Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 7, 1 July 2001 — Clyde Namuʻo selected by board as OHA's administrator [ARTICLE]

Clyde Namuʻo selected by board as OHA's administrator

By Ryan Mielke After three days of interviews with the top candidates vying to be the next administrator of the Offīce of Hawaiian Affairs, Clyde Namu'o was selected by a majority of trustees June 21 to head OHA's staff and operations for the next two years. As of press time, Namu'o has been offered the position, pending negotialion of his contract with the OHA Board. Should he accept the position, he would eome to OHA after 27 years with the State of Hawai'i Judiciary, where for the last 1 1 years he served as its deputy administrative director of the courts. His selection as OHA*s new administrator was swift, as trustees made their decision wilhin the first 30

minutes of ihe meeting. "I really relish ihe thought of working at OHA and its service to the Hawaiian eommunity," said Namu'o shortly after his selection today. 'There are so many opportunities in and out of OHA that should give us all hope for where we ean go and what we ean achieve." OHA's leadership took little time to express enthusiasm for the board's piek. "We are extremely enthusiastic about selecting such a highly qualified administrator to lead our staff at OHA," said OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona, minutes after the selection. "Clyde brings exactly the right set of tools needed to truly help our staff and our organization achieve its mission of bettering the conditions of Hawaiians."

Namu'o's strengths are in his administrative leadership experience, eommunieaOon skills and history of being a strategic planner and educator, noted Apoliona. "What really affected me, as well as other trustees, is his genuine sentiment toward helping Hawaiians. He cares. That may not be something you see on a resume but it is something a person ean sense. In his case, he not only cares about our beneficiaries, but he also cares about the people on staff who do the work that they are the heartbeat of our organization." Namu'o was among six finalists for the position. Also interviewed were Colin Kippen, OHAs deputy administrator; Winona Rubin, aide to OHA Chairperson Apoliona; Patricia Brandt,

former assistant to former Gov. John Waihe'e; Robert Ozaki, former vice president at the Queens Health Systems and Amfac ine.; and Jan Dill, a loeal businessman. "I want to thank all of the applicants who applied, and I want to thank Inkinen and Associates for their assistance in our search for someone to fill this most important position at OHA," said Apoliona. "The candidates genuine desire to assist this agency and our people was gratifying to see. While the final six people interviewed were all excellent candidates. we look forWatd to the effective management of Clyde Namu'o, in the interest of the OHA Board of Trustees, the OHA staff and most importantly, the Hawaiian people." ■