Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 11, 1 November 2000 — OHA policy [ARTICLE]

OHA policy

Rice vs. Cayetano ruled that OHA is a state agency. Why, then, has OHA not conformed? OHA should review its policy regarding amending rules and regulation to expand information to reach Hawaiians and the wider community. Today, two amendments are being voted on by the Board of Trustees. Is this premature? Shouldn't the public know what the bylaw governing the suspension of the rules and the bylaw on defamation and slander include? This is particularly difficult as OHA withholds any drafts of any proposals from its beneficiaries, a rather strange practice. We have access to drafts in the DLNR and anything else on their meeting agendas, drafts of proposed legislation at the city, state and national levels. Is OHA abusing its constituents by refusing to share this information - whieh includes draft minutes?

Does OHA follow the law on eontracts? A contract for $85,000 was not put out to bid. There is no policy on holding over of trust funds from one year to the next. Trustees are supposed to receive folders on agenda items 72 hours in advance, yet most of the time they do not. We suggest that any changes to OHA's rules and regulations be posted on their website and be published in the OHA newspaper and others. Beneficiaries and constituents would have 60 days to respond. Lela M. Hubbard 'Aiea OHA reserves the right to edit all lettersfor length, defamatory and libelous material, and other objectionable eontent, and reserves the right to print on a space available basis. Letters are authorizedfor publication on a one-letter, per subject, per year basis. The inclusion of a letter author's title is a courtesy extended by Ka Wai Ola and does not constitute validation or recognition ofthe writer as such. All letters must be typed, signed and not exceed 200 words. Send letters to Ka Wai Ola o OHA, 711 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite 500, Honolulu, H1 96813. Readers ean also email their letters to oha@aloha.net. ■