Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 12, 1 December 2006 — OHA board's Oʻahu seat changes hands [ARTICLE]

OHA board's Oʻahu seat changes hands

Four incumbents are re-elected in other trustee races By Derek Ferrar Public lnformation Specialist Four of the five incumbent OHA trustees who were running for re-elec-tion this year have retained their seats on the agency's nine-member Board of Trustees. The exception is the board's O'ahu seat, whieh was won by fonner legislator and judge Walter Mehe'ula Heen. Heen defeated incumbent Dante Carpenter, a former Hawai'i Island mayor, state senator and OHA administrator, who was appointed to the OHA board by former Gov. Ben Cayetano in 2000, then elected to a fouryear tenn on the board in 2002. Heen, 78, said he ran for trustee because he believes his extensive experience in both the legislative and judicial branches of government will allow him to make a positive contribution to the OHA board. Heen said he is "grateful for the positive results that we experienced. Like all elections, however, it's unfortunate that somebody has to be on the losing end. I have known Dante Carpenter for a long time and have a great deal of respect for him." Carpenter, 71, who had been serving as chairman of OHA's hnaneial oversight committee, told The Honolulu Advertiser that regardless of the election outcome, "I feel good about what we've done over the last four years. OHA's probably been in the best fiscal shape it's ever been in its history." Retaining their seats in the Nov. 7 eleetion were at-large Trustees Rowena Akana, Oz Stender and lohn Waihe'e IV, and Maui Trustee Boyd Mossman. Although five of

the board's seats are designated for particular island residency, all voters across the state are able to vote in all of the OHA races. Four of the board's nine trustees were not up for eleehon this year - at-large Trustee and Board Chairperson Haunani Apoliona, Kaua'i Trustee Donald Cataluna, Hawai'i Island Trustee Linda Dela Cruz and Moloka'i/Lāna'i Trustee Colette Machado, all of whom are currently mid-way through their four-year terms. In this year's at-large contest, in whieh voters selected three winners from a field of 14 candidates, Akana received the highest tally with 10.7 percent of the total votes cast, followed by Waihe'e with 9.8 percent and Stender with 8.5 percent. Coming in fourth in the race, with 7.7 percent, was OHA Puhlie Infonnation Director Manu Boyd, who is also a well-known kumu hula and musician. The other candidates, in order of finish, were Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele, Whitney Anderson, Leona Kalima, Melissa Guerreiro Lyman, Roy Benham, Robin Danner, Newton Harbottle, Ululani Beirne, Arvid Youngquist and Willy Meyers. "Mahalo nui to everyone who supported me in the 2006 eleehon," said top votegetter Akana. "This was quite a race, with 14 people running for three seats. A speeial mahalo to Ke Akua for his grace and divine guidance." "Aloha to Dante Carpenter who served so well on the OHA board; he will be sorely missed," she added. "Like everyone who spoke to me during the campaign about changes at OHA, I too had great hopes that there would be lots of changes. But at this time I believe it is too early to predict what is hoped for with respect to changes." In the Maui race, Mossman defeated lone challenger Blossom Feiteira, with 35.1 percent of the vote to Feteira's 18.3 percent. Mossman said he is " relieved that

the eleehon is over and that I ean focus now on the business helping Hawaiians help themselves, thereby providing a better Hawai'i for all." "Hawaiians have so many needs that must be addressed sooner rather than later," he said, "whether they be in housing, education, heahh or employment. OHA needs to continue working to address these issues while at the same time securing at least what we receive and have rights to as Hawaiians today. I look forward to working on federal recognition, the creation of a governing entity, resolution of ceded lands past-due payments and further involvement in communications and business investments." In the O'ahu race, Heen won with 19.3 percent to Carpenter's 16.4 percent. The remaining candidates, in order of finish, were laekie Burke, Kau'i Na'auao, Kapi'olani Reynolds, Kēhaulani Hew Len and Frankie Kawelo. The Board of Trustees will be formally invested for its new term at a ceremony on Dec. 6 and will meet the following day to choose its leadership. "The OHA Board of Trustees looks forward to 2007 being as productive, if not more productive, as 2006," said Apoliona, who has chaired the board for most of the last six years. "Legislative, judicial, organizational, coimnunity development and advocacy issues will eonhnue to be challenging, both for the Native Hawaiian community and OHA. I ask for the support of all of the conununity of Hawai'i as Native Hawaiians seek to reconcile issues that are long-stand-ing and long-endured. I ask foryour support because well-being for Native Hawaiians brings well-being for all of Hawai'i. It is my belief that working together in a unified, focused and disciplined manner will bring success to our collective effort." E

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