Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 1, 1 January 1997 — OHA holds Hui ʻAna, a coming together [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA holds Hui ʻAna, a coming together

Board of Trustees are held in limbo bv leaal action

by Barbara A. Hastings The Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs continued to be blocked from being sworn in or reorganizing. At issue is a pending decision from the state Supreme Court on a challenge to the Mnvpmhpr 19Q 6 OHA plprtinn '

^ ~ ~ " — — — — ^ It is likely the matter will not be resolved until late February or early March. Meanhme, OHA officials and , attorneys are trying to determine how the organization ean move ahead. The Board of Trustees is obligated by law to administer the trust. A suit was filed in late November b) two trustees who lost their bid for reelection to the board. The suit charge: that state election officials did not properly conduct the eleehon and that Hawaiians eligible to vote weren't givei ballots at nrecinct Dolline Dlaces.

Instead of the ceremonial investiture on Dec. 6, OHA held a celebration and dedication, a Hui 'Ana (coming together) at Kawaiaha'o Church. A board meeting was set for Dec. 20, then cancelled because the court had not yet acted. While the board had not formally reorganized,

speculation about the board's leadership indicated that Clayton Hee, who's been the chairman, would retain that seat. The word is that he I has forged new partnerships within the board, including long-time adversary Rowena Akana. However, OHA board % mm

nembers have been known to change their votes at the last minute, so until the formal votes are cast, the speculation remains just speculation. When the board does take its seat, there will ^ be mueh catch up work ( to do, since no decision . making has happened

* since Nov. 4. Among ' ' the biggest issues immediately facing the new board is the OHA budget whieh

must be reviewea, approvea ana tnen suDmitted to the state Legislature. The suit whieh put OHA's trustees on hold was filed by Moanike'ala Akaka and Samuel Kealoha. Akaka and Kealoha have until January 19 to file their evidence and the state eleehon officials until February 19 to respond. Akaka and Kealoha then have 10

inore uays to responu ueiore uie eoun ean aei. In the meantime, newly elected Trustees Hannah Springer, Colette Machado and Haunani Apoliona, along with reelected Moses Keale, cannot be sworn in as board members.

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What was to havp W . M.