Full Name: Suzanne Haunani Apoliona

Name on Ballot: Haunani Apoliona

District: Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee at large

Age: 67

Email Address: n/a

Current Job: Trustee, Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Place of birth: Kalaepohaku

Campaign website: www.apoliona.org

Job history past 10 years:

OHA trustee: 1996 to present, OHA chairwoman 2000-2010, OHA vice chairwoman 1997, OHA Resource Management Committee vice chairwoman 2015 to present. ALU LIKE Inc.: 1978 to 1997 (employment and training counselor0, intake placement specialist, community specialist, Oʻahu Island Center Administrator, Planner Health and Social Services, Program Operations Director), ALU LIKE President/CEO 1991-1997.

Ever run for public office? If so, when? Outcome?

Aloha e nā kama`āina a me nā malihini o Hawaiʻi nei. `Ae. Yes, I was elected trustee at-large for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for the first time in November 1996.

Since then, I have been re-elected 4 additional times. I now humbly seek re-election for 2016-2020. Mahalo nui for your support.

Other civic experience or community service?

Queen Emma Foundation, Queen Liliʻuokalani Childrenʻs Center, Nature Conservancy, Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, Hongpa Hongwanji Living Treasure, Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement, Maryknoll H.S. Lifetime Achievement, UH Distinguished Alumni, Native Hawaiian Chamber, National Association of Social Workers.

Anything else you’d like voters to know about you?

My dad Eugene Apoliona (Liliha) attended St. Louis, my mom Anne Grote Apoliona, (Koʻolaupoko, Kāneʻohe) attended Sacred Hearts Academy. Education was supported. Completion of higher education by my brother, sister and me, was essential and expected. Hawaiʻi is and always will be “HOME” (kuʻu kulaʻiwi).

What makes you qualified to be a trustee of OHA?

Kuleana, disciplined, fair and ethical treatment of self and others to achieve priorities individually and collectively, instilled by my parents, guided my education of 20 years, my 20 years of nonprofit, statewide work with ALU LIKE, and my 20 years of “ELECTED” public service to OHA for Native Hawaiians.

What are your top five priorities for OHA?

Five Priorities Include: OHA CEO Fiscal Sustainability Plan 2016, OHA Strategic Plan For 2016 -2020 (inclusive of Land and Property Holdings along with LLCs), 2016 OHA Income and Proceeds of the Public Land Trust Strategy, Native Hawaiian Self-Determination, and 2016 OHA Co-Trusteeship of Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Monument.

What is your one big idea?

To build upon family and community strengths, expand methods, resources, strategies and programs that will transform and offset current societal directions of materialistic priorities, self-importance and self-interest to embrace and respect cultural values and ethical practices in life style and socioeconomic, environmental matters.

Why are you running for trustee?

My purpose and professional commitment has been and still is about empowering Native Hawaiians and strengthening Hawaiʻi. Four decades of experience, trust and credibility that I have established with beneficiaries and all Hawaiʻi supports OHA in contributing to an overall environment where Native Hawaiians advance opportunity to thrive.

Gov. David Ige has said residential development should not be allowed on the Kakaako Makai lands that were turned over to OHA by the state. How do you believe those lands should be used or developed?

OHA Kakaʻako Makai planning continues. If state and county plans can satisfy O`ahuʻs housing concerns upon which OHAʻs initial plans are focused, OHA could enable vertical integration of mechanisms and expertise to address Pacific region and global methods as as a means for impacting World Peace.