Leadership Corner: Lynn C.Z. Maunakea
Interviewed by Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
Name: Lynn C.Z. Maunakea
Age: 51
Title: Executive director
Organization: Institute for Human Services
High school: Yorktown High School, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
College: Bachelor of Arts degree in English, State University of New York at Albany; Master of Social Work, University of Hawai'ii Manoa; currently enrolled in the executive MBA program at UH, expected to graduate spring 2005.
Breakthrough job: Serving as director of research and development for Hawai'i County, she had to learn everything from agriculture to politics to economics. The job also forced her to explore the Big Island, including once sleeping in a tree house in Waipi'o Valley. "That opened my eyes to everything about Hawai'i," she said. "That was a fantastic opportunity."
Little-known fact: She worked for the state Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism under Murray Towill, Jeanne Schultz, Mufi Hannemann and Seiji Naya.
Major challenge: Explaining homelessness in 30-second sound bites.
Q. On Jan. 10, Gov. Linda Lingle announced the state's commitment to end chronic homelessness by 2015. What was your reaction?
A. I was at that press conference and there haven't been that many times in my life that I've been filled with such pride. And I'm not talking about partisan issues at all. Listening to (Lingle) speak, I was filled with pride that we have a leader who can understand the issues, who can articulate the issues and who is willing to make an issue that doesn't benefit her political gain. These folks don't vote. This is truly the littlest of the little guy. It filled me with pride — and hope. I'm more hopeful than ever right now because it's finally on people's radar screen. This issue has to be on government radar screens in order to make a dent in it. This issue cannot be solved without government help. It cannot be. This is a government function.
Q. Is it possible to end chronic homelessness by 2015?
A. We're talking about a certain group of people that we can identify and that there are solutions for. There's something called evidence-based practices. Other places have tackled and are tackling with success this particular group of homeless. ... In our state it's a slightly larger group, but nationally, they make up about 10 percent of all the homeless. In Hawai'i it's higher because we're seeing in the overall population a higher incidence of mental illness. ... The important thing about addressing this particular population, in addition to knowing there is a solution to it, is that there's also evidence that shows this group of people use the majority of the resources that are dedicated to people who are homeless. So if we can successfully remove them from homelessness, that will free up a lot of the resources. And that's why it's so important to address this particular group.
Q. What is chronic homelessness?
A. This group tends to stay in homelessness for long periods of time — that's what makes them chronically homeless. They typically have both mental health and substance abuse issues. And there are solutions for them.
Q. What are some misconceptions about IHS and how do you want the organization to be perceived?
A. IHS is a special place and working here is generally a very positive, uplifting experience. IHS is so many things to many people. I would like our guests and prospective employees to find IHS to be a safe and caring place where individuals are helped to access comprehensive services in an atmosphere of respect and dignity.
Q. You went from running the Association for Retarded Citizens in Hilo, to working on community-based economic development initiatives with the state, to heading the Institute for Human Services. Why the move to nonprofit?
A. At the time the state was going through a lot of cutbacks. I felt my job (with the state) was becoming more and more about justifying my job and that was demoralizing to have to explain and re-explain why your job is important. ... It just started to feel like it wasn't that important if I had to keep explaining. So I was looking for a very different, more satisfying opportunity. This came up and it seemed very vital. What could be more vital than ... providing some very basic things to people — food, shelter, medical services, clothing. So how did I come here? I've come full-circle. And there are still things I'd like to try.
Q. You're finishing up an MBA this semester. Why was furthering your education important to you?
A. Because I have a master's in social work and this economic development experience that put me in touch with some of the aspects of business. I just found the MBA a way to bridge the two. A lot of people don't recognize running a nonprofit as a business. It's a different kind of business, granted, but it's a business. I just thought it was a nice complement. And you know that song playing right now, "100 Years" (by Five For Fighting), that's really meaningful to me. And when you reach a time in your life — halfway point turning 50 — you gotta look at your time. Time becomes really valuable, how you use time. Time is a gift, and maximizing the use of that gift is, I think, what it's all about.
Q. How has the program affected you as a leader?
A. There are things I've learned that I apply daily. There are techniques I've learned to help me analyze things. You think you know leadership ... and no leader would believe they have all the answers. There's all these things you can learn from other leaders. Everybody does things differently. Everybody has their own angle on how they approach problem-solving and motivating people. ... I'm more confident now in my decision-making. And in some ways I think I'm easier on people. I feel like I understand people more now. And because of that, I think I'm a better leader. (Education) expands your world view. It makes you think about things more. It forces you to understand yourself more. And by doing that, you can understand other people more. I'm really happy I'm doing this.
