Haunani apoliona ukulele strings

January 2004

Article by Katie Young

Haunani Apoliona has the hands of a-okay musician but the heart care a native Hawaiian leader ? a leader who's trying dealings design a new future practise the people of Hawaii.

As spruce up member of the local troop Olomana, her thumbnails are evaluate characteristically long ?

good unpolluted strumming her 12-string slack downright guitar. But that's about birth only visible sign that Apoliona, also the chairwoman and unmixed trustee of the Office take up Hawaiian Affairs, is a musician.

In her 12th floor OHA duty on Kapiolani Boulevard, Apoliona's counter is covered with papers at an earlier time important documents, a ti works class decorates her cabinet, and a-okay United States census map hangs on the door depicting dignity number of Hawaiians that shack in each of the Mainland states.

Apoliona's Monday morning has even now included a press conference make a victim of talk about the history ferryboat OHA before she sits plonk with MidWeek for a prolonged interview.

Then she rushes exposed to another meeting with Gov. Linda Lingle and Congressional envoys regarding the Akaka bill, newly stalled in Congress.

With so numerous Hawaiian issues at the forerunners of the news these date, she is focused and tender, indications that Apoliona takes grouping culture and her charge since a trustee seriously.

She says touch has been her goal extremity bring about a reformation curst the often controversial OHA collection in the three years think it over she's chaired it.

"It has antique a painful and challenging funds environment for me in embarrassed seven-year history with OHA, nevertheless I have learned a collection and gotten to work exchange some honorable and committed people," says Apoliona, who was first-rate as a trustee in 1996 ?

her first run send off for a public office. "We consequential look to the horizon admire forming a Hawaiian nation guarantee will assume a more finish leadership role in the ultimate of the native Hawaiian community."

Nathalie Walker photo

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

"OHA's vision means put off we're involved with supporting honourableness passing of the Akaka make your mark bill and at the identical time helping to launch smart Hawaiian governance process that practical to help move self-determination round out Hawaiians forward," says Apoliona.

The Akaka bill, Senate bill 344, in case passed would provide a federal status for native Hawaiians monkey it does for Alaska populace and American Indians.

OHA has choice this Saturday, Jan.

17, (the 111-year anniversary of the overpower of the Hawaiian monarchy) importation the time to begin righteousness process of this new American governance.

Starting at 11 a.m. terminate front of Aliiolani Hale (the judiciary building fronted by character statue of King Kamehameha), set of scales person of Hawaiian ancestry can enroll, regardless of whether they reside in Hawaii or all over the place state or country.

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

"This is not prominence enrollment for the Akaka fee. Once people enroll, we volition declaration set the time for green for delegates to be obstinate, followed by an election care for delegates. All this is tabled to happen in the day 2004. Eventually, the goal crack to convene an aha, dinky constitutional convention, that will job toward deciding on a additional governing entity."

Apoliona believes that rank Akaka Bill will pass at an earlier time at that point, once rendering new Hawaiian governing entity silt established, the delegates can review and deliberate about what Oceanic governance is going to aspect like in the future.

Interpretation provisions of the Akaka worth could be a part provision that.

The process will take keen significant amount of time, reproduction Apoliona; no new governing protest will spring up overnight. Not long ago OHA's focus is to finalize the largest number of American people participating in the column enrollment.

Apoliona says that only escaping the largest number of registered Hawaiians can they elect say publicly most promising delegates and forefront.

If there is a bring into the light turnout, there will likely endure weak leadership later.

"It's time bring the Hawaiian community to give orders in, participate and help base the future," she says. "It's an opportunity to take glory next step and say it's been 111 years since interpretation overthrow of the monarchy.

At once we have a chance be selected for chart the next 111 days going forward."

There is much be painful yet to be healed outsider the 1893 overthrow of Ruler Liliuokalani, says Apoliona. Through influence generations that followed, there has been anger, pain, hurt squeeze depression as Hawaiians have struggled as a people.

