New FAD name — Keaholoa — reflects the divisionʻs long-term perspective

The KS Financial Assets Division showcase a canvas of their new Hawaiian name - Keaholoa. They are: Front row - Sandy Yue, Elizabeth Hokada, M’Liss Moore, Burt Yuen, Breanna Roach, Jeff Heidsieck, Chris Ramil, and Cara Nakamura. Second row - Leilani Guerreiro, Aaron Nakano, Tina Keane, Jon Iwatani, Ryan Lee, Eric Johnson, and Kapua Aiu-Yasuhara. Third row - Ryan Yi, Euan Beer, and Kyle DuPonte.

Mar. 29, 2017

Contributed by Mae Nishimura

Kamehameha Schools cultivates and embraces a strong Native Hawaiian identity across the entire organization. The new name for the Financial Assets Division is a great example of Loina Kamehameha sharing customs and practices of Kamehameha Schools – as a cultural principle rooted in nurturing common values, customs and behaviors among employees.

The Kamehameha Schools Financial Assets Division (FAD) manages a diversified global portfolio of liquid and illiquid assets, representing two-thirds of the value of the KS endowment.

The division recently teamed up with KS’ Hoʻokahua Cultural Vibrancy Group to select a Hawaiian name that reflects its kuleana. FAD selected “Keaholoa” – the long fishing line – as its division name.

“This name resonated with our team, because FAD invests for the long haul versus the short,” said KS Financial Assets Managing Director M’Liss Moore. “We look for deep value, and fish in waters that are less crowded. Our kuleana is to help support Kamehameha’s impact on the well-being of our people and advance the long horizon goals of Vision 2040.”

At the beginning of the process, each FAD staffer looked through Mary Kawena Pukuʻi’s “ʻŌlelo Noʻeau Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings” to find a saying or short story that resonated with them and expressed FAD’s ʻano.

These ʻōlelo noʻeau were shared in a group meeting with FAD staffers explaining the significance of their selections. KS Director of Hawaiian Language Advancement Keoni Kelekolio reviewed the submittals and helped a small group to narrow the list. Below is the selected proverb that inspired FAD’s inoa:

He lawai‘a no ke kai papa‘u, he pōkole ke aho;
he lawai‘a no ke kai hohonu he loa ke aho.

A fisherman of the shallow sea uses only a short line;
a fisherman of the deep sea has a long line.

The long line: Keaholoa.

“We’re very excited to share our name, the meaning, and the importance behind Keaholoa,” said KS Chief Investment Officer Elizabeth Hokada. “It was essential to our team to perpetuate cultural vibrancy that supports KS’ high-performing, mission driven, organizational culture.”

STRATEGIC PLAN 2020
SP2020 is a five-year strategic plan that will guide Kamehameha Schools from 2015 to 2020. The plan marks a starting point towards KS’ Vision 2040, which envisions success for all Native Hawaiian learners.

The naming of FAD addresses Goal 3 of SP2020 which calls for shared customs, values and behaviors that strengthen KS’ identity as a Native Hawaiian organization. It also supports Action 5 of Kamehameha’s Ten Actions for fiscal year 2016-2017 relating to integrating cultural principles system-wide.

Chief Investment Officer Elizabeth Hokada, Deputy Chief Investment Officer Burt Yuen, and Financial Asset Managing Director M'Liss Moore helped guide the name selection process.