Febuary 2006

Native Leadership Forum a purposeful and inspiring start to the new year

Haunani Apoliona, MSW
Chairperson Trustee, At-large

Aloha mai e nā ʻōiwi ʻōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawaiʻi a Niʻihau a puni ke ao māla-malama.

January 2006 marked the gathering of Native Hawaiian, American Indian and Alaska Native leaders in Hawaiʻi at the 2006 Native Leadership Forum, “Native Leadership and the Challenges Ahead, Protecting Sovereignty, Culture, Homelands and Resource Rights, and Achieving Economic Self-Sufficiency.” The Forum focus and context noted in the forum agenda said: “Native America is in a time of transition. Native leaders who have fought to preserve the rights of Native people to self-determination and self-governance, and who have so effec-tively built upon the foundation of Native sovereignty forged by those who came before them, seek to assure that there will be a cadre of younger Native people who are prepared to assume the responsibilities of leadership in the twenty-first century. The outstanding Native leaders of our time embrace and reflect the values of the Native communities that they serve. These leaders understand that it is only with roots firmly implanted in the history and the culture that inform Native values will the tree of leadership grow tall and be able to withstand the strong winds that historically have buffeted the fates of Native people.”

Sessions, inclusive of Native Hawaiians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, were convened in the mornings on Jan. 9-11. Native Hawaiian leaders who were in attendance for the forum extended into three afternoon sessions led by Native Hawaiians to continue dialogue and deliberations in the conference within the conference entitled Native Hawaiian Leadership Conference, “Developing Leadership for the Hawaiian Nation.”

On Jan. 9, the Native Hawaiian Session I, “Culture as a Foundation for Leadership,” was moderated by professor Lilikalā Kameʻeleihiwa, with presenters John Keola Lake (on “Protocols and Geneology and Its Place in Passing Values Through Our Ancestors”), Richard Paglinawan (on “The Concept of Kuleana” and “Leadership in Lua and Hoʻoponopono Practices”) and Aunty Mālia Craver (on “Lōkahi is 24 Hours a Day”). This panel of esteemed kūpuna elevated the critical importance of the values, the practices, the protocols of our culture that will distinguish our Native Hawaiian nation from any other native nation or non-native government going forward. Reminding attendees that striving to balance the higher power, our environment and our humanity that sustained our elders in this pae ʻāina in time past, millennia-old values and practices, serve to keep us focused to lead with culture as the foundation of our leadership.

On Jan. 10, Native Hawaiian Session II, “Approaches to Hawaiian Leadership” was moderated by Māhealani Wendt, with presenters Tommy Kaulukukui Jr. (on “Hawaiian Leadership”), Winona Rubin (on “Staying the Course”) and David Burge (on “Increasing Your Effectiveness as a Native Hawaiian Leader”). This panel of esteemed mentors reminded Native Hawaiian attendees of the fact and wisdom that “not all knowledge is taught in one school – aʻohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi.” Each mentor brought into focus the kuleana of both role and responsibility as we strive for holistic well-being in our approaches to Hawaiian leadership. The luncheon speaker on “Courage In Leadership” on Jan. 11 was OHA Trustee Oswald Stender on “Commitment, Courage and Execution.”

Session III that afternoon, “Elected Leaders,” was moderated by retired judge Walter Heen, with presenters Mike McCartney (on “Know Why You’re Running”) and myself (on “Taking That Big Step”).

This panel underscored the necessity of “honest self-assessment” should one be considering a run for public office and the recognition that “politics is the most hazardous of all professions. There is no other in which a man (person) can hope to do so much good to his fellow creatures – and neither is there any in which by mere loss of nerve, he may do as much widespread harm.”

A purposeful start to the second half of this decade to be sure.

15/48