COMMENTARY
CEO who resigned calls for Hawaiian unity
By Hamilton McCubbin
As I resign and also return to retirement from my role as the first chancellor and chief executive of the Kamehameha Schools, I take this opportunity to respond to the community concerns about the impact of my sudden and early departure.
Advertiser library photo • July 18, 2002
Serving the Hawaiian people through education has been the primary goal of the Kamehameha Schools, particularly during the past three years. The Kamehameha Strategic Plan, Strategic Implementation Plan, and its Philosophy of Education represent the roadmap for Kamehameha's future.
"As time progresses and the truths are revealed, it will become apparent that ill will rather than the truth continues to be a dysfunctional part of the Kamehameha Schools," said Hamilton McCubbin, departing chancellor and CEO of the Kamehameha Schools.
I turn to the Hawaiian community to look beyond the media coverage pasted in the newspapers during the past few weeks. We need to remain unified and renew our commitment to serve the common good — all the people of Hawaiian ancestry.
We have created learning opportunities for our younger keiki, and we must continue to do so. Through the Pauahi Keiki Scholar's program, we made our commitment to giving our younger children a strong foundation through early-childhood education.
We have created learning opportunities for our young men and women of Hawaiian ancestry in the state Department of Education system, and we must continue to do so. Through Ho'okako'o, a new private, non-for-profit entity, Kamehameha Schools has created the opportunity for public schools to become conversion charter schools and thus receive more money from the Kamehameha Schools and other foundations. Most Hawaiian children are in public schools. We must reach them — more and more of them — now!
We have created learning opportunities for our young men and women of Hawaiian ancestry by creating greater access to quality enrichment education programs for all Hawaiian children.
Historically, Native Hawaiians feel that the Kamehameha Schools does not see them, that they are invisible to the Kamehameha leaders, and that we do not care about them. We must demonstrate that Kamehameha cares, and that the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop is for them as well and not just the select few.
We have created learning opportunities for lifelong education for all Hawaiians. Historically, the Hawaiians have felt that the Kamehameha Schools has not been reliable and predictable, and cannot be trusted to be there for them.
We have created learning opportunities at our three campuses — in Kapalama and on Maui and Hawai'i. The Kamehameha Schools has clarified the purpose and scope of each campus, cultivating campuses that serve the community.
We have created learning opportunities through partnerships with the state Department of Education, the University of Hawai'i, private foundations, and importantly, with communities in order to serve the common good of communities and the Hawaiian people. We must continue this commitment to partnerships.
We have created unique learning opportunities and educational interventions some would call "experiments" so that more Hawaiian children can be served with new and innovative programs. The Hawaiian people trust the Kamehameha Schools to do the right thing. They expect Kamehameha to evaluate and report on these special programs which their children have been exposed to. We must insure that the children are never hurt nor harmed.
We have expanded our learning opportunities to life beyond high school and into higher education and the workplace. The Kamehameha Schools has affirmed and will continue to affirm its commitment to post higher education learning opportunities inclusive of scholarships for Hawaiian children.
We have created a new CEO management system, but we have a ways to go. It is vital that we continue to improve upon our efforts to separate the policy-making powers of the trustees from the CEO's management of the trust. Micromanagement, the staff reported last year, continues to find its way into the management process.
We have cultivated and created the Pauahi Leadership Institute, an organization designed to foster the development of leadership in Kamehameha and to promote the development of culturally sensitive and competent leaders in the community.
We have created the Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation to provide opportunities for the beneficiaries and caring people to give of themselves to improve and expand upon education programs for the Hawaiian people.
I also transition from the leadership of the Kamehameha Schools with a heavy heart, knowing that misinformation has found its way into the media to cast doubt upon my leadership, and more importantly, about the people who have served me and with me. I will remember the threats on my life, threats of harm to my wife and children, and the continuous need for security at my home to protect us.
On this matter, I leave the Hawaiian people with but one message, for I can say little to nothing about such personnel matters: As time progresses and the truths are revealed, it will become apparent that ill will rather than the truth continues to be a dysfunctional part of the Kamehameha Schools. These acts which appear to be of malicious intent have no place in an institution devoted to the well being of others.
We must do what we can to reveal such behaviors and expose those people whose intentions are less than honorable. They bring dishonor to a trust built on the premise of integrity, honesty and openness.
More importantly, I transition from the Kamehameha Schools with a renewed sense of hope that the steps taken in the past three years are forward-looking, affirming of all Hawaiian people and not just the select few, and will be continued on into the future.
The object of Princess Pauahi's largesse must continue to be to prefer Hawaiian children for the educational benefits her bounty has made available. In this way, the 'ohana honors her will, and the Hawaiian people grow in educational stature. This is pono. Any other result is not.
Mahalo to the Hawaiian people and to the staff of the Kamehameha Schools for their dedication to the well being and capabilities of all Hawaiians. I firmly believe that in the past few years, we have moved the Kamehameha Schools closer to the fulfillment of Pauahi's dream for her people.
As I transition back into retirement and even entertain the prospects and other opportunities in education elsewhere, I will look upon the Kamehameha Schools with pride and confidence that the steps we have taken together will continue to bring hope for a better future for the Hawaiian people.
Hamilton McCubbin recently resigned as chancellor and CEO of the Kamehameha Schools.
