Akana to lead OHA
She says her priorities are
By Pat Omandam
ceded land, care programs for elderly
Hawaiians and the blood
quantum limit
Star-BulletinBy a 6-3 vote, Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees today picked Rowena Akana as their new chairwoman. She was the only one nominated for the post in a standing-room only meeting.
Among her priorities, Akana said OHA must negotiate with the state toward definitive agreement on its ceded land in-terests and ceded land inventory. She also would like to see OHA look at supplemental healthcare programs for elderly Hawaiians who cannot meet their Medicare deductibles, Akana said.
A third top priority is the blood quantum issue, which entitles people with 50 percent Hawaiian blood to certain rights.
"This is a federal limitation that tears at our community and divides us artificially," Akana said. "We cannot expect our four-person congressional delegation to carry this ball for us and resolve this issue by themselves."
OHA must expand its scope and step up its presence in Washington, D.C., and "actively lobby as the Indians, the native Americans have done," she said.
Those voting against Akana as chairwoman were outgoing chairwoman Frenchy DeSoto, Collette Machado and Haunani Apoliona.
DeSoto, sometimes called "the mother of OHA," had expected to lose the top job.
"In the scenario that has unfolded at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, anything is possible," DeSoto said before today's meeting.
DeSoto was among the five OHA trustees elected this month who were sworn in this morning by Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Robert G. Klein. The new trustees are Louis Hao and Mililani Trask. DeSoto, Clayton Hee and Akana return as incumbents to the board of semiautonomous agency.
Trustee Moses Keale -- senior member of the OHA board -- pre-sided as temporary chairman before Akana was named.
In April 1997, Keale presided over a board reorganization in which Hee put down a challenge by then new trustee Apoliona for the board chairmanship. Just six months later, however, DeSoto and the late Billie Beamer forged a majority with freshmen trustees Apoliona, Hannah Springer and Machado to oust the longtime chairman from power.
DeSoto, who served as OHA's first chairwoman in 1980, had said she'll continue to be a team player no matter what happens.
The board's last official action was Nov. 2, when it approved a "no-growth" $2.73 million legislative budget for fiscal years 1999-2001.
Foremost for the reconstituted board are talks with the state over past-due ceded land revenues. The negotiations are supposed to end by Dec. 1, but an extension seems likely.
Trustees must also prepare for the 1999 state Legislature, as well as make decisions about OHA's investment portfolio, which was at $288.9 million as of Oct. 31.
By law, OHA's trust money must go toward the betterment of those with 50 percent or more Hawaiian blood. Matching funds are sought from the state to include all Hawaiians in OHA programs.
Trustees earn $32,000 a year and serve staggered four-year terms.
