WAILUA — The first of three Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee candidate meet and greet sessions ended with a prayer circle for Sharon Pomroy on Wednesday night. Pomroy, a candidate for the Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau OHA Trustee, had already addressed
WAILUA — The first of three Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee candidate meet and greet sessions ended with a prayer circle for Sharon Pomroy on Wednesday night.
Pomroy, a candidate for the Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau OHA Trustee, had already addressed the group of about 50 people at Aston Aloha Beach Hotel when she collapsed while talking to a small group at a table. Kaua‘i Fire Department medics responded and medics were still working on Pomroy when she was taken by ambulance more than 30 minutes later.
Her condition was not known at press time.
The event was for community to have an opportunity to meet the candidates and learn about their passion in representing the island as its first trustee since Donald Cataluna was first elected in 2000. He reportedly decided against running again due to his health. The General Eleckation is on Nov. 6.
Pomroy was one of 11 candidates present. The Anahola resident said her greatest accomplishments are with helping to enact recent laws that give Hawaiians a permanent consultancy presence in the legislature and in government agencies. She said land management and cultural education for youth were priorities, and said many people want to be a part of this and she wanted to help them learn.
By the time she was 18, Pomroy said she “thought everyone knew how to be a Hawaiian, how to respect the land, how to respect the people, but they don’t. … Things like that led me to be standing here before you today to bring back the pride in being (a) Native Hawaiian.”
Liberta Hussey Albao, of Kapa‘a, spoke of her work as a community volunteer and emphasized the past year of accomplishments. She said the work on the consultation policy resulted in a meeting with U.S. Navy officers at PMRF, where the commander apologized for using Native Hawaiian lands.
Albao said the Navy replied to her query about considering granting privileges to all Native Hawaiians was met enthusiastically. She is involved in several OHA voter registration drives.
As an educator, Ronson K. Sahut, of Kalaheo, said his goals include saving the Makaweli Poi Mill.
“What is more important to the Kauaian people than taro?”
His second goal is to protect and preserve native culture and landmarks. He said that education is the key to addressing concerns with health, incarceration and opportunity.
Haunani Pacheco, of Kilauea, said people know her as a flower lady and as a commercial real estate broker. She said this is a time of Hawaiian renaissance and that people who can make a difference need to step up to the plate.
She said if her work results in preventing just one Native Hawaiian family from losing their land then it will have all been worthwhile. She said ‘Anini is one example where families were forced out of properties without appraisals and based on market value.
Kaliko Santos, of Lihu‘e, said her experience includes working with Hawaiian organizations for more than 20 years. She is currently a community outreach coordinator with OHA Kaua‘i.
“This is really an event,” Santos said. “We’ve never actually had a whole bunch of people running for OHA, and I think it is wonderful.”
Former state representative and county councilman, Billy Kealamaikahiki Swain, of Kapa‘a, said that in addition to loans there needs to be an OHA partnership to help businesses succeed. He said he would work on partnerships to improve education, improve gathering rights and preservation, access to community assets.
“There are too many fences blocking the trails,” he said.
Kanani Kagawa Fu, of Lihu‘e, said she brings fresh leadership from someone rooted in the community and working with OHA for over 10 years. She currently works with the County Agency on Elderly Affairs.
“In my professional experience, I have been fortunate to serve all areas of our population, children all the way to the kupuna,” she said. “In doing that I have gained a great insight on our community and I have really good working relationships with our current administration and trustees.”
The OHA mission is to build a lahui that is successful and education is the vehicle that will do that, Fu added.
Dan Ahuna, of Kapa‘a, said that as a father, educator and coach, it takes a strong foundation to work toward success.
“The two basic fundamentals of life are health and education,” Ahuna said. “We all know that Hawaiian have a higher level of chronic disease and I want to work to ensure we all take better care of ourselves.”
Keola Alalem Worthington, of Kapa‘a, said this is a very political year, and that his interest all along was to remain independent and free of influence. No matter what, he said he would stay true to his heart and conscience.
This OHA position is very powerful with policy and governance, he said. The new trustee the power to make a big impact on the whole state.
“There are many people that want power but I am for the people, 100 percent, for the culture and for our ancestors,” he said.
As an entertainer and historian, Worthington said the kapuna were well educated and knew what was coming. They had a vision and they had a goal and we have to stick to their goal.
“It is going to work out because the truth will prevail,” he said.
Jackie Kahookele Burke, of Lihu‘e, said she is an OHA trustee who believes in the unification and self-determination of the Hawaiian people on Kaua‘i as her goal.
Leland K. “Radar” Yadao said he is running as someone who feels the Hawaiians have been getting a raw deal for over a century. He wants to be a listener who works for what is right.
“The main thing is our land and resources,” Yadao said. “They are the most important thing and connect us to this land. I just want to do what is right for the people.”
Access rights and preservation of cultural gathering and fishing is eroding, he said. He wants to make sure those rights remain.
“The state makes these laws that guarantee our rights and then they pass another law that says we are trespassing,” he said.
The candidate meet and greets are sponsored by Kaua‘i Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce and Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce. The remaining events will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 26 at Hanalei Elementary School Cafeteria and Nov. 2 at Waimea Neighborhood Center.
The sessions are free and open to the public. For information email knhcc@knhcc.org or info@kauaichamber.org.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by emailing tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
