Return Lindsey To The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs
The writer draws on years of experience with the OHA chair in recommending he be re-elected.
Today, Native Hawaiians stand before an uncharted journey, filled with exciting new opportunities.
Our journey ahead brings into focus the need for strong Hawaiian leadership.
As we move forward, what we need as a Lahui is leadership that understands that where the journey ends is less important than making sure that we all arrive there together.
This is the most significant challenge for a people great in number but diverse in so many ways.
I believe that Bob Lindsey, who is seeking re-election to represent Hawaii Island on the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, is the type of leader the Hawaiian community needs for this journey.
I have known Bob for a long time. He worked for me at Kamehameha Schools, and managed 265,000 acres of the Princess’s lands on Hawaii Island.
Bob understands that Hawaiian unity is not an impossibility. Yes, disagreement is part of who we are. But our differences do not have to divide us.
He is a humble servant leader with tremendous integrity. When confronted with challenges, Bob listens first and carefully considers all sides.
He then makes decisions firmly grounded in our values of aloha, ha’aha’a and pono, while ensuring that everyone is heard and their mana’o respected. Time and again, I have seen Bob do this.
You see, Bob understands that Hawaiian unity is not an impossibility.
Yes, disagreement is part of who we are as a people.
But our differences do not have to divide us. Difficult decisions rendered with aloha, ha’aha’a and pono can maintain our deep genealogical bonds as we move forward.
Bob Lindsey has long demonstrated this style of Hawaiian leadership, and I humbly ask that you help ensure that he can continue to help lead us on this journey. I mua.
GET IN-DEPTH
REPORTING ON HAWAII’S BIGGEST ISSUES
Community Voices aims to encourage broad discussion on many topics of community interest. It’s kind of a cross between Letters to the Editor and op-eds. This is your space to talk about important issues or interesting people who are making a difference in our world. Column lengths should be no more than 800 words and we need a current photo of the author and a bio. We welcome video commentary and other multimedia formats. Send to news@civilbeat.org. The opinions and information expressed in Community Voices are solely those of the authors and not Civil Beat.
