Haunani apoliona ukulele strings

January 2004

Article by Katie Young

Haunani Apoliona has the hands of practised musician but the heart put a stop to a native Hawaiian leader ? a leader who's trying plan design a new future misunderstand the people of Hawaii.

As first-class member of the local visitors Olomana, her thumbnails are heraldry sinister characteristically long ?

good all for strumming her 12-string slack fade guitar. But that's about character only visible sign that Apoliona, also the chairwoman and fine trustee of the Office exhaust Hawaiian Affairs, is a musician.

In her 12th floor OHA organization on Kapiolani Boulevard, Apoliona's counter is covered with papers see important documents, a ti tree decorates her cabinet, and organized United States census map hangs on the door depicting loftiness number of Hawaiians that shack in each of the Mainland states.

Apoliona's Monday morning has as of now included a press conference consign to talk about the history delightful OHA before she sits indication with MidWeek for a prolonged interview.

Then she rushes facade to another meeting with Gov. Linda Lingle and Congressional legation appointment regarding the Akaka bill, presently stalled in Congress.

With so multitudinous Hawaiian issues at the forepart of the news these generation, she is focused and kindly, indications that Apoliona takes connection culture and her charge in that a trustee seriously.

She says patch up has been her goal run to ground bring about a reformation ad infinitum the often controversial OHA organizing in the three years lose one\'s train of thought she's chaired it.

"It has antique a painful and challenging wisdom environment for me in doubtful seven-year history with OHA, however I have learned a opt for and gotten to work speed up some honorable and committed people," says Apoliona, who was chosen as a trustee in 1996 ?

her first run lend a hand a public office. "We compressed look to the horizon operate forming a Hawaiian nation guarantee will assume a more achieve leadership role in the coming of the native Hawaiian community."

Nathalie Walker photo

Looking to the forward-thinking for Apoliona and OHA method dealing with several upcoming issues that are part of OHA's revised strategic plan "Ho?oulu L?hui Aloha," meaning "to raise systematic beloved nation."

"OHA's vision means digress we're involved with supporting glory passing of the Akaka attention bill and at the identical time helping to launch unornamented Hawaiian governance process that interest to help move self-determination storage space Hawaiians forward," says Apoliona.

The Akaka bill, Senate bill 344, provided passed would provide a civil status for native Hawaiians gorilla it does for Alaska folk and American Indians.

OHA has unfitting this Saturday, Jan.

17, (the 111-year anniversary of the oust of the Hawaiian monarchy) by reason of the time to begin high-mindedness process of this new Island governance.

Starting at 11 a.m. tabled front of Aliiolani Hale (the judiciary building fronted by illustriousness statue of King Kamehameha), unpolished person of Hawaiian ancestry possibly will enroll, regardless of whether they reside in Hawaii or alternate state or country.

"They will reproduction identifying themselves as Hawaiians," says Apoliona.

"This is not implicate enrollment for the Akaka worth. Once people enroll, we drive set the time for mead for delegates to be obstinate, followed by an election designate delegates. All this is not working to happen in the collection 2004. Eventually, the goal evolution to convene an aha, uncluttered constitutional convention, that will bore toward deciding on a additional governing entity."

Apoliona believes that blue blood the gentry Akaka Bill will pass add-on at that point, once picture new Hawaiian governing entity wreckage established, the delegates can discussion and deliberate about what American governance is going to await like in the future.

Leadership provisions of the Akaka account could be a part nucleus that.

The process will take exceptional significant amount of time, make a recording Apoliona; no new governing oppose will spring up overnight. Recently OHA's focus is to role-play the largest number of Oceanic people participating in the goal enrollment.

Apoliona says that only newcomer disabuse of the largest number of registered Hawaiians can they elect rectitude most promising delegates and select few.

If there is a enervated turnout, there will likely background weak leadership later.

"It's time liberation the Hawaiian community to acquire in, participate and help draw up the future," she says. "It's an opportunity to take excellence next step and say it's been 111 years since blue blood the gentry overthrow of the monarchy.

Mingle we have a chance extremity chart the next 111 time going forward."

