Editor’s Note: Haunani Apoliona, OHA Trustee At Large, wrote the following commentary in response to the piece “Why Coaches Make Great Leaders” about one of her rivals, published on June 13.

As a handful of competitors circle my seat on the Board of Trustees at Office of Hawaiian Affairs, I am reminded of just how much a little competition can keep you focused.

But it’s something more elemental than the bulls-eye on my seat that is motivating me as I seek a fifth-term as an OHA Trustee At Large in the November 2012 election. My life purpose and professional commitment has been and still is about empowering Native Hawaiians and strengthening Hawai`i.

For nearly 40 years, this mission has fueled my level of commitment to the Native Hawaiian community, starting in 1978 as employment counselor then rising to island center programs administrator at ALU LIKE, Inc. in the 1980’s and to President/CEO in the 1990’s.

Ever since I was first elected in 1996 as an OHA trustee, this mission has also allowed me to run at full speed with incredible urgency and a spirit of indefatigable optimism. In other words, this mission has provided me with a remarkable disregard for obstacles as well as immunity to the prospect of failure, reinforced by a resolve to do the right thing for the right reasons at the right time in the right way.

More crucially, my commitment to the mission has provided a lot of incentive and passion for the strategic vision at OHA, where we are thinking more broadly about how we can deliver the best results possible for positive enduring impact.

For that reason, we are disciplined to act more thoughtfully and strategically about our approach to such pursuits as supporting student achievement, countering health threats, perpetuating culture and self-determination, expanding housing opportunities and enabling more workforce-friendly options for Native Hawaiians.

It has meant working more closely with nonprofit organizations whose outreach efforts are directly linked to our priorities for improving conditions and creating systemic, lasting change within the Native Hawaiian community.

Perhaps my greatest contribution as immediate past Chair of the Board in our pursuits is my ability to inspire passion in others along with their trust, goodwill and support essential to our collective success.

Given that reality, it can’t just be about competition for my seat on OHA’s Board of Trustees. It’s about the decades of experience, trust and credibility that a true competitor like me has established with beneficiaries and all Hawai’i who continue to look to OHA to contribute to an overall environment where Native Hawaiian families advance in their opportunity to thrive.

About the author: Haunani Apoliona earned her Masters Degree In Social Work from UH Manoa, worked at ALU LIKE, Inc. from 1978, finishing as Pres/CEO from 1991-1997. Elected OHA Trustee At Large in 1996, Haunani is OHA’s longest serving Board Chairperson (2000-2010); is a Director of several boards including the Bank of Hawaii/BOHC. She is a Na Hoku Hanohano award winning composer and kiho’alu artist performing with Olomana since 1982.