Molokai Resident Pack OHA Meeting

Moloka‘i residents gather for community meeting with OHA officials. Photo courtesy of OHA.

By Sonia Isotov

More than 100 Native Hawaiian residents turned out Wednesday for a community meeting hosted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

In four hours of testimony to OHA officials, residents and representatives of community-based organizations spoke on at least two dozen topics, ranging from environmental sensitivity to affordable housing for Native Hawaiians on Molokai.
 
One speaker was William Akutagawa, of the nonprofit group Na Pu`uwai, who expressed appreciation for OHA’s support of the adult elder care program. He credited a $100,000 grant from OHA for the program’s ability to accommodate Native Hawaiian senior citizens on Moloka‘i who cannot afford to pay the $66 per day fee.

“For the first time, all family members can work and know that their loved ones are taken care of during the day,” said Akutagawa in a statement released by OHA officials today.

The meeting is the third in a series of meetings OHA officials are holding on neighbor islands.  Last month, they met with Native Hawaiians on Lana‘i. In May, they met with Native Hawaiians on Kaua‘i.