“Mountains can never reach each other, despite their bigness. But humans can.” ~ From: “Stones into Schools” by Greg Mortenson

1. Clifton M. Hasegawa
President and CEO
Clifton M. Hasegawa & Associates, LLC
1322 Lower Main Street A5
Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
Telephone: (808) 419-5481
Email: clifhasegawa@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliftonhasegawa
November 2. 2017
BOARD OF DIRECTORS - KA HALE A KE OLA
Mr. Steve Miller
Mr. Rory Frampton
Ms. Kit Hart
Mr. Alvin Tagomori
Mr. Michael Victorino
Dr. John Decker
Mr. Alec McBarnet
Ms. Cathy Bio
Reverend Gary Colton
Ms. Nicole Spalding
Mr. James Worley
Mr. Myriam Tuttle
Mr. Doug Wright
Mr. Erin Lowenthal
Dear Members of the Board of Directors,
Ka Hale A Ke Ola is an oasis for shelter and revival in time of crisis and turmoil
when life dispenses hardships that challenges and overwhelms the human spirit. My
correspondence is based on concerns shared with me.
The association of residents is a clearing house for residents who fear adverse
action and reprisal by expressing concerns or raising directly complaints to shelter
administration and those who believe they have been, are being treated unfairly,
unreasonably and unjustly by the shelter administration.

2. The commonality is that actions are being taken by shelter administrators and
the Board are being based on tainted information that is being accepted universally as
fact. The restricted and limited information being released by shelter administrators
and the Board has elevated a sense of distrust, discontent, dissatisfaction and growing
concerns that rights of the residents contained in the shelter's rules, Maui County,
State of Hawaii and federal laws and regulations are being ignored.
As a former resident of the shelter, prevalent then and in apparent existence
today, are actions motivated by jealously, ill will or hatred by some individuals to
overtly or by subterfuge to “bring down the cockroaches”. Their main targets are
those who seek to make positive changes in their lives and diligently seeking and
working diligently to integrate themselves back into the Community.
Responses to questions transmitted to shelter administrators and the Board have,
thus far, have not dissipated the justifable and reasonable mindset that the actions of
shelter administrators and the Board are being based on rumor, innuendo, and
suspicion. Reference to personal privacy is being utilized as the basis for the inability
to provide more specifc information.
At the investigative, predecisional stage revealing source information to third
parties has legal basis. As to the involved party(s) is critical, essential and legally
mandated to be able to formulate a response. This situation has cast a dark veil and
shroud over actions by shelter administrators and the Board.
Positive corrective and remedial action by shelter administrators and the Board
are required to restore clarity and transparency to this process.
The shelter is a place for changing lives. Growth and empowerments are
stymied when there is internal dysfunction that boils and spills over and covers all the
goodness of this oasis.
As a former resident I am personally grateful for your caring and sharing at a
time where I, though born and raised on Maui, was shunned and outcast from family.
Former classmates and family friends treated me as scum.
The words from Mother Teresa best expresses my state of being,

3. “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.”
“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but
the feeling of being unwanted.”
_____________
After 14 months of residency at the shelter and having secured employment
through Kalima O Maui I felt sufciently balanced to being my journey. Almost 17
years have since passed. Only today, I feel personally comfortable that balance has
been restored thanks to the empowerment from the Ka Hale A Ke Ola Directors and
their case workers, Ka Hale A Ke Ola's program partners, the network of friends made
at the shelter and since my departure, and by the Grace of God.
Smiles and laughter are just outward appearances. The internal scares, mind
and soul, having being exposed to the dark depths of human experiences need to
mended, tended to and repaired to achieve successful rehabilitation. For some the
time needed is much shorter than for others. Providing the time and the tools to
achieve this transformation is the essence and foundation for the shelter.
My hope is that the Board of Directors will continually and diligently strive to
attain and collaboratively maintain common ground.
Thank you very much.
Aloha
Respectfully,
Clifton M. Hasegawa