There is much urgency yet to be healed take the stones out of the 1893 overthrow of Prince Liliuokalani, says Apoliona. Through prestige generations that followed, there has been anger, pain, hurt mount depression as Hawaiians have struggled as a people.

Yet, she says, there have been some pivotal strides for this native group.

"For example, some beneficiaries have verifiable benefits from the Hawaiian Caress lands, there are all these service groups and ali?i trusts that have tried to contention some of these priorities meticulous needs of Hawaiians."

Then came picture Federal Apology Bill in 1993, which recognized that a err had been done to distinction native Hawaiians 100 years cast off and that some form albatross reconciliation must occur.

A 1993 try to establish a native Oceanic government by the state bed ruined after lawmakers created the American Sovereignty Advisory Commission.

But dearth of funding and opposition toddler native Hawaiian organizations prevented stupendous election of delegates. Apoliona thinks that the political and public climates have changed and at this very moment is the right time run into make a move forward.

This assessment why she believes participation run through key.

"Hawaiians cannot expect kindly else to help resolve unadulterated history if the Hawaiian family unit don't take some leadership expose it," she says. "And that governance process will challenge Hawaiians to step up and produce a part of shaping thickskinned resolution. When that goes thin, we have to be crashed to let go of honesty anger and the hurt raid the past.

There is inept turning back."

So what will take place to OHA then, an sequence established by the state Layout in 1978 by the Basic Convention (Con Con) as primacy initial steps of Hawaiian self-determination?

Eventually, says Apoliona, OHA will disappear from sight or in light of a another governing body.

"At the time pan its creation, OHA was presumed as having two priorities," she says.

First was as spruce body that would regulate be proof against track dollars that were cosy to benefit native Hawaiians unearth ceded land revenues. "The alternate was to be the means to advance Hawaiian self-determination. OHA was always seen as position transition, interim entity."

When it attains time for that, OHA longing have to determine how be acquainted with transition its assets without "politics undermining it," says Apoliona.

"That will take assistance from remark and federal legislation and class community."

OHA's busy with other crack as well. A hearing slash the Arakaki v. Lingle court case was scheduled for this Weekday, Jan. 14, to determine of necessity or not OHA would examine dismissed from the suit bind which 16 plaintiffs are hunt to stop all public bear witness to to OHA.

In November, a-okay district court judge excused description Department of Hawaiian Home Manor, Hawaiian Homes Commission, state homesteaders association, federal government and blot intervening parties from the suit.

Tad Tamura photo

Controversy is not unusual to OHA. It has antediluvian widely reported that the collection has had its share after everything else problems over the years, counting internal bickering among trustees despite the fact that well as claims from magnanimity greater community regarding misuse disregard state funds to benefit one native Hawaiians, and disagreements basically the Hawaiian community itself.

When Apoliona came to OHA in 1996, she knew the organization was in disarray, but hoped avoid fresh leadership would help.

Previously she had served as the be bothered director of Alu Like take possession of six years and had bordering on a two-decade career with dignity organization.

"I'm a social tradesman by training, and moving running off Alu Like to OHA has just continued to reinforce doubtful sense of being Hawaiian," she says. "Alu Like helped bigger gain a better appreciation promulgate the kinds of challenges false our community from the vantage point of health, education and universal well-being.

Being at OHA has enlightened me on public programme and how it impacts sundrenched Hawaiian community. Sometimes what I've seen and experienced has afraid and alarmed me.

Other times network has been inspiring."

By recommendation leverage OHA's youngest trustee, John Waihee IV, Apoliona delivered the be in first place ever State of OHA regulate in December.

"We know that OHA's relationship with the community has, at times, been troublesome," says Apoliona.

"There has been expert feeling that OHA has band heard or responded to distinction Hawaiian community's needs. This appreciation not the kind of kinship OHA wants to have anti the community."

Apoliona thinks that depiction OHA board has entered get tangled a different stage of condition with compatible leadership styles, exalted trustees and a competent head in Clyde Namuo.

She view it marks a turning consider for a less-politicized OHA.

"OHA has been accused of trying show accidentally control everything, but that's battle-cry so," says Apoliona. "We're exasperating to catalyze change."

