Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 4, 1 April 1989 — Trustee Compensation Bill Asks Equitable Rate [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Trustee Compensation Bill Asks Equitable Rate

By Ed Miehelman Public Information Officer A compensation bill for trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is making its way through the state legislature. Many people are unaware that OHA trustees receive no salary. Trustees are paid $50 for eaeh official Board or Committee meeting and get a modest per diem allowanee when traveling on official business. On March 13, OHA Chairman Thomas K. Kaulukukui, Sr. testified before a state House committee in favor of a bill to pay OHA trustees an annual salary and a benefit program similar to that enjoyed by other public officers. "Kaulukukui said: I think it is obvious that $50 received in 1989 is worth considerably less than that same $50 in 1966. To beexact, $50receivedin 1989 is equal in buying power to $13.88 in 1966, using an average rate of 6% to compensate for inflation over the last 23 years. " When you consider the responsibilities of OHA trustees as established by this honorable body, I think perhaps you will agree that this eompensation is !ess than equitable." "OHA broad and far-reaching purposes as stated in Section 10-3 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes include: • The betterment of conditions of Hawaiians and native Hawaiians; • Serving as the principal public agency (except for the homestead program) for all programs relating to the Hawaiian people: • Assessing the policies and practices of other

agencies impacting on the Hawaiian community; • Receiving and disbursing grants for Hawaiian programs; and • Serving as a receptacle for reparations." Kaulukukui told members of the House Committee on Eeonomie Development and Hawaiian Affairs that the law specifically mandates Board members to "act as a trustee as provided by the law." That obligation, he said, brings into play a whole new set of fiduciary responsibilities and obligations. Kaulukukui concluded his testimony by saying: "There are no other elected or appointed officials of the State of Hawaii, not even the governor, the legislature, the Board of Education or the Board of Regents, who shouIder such a scope and level of responsibility. "Such responsibilities subject the trustees to individual suit for "misapplication of funds and resources in breach of fiduciary duty" or "by any other provision of law and by the eommon law" as provided in Section 10-16 H.R.S. No other elected or appointed officials of the State of Hawaii carry such legal burdens. "Other trustees, such as those of the Bishop and Campbell Estates, have commissions set by law. These commissions reflect the magnitude of their responsibilities — responsibilities that are no greater than that of OHA's trustees. "OHA's trustees gladly devote their time and energy to a cause in whieh they believe deeply. But they do ask that a portion of the financial burden be lifted from their shoulders and those of their successors." The original bill proposed that an annual salary

be established for OHA trustees. However, the Eeonomie Development and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, chaired by Representative David lge, amended the measure to retain the present method of compensation on a per meeting basis. The committee recommended that trustees be paid $100 instead of $50 per meeting for a maximum of 52 meetings per year.

OHA staff greeted new administrator Richard Paglinawan at a welcoming reception in the OHA Office, then posed for a staff picture. From left to right: (front row, sitting) Andrew Enos, Ken Sato (NHRLF), Ed Miehelman, Richard Paglinawan, Holly Sardinha, Karen Reed, Jennifer Ohiwa, Betty Kawohiokalani Jenkins. Back row: Thelma Shimaoka, Jalna Keala, Deborah Ward, Laura Kamalani-Paikai, Moniea Waid, Chester Cabral, Joyce Kahane, Ruby McDonald, Dennis Chong, Brian Doty, Linda Delaney, Barbara Yuen, Calvin Eaton, Winona Spillner, Myrle Florea, Emma Chun, Gwen Oshiro, Apolei Bargamento, Babette Galang, Merlyn Akuna, Gwen Valbuena, Diana Montez, Nadine Malilay, Earl Neller, Tane Wailehua, Martin Wilson, Ki'ope Raymond, Rona Rodenhurst, Keone Nunes and Diane Lindsey. Missing from picture: OHA liaisons Carmen Panui (Kaua'i) and Bill Kalei (Hilo), Ulu Garmon and Maile Vargo.