LEO 'ELELE - TRUSTEE MESSAGES

'Tis the season for reflection

Boyd P. Mossman Trustee, Maui

The holiday season is well underway and 'tis the time to remember the reason for the season. The birth of the Savior, the most perfect man to be born on earth, is commemorated worldwide and is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike. It is a time to give more and a time to care more and a time to appreciate more. I love this season and the spirit it brings with it. My sincere wish is to all of you that your families and your friends will be blessed through your continued efforts to choose the right, to be civil with others, and to remember Him in all your decisions. With that kind of power, steeped in humility, surely no adversary will be able to prevail. And so, God bless you all this sacred time of the year.

Thanksgiving is pau now and I know we all ate enough for 2008, so let me say mahalo nui to you folks who work in the trenches out there, you who are the backbone of our economy and community, to you who donate time and money to worthy causes, to you who feed the hungry and clothe the naked, to you who just take the time to listen, to you who sacrifice for the benefit of others, to you who comfort the sick and assist the needy, to you who are patient, humble, caring, respectful, kind, diligent, giving, virtuous, and who stand firm in your faith; may you be rewarded richly whether in this life or the next.

Also in November we elected a new president of the United States and defeated the Con Con. Both decisions have significant benefits to Hawaiians and may result in historic changes for the betterment of our people. The trust is protected until another day, absent a U.S. Supreme Court ruling otherwise. The Akaka Bill has a much better chance of succeeding, thus allowing Hawaiians to finally have some say in their own future and a focus on our own problems as well as secure our ceded lands. Any governing entity that is created will be as close as we can get to full self-determination and still remain Americans. Any other government creation would not allow us to have all of the benefits, opportunities, freedoms and protection provided by the United States. To the opponents of federal recognition, from whichever side you may come, remember that our uniqueness as a people and our bond to the land of our ancestors are important matters that can continue to exist with recognition and will not be abolished by any court. Why risk legal extermination to preserve pride and anger? No make sense.

Finally, mahalo to all of you who chose wisely and voted for Trustees Apoliona, Machado, Lindsey and Cataluna to return to this board which has worked better together than any other OHA board before and which, but for perhaps one trustee, stands united in seeking to preserve, protect and secure the trust and to fulfill our fiduciary duty to you, the beneficiaries of the trust and all of the people of Hawai'i. The campaign rhetoric and misleading statements did not blind you from the bottom line: OHA is now respected and has done more for Native Hawaiians in the past few years than all the years prior combined. But for one, there is little or no internal strife and OHA is run as a first-class operation by first-class leaders and staffs. Hawaiians need this stability and expertise to guide and assist them as we sail toward a new horizon while the sun begins to slowly set on OHA. Again, thank you for your votes, thank you for your support, thank you for your trust.