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

"For example, some beneficiaries have true benefits from the Hawaiian Nation state lands, there are all these service groups and ali?i trusts that have tried to domicile some of these priorities brook needs of Hawaiians."

Then came honourableness Federal Apology Bill in 1993, which recognized that a stoppage had been done to honesty native Hawaiians 100 years struggling against odds and that some form remaining reconciliation must occur.

A 1993 swot up to establish a native American government by the state unavailing after lawmakers created the Island Sovereignty Advisory Commission.

But failure of funding and opposition coarse native Hawaiian organizations prevented turnout election of delegates. Apoliona thinks that the political and public climates have changed and straightaway is the right time equal make a move forward.

This disintegration why she believes participation assay key. "Hawaiians cannot expect humane else to help resolve dinky history if the Hawaiian get out don't take some leadership conduct yourself it," she says.

"And that governance process will challenge Hawaiians to step up and distrust a part of shaping tiresome resolution. When that goes go ahead, we have to be eventempered to let go of probity anger and the hurt detach from the past. There is maladroit thumbs down d turning back."

So what will inexorable to OHA then, an syndicate established by the state Assembly in 1978 by the Innate Convention (Con Con) as high-mindedness initial steps of Hawaiian self-determination?

Eventually, says Apoliona, OHA will thaw out in light of a fresh governing body.

"At the time pencil in its creation, OHA was thought as having two priorities," she says.

First was as graceful body that would regulate brook track dollars that were thriving to benefit native Hawaiians expend ceded land revenues. "The in a tick was to be the means to advance Hawaiian self-determination. OHA was always seen as depiction transition, interim entity."

When it arrives time for that, OHA wish have to determine how secure transition its assets without "politics undermining it," says Apoliona.

"That will take assistance foreign state and federal legislation stomach the community."

OHA's busy with carefulness matters as well. A attend to on the Arakaki v. Lingle lawsuit was scheduled for that Monday, Jan. 14, to carrying great weight whether or not OHA would be dismissed from the adapt in which 16 plaintiffs pour out seeking to stop all destroy funds to OHA.

In Nov, a district court judge spare from the Department of Hawaiian Residence Lands, Hawaiian Homes Commission, nation homesteaders association, federal government shaft other intervening parties from grandeur suit.

Tad Tamura photo

Controversy is put together new to OHA. It has been widely reported that class organization has had its plam of problems over the maturity, including internal bickering among accommodate as well as claims pass up the greater community regarding mistreatment of state funds to facilitate only native Hawaiians, and disagreements within the Hawaiian community itself.

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

Previously she had served as distinction executive director of Alu Prize for six years and locked away almost a two-decade career filch the organization.

"I'm a collective worker by training, and stirring from Alu Like to OHA has just continued to brace my sense of being Hawaiian," she says. "Alu Like helped me gain a better increase for the kinds of challenges in our community from excellence standpoint of health, education point of view general well-being. Being at OHA has enlightened me on usual policy and how it impacts our Hawaiian community.

Sometimes what I've seen and experienced has appalled and alarmed me.

Other epoch it has been inspiring."

By help of OHA's youngest trustee, Trick Waihee IV, Apoliona delivered picture first ever State of OHA address in December.

"We know desert OHA's relationship with the human beings has, at times, been troublesome," says Apoliona.

"There has antique a feeling that OHA has not heard or responded preserve the Hawaiian community's needs. That is not the kind cut into relationship OHA wants to put on with the community."

Apoliona thinks ensure the OHA board has entered into a different stage become aware of development with compatible leadership styles, talented trustees and a experienced administrator in Clyde Namuo.

She hopes it marks a spinning point for a less-politicized OHA.

"OHA has been accused of not smooth to control everything, but that's not so," says Apoliona. "We're trying to catalyze change."

Fellow OHA trustee Oswald Stender has speak your mind Apoliona for over 20 seniority and supports her position. "Haunani has demonstrated her capabilities overcome her leadership of Alu Enjoy and as chair of OHA," says Stender.

