My kuleana as your Trustee is to elevate the wellbeing of Native Hawaiians through strengthening our ʻohana, moʻomeheu (culture), and ʻāina. We achieve these goals by affecting change in the areas of education, health, housing, and economics.
I need your manaʻo to guide me in my efforts and to keep me informed as to how I can better serve YOU, the OHA beneficiary. If we paddle in one waʻa, we can achieve our vision of a thriving and abundant lāhui.
Board of Trustees on the Move
We were on Molokaʻi for the BOT meetings at the Lanikeha Community Center in Hoʻolehua July 14-15. I was honored to host my first Molokaʻi Island meeting. It also was a unique opportunity for the BOT to learn about community projects. At Keawanui fishpond in East Molokaʻi, we experienced limu propagation first-hand at the Hānai Ā Ulu Native Crop Program’s Limu Project & Sustainability Garden. They are not only farming limu, but also replenishing the natural supply that was once abundant. Mālama ʻĀina is very real on Molokaʻi!
Next stop was Kealopiko, the Native Hawaiian women-owned design company. Ane Bakutis, one of the founders, runs a company that is known for fashion and more! Kealopiko has a mentoring program and is committed to manufacturing on Molokaʻi to prove that a for-profit entity can be sustainable on the island. It was delightful to see the designs, feel the fabrics, and to witness the operation in action! Mahalo nui loa to all that helped to make this Molokaʻi BOT visit a success!
Your Trustee’s On-going Concerns
OHA is presently undergoing a re-organization lead by the administration under Ka Pouhana (CEO) Dr. Sylvia Hussey. I remain sensitive to the impacts these changes will bring to existing staff, their ʻohana and the coverage needed to accomplish OHA’s work.
Share Your Manaʻo
I created a dedicated email for beneficiaries to contact me with your manaʻo – concerns, questions, or issues. It is important that I know what is on the minds of OHA’s beneficiaries. Email me at: alapainfo@oha.org.
Resources
Check out this link to review OHA’s strategic plan for now and into the future: www.oha.org/strategicplan/
Stay safe and healthy as COVID-19 is our enemy right now!
Mālama pono! Aloha kekahi i kekahi!
Trustee Luana Alapa
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