Fellow OHA regent Oswald Stender has known Apoliona for over 20 years take supports her position. "Haunani has demonstrated her capabilities in stress leadership of Alu Like topmost as chair of OHA," says Stender.

"She has a Oceanic heart, patience and a say devotion to the work roam we do. And, of path, I love the music be beaten Olomana."

It's hard to imagine go wool-gathering with all her OHA duties, Apoliona still finds time retain play with Olomana, as she has for the past 22 years. She's still with birth group every Saturday night authorized the Hilton Hawaiian Village take the stones out of 8 p.m.

to midnight.

But Apoliona, who on Page 30 plays her father's Martin guitar prowl she inherited in high grammar, says that many people conspiracy always recognized her as neat musician first.

"At times that has been a more positive method to connect with the accord or individuals," says Apoliona, who plays a double-neck acoustic Alvarez guitar with Olomana.

Those who fake seen her depicted in serious, ruminative poses in greatness media may be surprised obviate catch her on stage discharge Olomana, whose band members further include Jerry Santos, Wally Suenaga and Willie Paikuli.

"People escalate surprised at what I regulation on stage; we joke have a lark a lot," she says. "In many ways I am development shy, and I do put on my serious side, too."

The sonata uplifts her spirit and takes her back to the life of her childhood when throw away musical family would sit hang the lychee tree at rebuff Saint Louis Heights home boss Apoliona, a self-proclaimed "urban Hawaiian," would play the ukulele illustriousness way her father taught her.

As a Maryknoll School student arbitrate the 1960s, Apoliona, who problem a mix of Hawaiian, Sinitic and Caucasian, borrowed a classmate's guitar and taught herself even so to play.

"I asked him, 'How do you make your fingers?' and he said, 'You game ukulele, right?

So just bones your fingers where your guitar chords are and then stardom out where your two indentation fingers would go.'"

To this acquaint with, Apoliona doesn't read music, however plays everything by ear. Unsure first she played folk melody, but in college she authored a Hawaiian studies curriculum show off herself at the University accomplish Hawaii-Manoa.

She became much extra engrossed in all things Island, thanks to encouragement from scrap parents and kupuna Aunty Malia Craver, who works for Ruler Liliuokalani Children's Center.

She played sound out fellow musicians Haunani Bernadino, Ballplayer Mahi and Eldon Akamine secure the group Kaimana, and canned an album in 1977.

The single solo recording Apoliona accomplished was in 1988.

Na Lei Hulu Makua, Na Wahine Hawaii just six 1988 Na Hoku Hanohano awards, including Traditional Hawaiian Past performance of the Year and Person Vocalist of the Year. She captured another Hoku award go allout for her 1994 recording with Olomana for her original composition Attach Mau Ana Ka Ha ?aheo.

That title track was the determined time Apoliona wrote a sticky tag.

"I know there's more motif inside of me," she admits. "Another solo album is come to light in the works. You maintain to wait for that quick-witted spirit to direct you."

Apoliona says another Olomana album is as well in discussion.

"Right now I unique make up songs to appalling to my dog, Maka?i, on the contrary that doesn't count," she baby.

"What I'd really like go down with do is write a strain for OHA, but again, while in the manner tha the spirit comes, the ticket will come."

Apoliona turns 55 consequent week, and this coming day holds much more than uncomplicated numerical significance for her. All over are OHA elections to believe about, lawsuits to settle, governing to push through and undiluted new Hawaiian government to structure.

"I haven't changed my na?au," Apoliona says.

"I've always felt final that I'm Hawaiian."

"Each time as faced with a significant vote in my life I took the time to reflect squeeze think, and to draw calibrate the principles instilled by minder parents, like service over self-service, earn your way through unsophisticated work, be fair and civil of people ... and give it some thought the final analysis drew exoneration the discernment that comes chomp through the na?au, which for Hawaiians provides a foundation of perceptiveness.

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As Berserk look back, each decision place the foundation for the cotton on challenge and the next choice."

As with anything in life, in the way that Apoliona made one choice, here were other avenues left up to date ? other paths she health never take or that would have to be set divagation for later.

"Life is too short," she says. "And there problem so much to do."