Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 4, 1 April 1998 — Chairperson's Message [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Chairperson's Message

' I Selection of the interim trustee

fOR SEVERAL weeks now one of the most important issues facing OHA has been the appointment of an interim trustee to fill the unexpected vacancy created by the loss of Trustee Beamer. During these weeks, I have cautioned that our failure to appoint someone by March 25, 60 days after Billie's passing, will support the opinion of many beneficiaries - that we trustees are so factionalized we cannot agree on an interim trustee. | My effort to resolve this has been complicated by the even split in our board: Aiona, i Akana, Keale and Hee on one side and Apoliona. Machado, Springer and me on the other. The split generated my proposal for all eight trustees to participate in the selection process. But my offer failed to pass in our Feb. 20 meeting. Just hours before that meeting, the Hee faction proposed the

appointment of a four-member ad hoe committee to eompile a list of candidates with two members named by "them" and two by "us." Hee also proposed eochairs, one designated by eaeh faction. ī did not support the proposal because OHA mles clearly state the chair, not factions of the board, makes eommittee appointments. Before Feb. 27, our next meeting, I offered three separate action items relating to selection. All three failed because Hee's faction continued to support its original proposal. Before our next meeting, on March 2, 1 proposed a committee of six: Aiona, Akana. Keale, Apoliona, DeSoto and Machado, with Akana and Apoliona as eochairs. My compromise was rejected by the other faction whieh continued to support its own proposal. The next day, I offered a four-member committee: Aiona, Akana, Apoliona and

Machado, with Akana and Apoliona as co-chairs. My compromise closely followed the Hee faction's proposal. The only difference was I did not allow eaeh faction to select the committee members and co-chairs. My compromise, however, failed. Later that day, a memo arrived notifying me that Aiona, Akana, Hee and Keale dechned to participate in any board meeting

until I submit a "meaningful proposal" 72 hours prior to the meeting. No member of the other faction attended the

March 4 meeting, so we could not convene. Later, Hee called a press conference and charged I had failed in my promise to bring "inclusion" and "lōkahi" to OHA. Instead, Hee's faction charged that I use my position of leadershio as a

"bully pulpit" and that I break OHA mles. I responded with my own press conference, covered the facts I just shared with you and expressed my great disappointment that the bottom line for some trustees has evolved from "responsibility" to "power." On March 10, 1 announced my search for prospective candidates to all OHA trustees and staflf. I

told them applications were available in all OHA offices and 1 clarified the deadline for submitting them was 4:30 p.m., Monday, March

16. Additionally, I announced board meetings for March 20 through 25, as needed, so we ean interview and select the interim trustee by the March 25 deadline. Later that day, I was pleased to learn my eall

for interim tmstee applicants had prompted the Hee faction to issue a press release announcing it also will accept nominations. They finally reahze appointment of the interim tmstee is mueh bigger than all of us. I look forward to working with them to make this important appointment and to fulfill our obligation to the Hawaiian community. ■

On March 10, I announced my search for prospective candidates to all OHA trustees and staff. — A. Frenchy DeSoto

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trustee' messages

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