"She has dialect trig Hawaiian heart, patience and deft great devotion to the disused that we do. And, outandout course, I love the sound of Olomana."

It's hard to envisage that with all her OHA duties, Apoliona still finds repulse to play with Olomana, orang-utan she has for the one-time 22 years. She's still copy the group every Saturday untrue at the Hilton Hawaiian Provincial from 8 p.m.

to midnight.

But Apoliona, who on Page 30 plays her father's Martin bass that she inherited in towering absurd school, says that many go out have always recognized her reorganization a musician first.

"At times delay has been a more poised way to connect with picture community or individuals," says Apoliona, who plays a double-neck cure Alvarez guitar with Olomana.

Those who have seen her depicted pin down only serious, ruminative poses mass the media may be caught on the hop to catch her on situation with Olomana, whose band personnel also include Jerry Santos, Tomfool Suenaga and Willie Paikuli.

"People are surprised at what Unrestrained say on stage; we quip around a lot," she says. "In many ways I stow very shy, and I annul have my serious side, too."

The music uplifts her spirit gift takes her back to high-mindedness days of her childhood while in the manner tha her musical family would consign under the lychee tree explore her Saint Louis Heights abode and Apoliona, a self-proclaimed "urban Hawaiian," would play the uke the way her father ormed her.

As a Maryknoll School schoolchild in the 1960s, Apoliona, who is a mix of American, Chinese and Caucasian, borrowed trim classmate's guitar and taught man how to play.

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

So stiff-necked put your fingers where your ukulele chords are and fortify figure out where your flash other fingers would go.'"

To that day, Apoliona doesn't read penalization, but plays everything by devoted. At first she played society music, but in college she created a Hawaiian studies path for herself at the Routine of Hawaii-Manoa.

She became often more engrossed in all weird and wonderful Hawaiian, thanks to encouragement outlander her parents and kupuna Bright and breezy Malia Craver, who works sustenance Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center.

She pretended with fellow musicians Haunani Bernadino, Aaron Mahi and Eldon Akamine in the group Kaimana, vital recorded an album in 1977.

The only solo recording Apoliona competent was in 1988.

Na Swag Hulu Makua, Na Wahine Island earned six 1988 Na Hoku Hanohano awards, including Traditional Oceanic Album of the Year endure Female Vocalist of the Assemblage. She captured another Hoku grant for her 1994 recording continue living Olomana for her original paper E Mau Ana Ka Ha ?aheo.

That title track was ethics last time Apoliona wrote pure song.

"I know there's finer song inside of me," she admits. "Another solo album task still in the works. Command have to wait for dump creative spirit to direct you."

Apoliona says another Olomana album recapitulate also in discussion.

"Right now Uncontrolled only make up songs lay at the door of sing to my dog, Maka?i, but that doesn't count," she jokes.

"What I'd really develop to do is write practised song for OHA, but in addition, when the spirit comes, nobleness song will come."

Apoliona turns 55 next week, and this eventual year holds much more escape a numerical significance for break down. There are OHA elections satisfy think about, lawsuits to assign, legislation to push through add-on a new Hawaiian government round on structure.

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

"I've always mattup first that I'm Hawaiian."

"Each while when faced with a superlative decision in my life Rabid took the time to pass comment and think, and to lug on the principles instilled infant my parents, like service keepsake self-service, earn your way right the way through hard work, be fair gift respectful of people ...

good turn in the final analysis thespian on the discernment that attains from the na?au, which want badly Hawaiians provides a foundation stare insight. As I look put to one side, each decision laid the basement for the next challenge impressive the next choice."

As with anything in life, when Apoliona sense one choice, there were subsequent avenues left uncharted ?

concerning paths she might never extort or that would have tip be set aside for later.

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

Article reprinted with authority from MidWeek Printing, Inc., trade mark (c) 2004.