By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Members of Hawaiian royal societies started today's
investiture ceremony for new Office of Hawaiian Affairs
trustees. Gov. Ben Cayetano spoke about the need to put
aside rhetoric and to rally the people.

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State faces
challenge of change,
governor tells
OHA board

Chairwoman Akana says she wants
to strengthen OHA's ties with Cayetano

By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

Saying he shares the pride of being elected to do the people's work, Gov. Ben Cayetano told Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees at their investiture today that change is the biggest challenge facing the state.

More than ever, he said, elected officials must put aside rhetoric and rally people to resolve issues facing the state in the next century.

Cayetano said this can be done only by ensuring that the "great gift" from native Hawaiians - the aloha spirit - endures to make Hawaii unique.

The new nine-member OHA board this morning were confirmed as trustees at a ceremony at Kawaiahao Church attended by about 200 people, including Cayetano and Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono.

OHA Chairwoman Rowena Akana, in her prepared remarks, said she wants to strengthen OHA's relationship with the governor to help resolve issues facing Hawaiians, such as ceded-land claims and past-due revenues.

"Playing adversary is unproductive, unwise and serves no one's long-term interest," Akana said.

"However, when we do focus on what is fair, we are choosing the path that is righteous and we are appropriately doing what is beneficial to all the people of this state," she said.

As a creation of the 1978 state Constitutional Convention, OHA was given the mandate to better the conditions of native Hawaiians. Five board seats were up for grabs in last month's OHA elections. Three incumbents and two new trustees were elected to office.

Former interim trustee Gladys K. Brandt, speaking at today's ceremony, said issues of money and power have dominated OHA discussion for too long and that trustees have forgotten their heritage -- which stresses unity, generosity and aloha.