Maui trustee voted OHA board chair
Maui Trustee Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey was voted chairwoman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on Thursday.
Trustee-at-Large Leina‘ala Ahu Isa was named vicechairwoman as the board selected its leadership during its first meeting since the November elections.
“Today we celebrate the dawning of a new effort with the common goal to uplift the Office of Hawaiian Affairs,” Lindsey said in a news release. “Our commitment is to build trust and cohesion amongst OHA’s Board of Trustees so that we may address past disputes with the state, and within our agency and community so that we can begin to face the many challenges as Hawaiians with a strong and unified house.”
Lindsey, who has served as an OHA trustee since January 2012, said her four priorities as chairwoman would be implementing OHA’s new Strategic Plan, focusing on the development of OHA’s 30 acres of land in Kaka‘ako Makai, addressing the health challenges presented by COVID-19 to the Native Hawaiian community and improving the stewardship and protection of Native Hawaiian land and water resources.
Lindsey has been a longtime member of the ‘Ahahui Ka‘ahumanu and an active member of the Central Maui Hawaiian Civic Club, according to the news release. In addition, she is a former properties administrator for Maui Land & Pineapple Co. as well as the former administrator for the County of Maui’s Land Use and Codes Division. She is also an award-winning recording artist.
On Thursday, OHA trustees also selected leadership for the board’s two standing committees.
Trustee-at-Large John D. Waihe‘e IV will serve as chair and Moloka‘i and Lana‘i Trustee Luana Alapa will serve as vice-chair of the Committee on Resource Management.
O‘ahu Trustee Kaleihikina Akaka will be the chair and Hawai‘i Island Trustee Keola Lindsey will be vice-chair of the Committee on Beneficiary and Advocacy.
Intermediate Court of Appeals Associate Judge Keith K. Hiraoka administered the oath of office to the newly elected trustees on Thursday. OHA usually holds an investiture ceremony for the newly sworn-in trustees, but that event is postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19.
The state Office of Elections has yet to certify the atlarge OHA trustee race because incumbent Trustee Keli‘i Akina’s victory is currently being challenged in the Hawaii State Supreme Court.