LEO 'ELELE - TRUSTEE MESSAGES

Colette Y. Machado
Trustee, Moloka'i and Lāna'i

Aloha kākou! This year the OHA Board of Trustees ended its annual island-to-island community meeting series with a visit to Lāna'i. This community meeting was originally scheduled for October 15th, but was rescheduled due to weather conditions stemming from the approach of Hurricane Flossie. Weather notwithstanding, the community meeting was a success, despite being one of three community meetings occurring that same night.

Being one of the smaller Hawaiian communities in Hawai'i, it can be difficult to see how OHA's resources help beneficiaries in Lāna'i's community of less than 2,000. Most of OHA's resources to Lāna'i beneficiaries come by way of joint projects and indirect services.

Every year students from Nā Pua No'eau come to the community meeting to express their mahalo for OHA's financial support of their program. Students shared experiences from enrichment activities in the Classics program and Papa Alaka'i or Middle School Leadership program. This year's lively group of 10 'ōpio were excited about a trip they were going on the next day – attending a college fair on O'ahu. Students also mentioned that a Nā Pua No'eau college counselor met with them beforehand to prepare them for their visit. The Pathways Program, another of the Nā Pua No'eau projects, is a hands-on program that allows students to learn about environmental issues that affect them in their daily lives.

Another direct service provider receiving funds from OHA is Alu Like Inc. Joelle Aoki, a Program Specialist with its Kūlia Like Multi Services Department, works with other providers in a Life Skills Program for Lāna'i Middle School. The program teaches students about needs, wants, opportunity cost, budgeting and banking. Field trips to local financial institutions and retail operations help students learn about how these establishments function.

Many of the direct services OHA offers, like our Community Grants Program, haven't received much publicity on Lāna'i. But thanks to OHA's new office on Frasier Street, beneficiaries have direct access to programs, which should result in greater participation from Lāna'i next year. This year, Lāna'i High & Elementary School received a grant award of $10,000 to fund its College Fair and Career Day events. Martha Evans, Lāna'i High & Elementary School's vice principal, was on hand to give Trustees a report of the successful event.

Lāna'i Culture & Heritage Center's executive director, Kēpā Maly, gave Trustees an update on the center's cultural programs and initiatives and he requested support for projects in the future. Mr. Maly highlighted three specific areas where OHA's support was needed. First, funding to initiate a curatorial program of archival storage and conservation of old records, photos and items in the LCHC collection. Second, funding to support the development of preservation/interpretive plans for significant cultural resources at Kapiha'a (an ancient village) and Luahiwa (a petroglyph complex). Finally, support to develop programs to build capacity in the community to promote cultural-historical awareness and resource stewardship. Trustees were also encouraged to stop by the center to view firsthand how the project has progressed over the past year.

Trustees invited all in attendance to stop by our OHA office to visit Pearl Ah Ho for information on OHA's programs. Office hours are weekdays from 1 – 4 p.m. Beneficiaries can also call the office at 808-565-7930.