NUKOLI’I – OHA board members yesterday failed to name an interim trustee to replace Kaua’i and Ni’ihau representative Moses Keale. Though Randy Wichman managed to get a majority vote, he failed by one to garner the necessary six votes to
NUKOLI’I – OHA board members yesterday failed to name an interim trustee to replace Kaua’i and Ni’ihau representative Moses Keale.
Though Randy Wichman managed to get a majority vote, he failed by one to garner the necessary six votes to be seated.
Voting ended with five votes for Wichman and two for Kaua’i attorney Warren Perry.
If six Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees can’t agree on a candidate by the end of this year, Gov. Ben Cayetano will have to make the decision.
He will have 60 days to announce a choice.
The last time Cayetano was called upon to select an interim trustee, he took the entire 60 days to do so, OHA Chair Rowena Akana said.
“It’s too bad that it’s going to the governor,” said Wichman, who earlier predicted that no Kaua’i or Ni’ihau resident could get the six votes needed to succeed Keale.
Akana said she will recommend that Cayetano name Wichman as a 10-month replacement for Keale.
A majority of the board has spoken, she said.
“It’s Wichman. He’s fresh. He’s not in any political camp. He’s not tainted or jaded. What I’m looking for is someone open, not closed,” Akana said.
About 65 people attended the meeting at the Outrigger Hotel hoping to persuade trustees to make a decision.
“Today is a sad day for Hawaiians on Kaua’i,” said Jimmy Torio, who had led a campaign to pressure trustees into naming a trustee and thus avoid leaving it up to Cayetano.
“Today, Kaua’i wants action,” said Torio, a member of a commission appointed by the Governor to recommend salaries for OHA trustees.
“Every island is huhu (upset) with you,” he said to the trustees, pointing out that their behavior, actions, conduct and attendance at meetings is “disgusting.” “I feel ashamed to say that all of you are my leaders,” said Torio, imploring the board not to let the Native Hawaiians embarrass them again, and not to embarrass the Native Hawaiians again.
Kaiopua Fyfe called on Native Hawaiians of Kaua’i and Ni’ihau to unify so that the trustees might be able to make a decision before the end of the year.
“Shame on you guys” to let the Governor decide,” said Kane Pa.
“We ought to make a motion to get rid of all of you guys. Get rid of OHA,” he said.
“It’s what we want. It’s not what the Governor wants,” he said.
Voting for Wichman during the final tally were Akana, Mililani Trask, Hannah Springer, Louis Hao and Clayton Hee.
Voting for Perry were Haunani Apoliona and Collette Machado.
Perry, Springer, Machado and Apoliona ran as a team in the 1996 OHA elections, and only Perry didn’t get elected. He lost to Keale.
OHA terms are four years.
Trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto was hospitalized and did not attend the meeting.
The other five finalists were Daisy LaFrance Kapaka Arboleda, Jeff Chandler, David “Kawika” Cutcher, Randy Rego and Llewella Zablan.
Questions concerning the validity of the voting process arose following the meeting.
According to rules adopted by the trustees, OHA staff said Perry should have been eliminated from the process after the first vote when Wichman got a majority.
Confronted with that information, Akana indicated she “might” call another meeting before the end of the year if she gets a sense that one of the two who voted for Perry, or DeSoto, who was absent, might vote to approve Wichman.
That would give him the necessary six votes to take the trustee seat.
The OHA board’s next meeting is on the Big Island later this month, but selection of a Kaua’i-Ni’ihau trustee is not on that agenda, Akana said.
She indicated she would give the matter a week, and would only call another meeting for the purpose of selecting an interim trustee if she got the sense the board could come up with six votes for Wichman.
Akana expressed disappointment that Machado and Apoliona wouldn’t listen to the people of Kaua’i yesterday and choose a trustee.
“They did their job as best as they can,” Perry said of the trustees.
Wichman commended Machado and Apoliona for their conviction and loyalty in support of Perry, but added that it was clear that the people of Kaua’i and Ni’ihau wanted a new trustee chosen without delay.
Arthur Trask, Sr., who attended the meeting, said the dealings of the board in not selecting an interim trustee amount to “taxation without representation.” Sharon Pomroy begged the board to “come back” another time before the end of the year to make a selection.
Earlier in the meeting, when the board gave time on its agenda for community concerns, finalist Jeff Chandler said many Native Hawaiians won’t speak before the board because they feel they won’t be heard.
If they are heard, nothing will be done about their concerns, he said.
Cheryl Lovell-Obatake said it’s important to have a Kaua’i-Ni’ihau trustee to let the rest of the board and rest of the state know how development on Kaua’i is impacting both the island and Native Hawaiians.
She is concerned with water rights, and the state’s water plan, which is in the process of being updated now.
She is also concerned about development of submerged lands.
Pa asked the board if state government has permanent status, and told the board existing laws state that konohiki and customary rights can’t be amended.
“We’re crying out for justice,” he said.
“We need healing,” said one Kaua’i Native Hawaiian who offered a prayer after the meeting adjourned.
