motivated."
  
  
• "There are more resources for Hawaiians and the programs are fragmented."

Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o noted: "The response from the Native Hawaiian community was very impressive and we are grateful for the kōkua of all those who participated. This information was vital in helping us frame six Strategic Priorities that OHA will focus on in coming years and achieve measurable results improving the conditions of Native Hawaiians."

The six Strategic Priorities adopted by the Board of Trustees are:

1. EDUCATION: In order to maximize choices of life and work, Native Hawaiians will be able to meaningfully participate in educational opportunities at all levels, including culturally based education.
   
   
2. ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY: To have choices and a sustainable future, Native Hawaiians will make steady progress toward economic self-sufficiency.
   
   
3. LAND: Native Hawaiians will have a viable land base, and the cultural integrity and practices of the lands and waters of Hawai'i will be enforced and preserved.
   
   
4. HEALTH: To improve the quality and longevity of life, Native Hawaiians will have access to and use health care, and experience reduced incidence of chronic diseases.
   
   
5. CULTURE: Native Hawaiians will practice, preserve and perpetuate the Native Hawaiian culture and identity.
   
   
6. GOVERNANCE: Native Hawaiian self-governance is achieved, OHA no longer exists and its assets are transferred to the entity.

OHA's next step in the planning process is to identify specific results and actions in support of the Strategic Priorities and realign OHA's management systems and resources. Beginning in 2010, OHA will have an updated Strategic Plan and management systems in place that will enable the organization to successfully measure its performance on improving the conditions of Native Hawaiians.