Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 3, 1 March 1993 — Trustee compensation subject of advisory commission report [ARTICLE]

Trustee compensation subject of advisory commission report

Should OHA trustees be paid a salary, and if so, how mueh? That issue is being studied by a sixmember independent advisory commission appointed by Gov. John Waihe'e. Its recommendations will be presented to the state Legislature, whieh is expected to hold public hearings. This is not the first time that the issue of a salary for OHA trustees has been raised. In 1992 the

Legislature attached a salary proposal to a senate bill dealing with compensating OHA whenever the state uses ceded lands for affordable housing projects. The proposal originally called for paying trustees an annual salary equal to what legislators receive. However, the final language of the bill was changed to eall for an advisory commission to study the issue and present its findings to the 1993 Legislature. During January and February the commission held six hearings statewide to hear comments and suggestions from the public. Attendance ranged from a handful to about 50 persons per meeting. Some favored paying trustees a salary since trustees bear many serious responsibilities, and a salary would encourage the best qualified candidates to run for office. Others questioned this since trustees are already paid for meetings attended and for expenses. Some suggestions for paying

trustees pointed to the state general fund or interest eamed from the ceded land trust. Pay scale varied from nothing to $85,000. One man said that since trustees are elected by and serve only Hawaiians, that any trustee salary should not eome from state general funds. Currently, OHA trustees do not receive a salary. Instead, they receive a stipend of $100 per official business day. In addition, trustees receive heahh benefits, a $7,000 annual expense allowanee, per diem costs when they travel on official business, and reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. In the 1991-92 fiscal year, trustee compensation ranged from a high of $26,600 to a low of $11,600, depending on what island the trustee resided on, and on what committees he or she served. Advisory commission members are: Fred Cachola (for O'ahu), chairman; Sharmane Holokai, Maui; Roy Horner,

Moloka'i; Tasha Kama, Maui; Lillian Kruse, O'ahu; Melissa Moniz, Hawai'i. They were selected by the govemor based on nominations sought from more than 120 Hawaiian organizations. Written testimony or comments

may be sent to: OHA Trustee Compensation Advisory Commission, e/o Office of State Planning, P.O. Box 3540, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96811-3540. For more information, contact Ted Nakata at 587-2844.

What government officials earn: State legislators — $34,000 (plus a $5,000 allowanee) Senate president — $37,000 Speaker of the House — $45,500 City Council members — $38,500 Median family ineome in Hawai'i — $46,000 (April 1992)

What trustees do:

The OHA Board of Trustees exercise power as provided by Article 12 of the state constitution and Chapter 10, Hawai'i Revised Statutes. The tmstees have fiduciary responsibility for ceded land trust revenues, and also oversee money management and policy for operations of the Office of Hawaiians Affairs. They have six standing committees whieh cover the areas of budget, finance and policy; planning, eeonomie development and housing; education and culture; human services (including health); legislative review; and land and sovereignty. In addition there is an ad-hoc committee on entitlements and one on legislative lobbying. At meetings, trustees hear requests from beneficiaries or agencies for funding or other support; gather information, conduct deliberations, vote on matters, and give direction to administration. Committee meetings are open to the public, with the exception of executive sessions in whieh confidential personnel or contractual matters are discussed. Trustees attend between 1 50- 180 office meetings per year.