As we herald in a new year, I had the honor of joining many in our community to celebrate the life of former Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Rowena Akana. Kawaiahaʻo Church was a fitting place to remember a woman who dedicated so much of her life to serving our people.
Rowena was, at times, a controversial figure but she was never without conviction. She served with unwavering passion and fierce advocacy, always standing firmly for what she believed would benefit the lāhui. Too often, the depth of her commitment and the impact of her work were underappreciated.
Over her decades of service, and alongside her fellow trustees, she helped launch and support numerous initiatives that continue to serve our community today. Her determination to see things through, no matter the obstacles, earned her the respect and love of many. Serving for almost 30 years as trustee, that longevity speaks not only to commitment, but to a deep sense of kuleana. For that we say: Aloha and mahalo, Rowena, for your service to our lāhui.
As we forge ahead to continue serving our beneficiaries, the Hawaiian Council is currently administering OHA’s $6.1 million in emergency assistance to support Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who were impacted by the federal government shutdown and the suspension of SNAP benefits. If you or someone you know was affected, I strongly encourage you to apply.
Verified Native Hawaiian beneficiaries without dependents who receive SNAP benefits — but were excluded from the state’s Hawaiʻi Relief Program — may qualify for grocery assistance of up to $350. Foodland gift cards will be distributed to residents of Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi, while KTA Super Stores gift cards will be available for residents of Hawaiʻi Island. Due to their remote locations, residents of Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi will receive direct assistance checks.
To apply online, visit hawaiiancouncil.org/oha-relief
Finally, Pepeluali is not only a month to honor our ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, but to celebrate Valentine’s Day. I wanted to bless and mālama our kūpuna of Molokaʻi with some of my homemade Valentine’s treats. Many kūpuna live alone and have few visitors, so I wanted to spread a little Valentine’s aloha. Seeing their precious smiles and tears of joy upon receiving their treats? Priceless.
We honor those who came before us by continuing to care for our community and our beloved kūpuna.
