Duties: The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) holds title to all real and personal property held in trust for native Hawaiians and Hawaiians. OHA Board of Trustees formulate policy and manage the agency s trust which includes income derived from whatever sources for native Hawaiians and Hawaiians, such as the management, sale or disposition of land, natural resources and minerals.How Elected: OHA s Board of Trustees is composed of nine trustees who are elected in public elections open to all State of Hawaii voters. Four of the nine positions are designated as at-large seats representing the state as a whole. The other five trustees represent one of five districts: Hawai i Island, Maui, Molokai and Lana i, O ahu, and Kaua i and Niihau. A district trustee must be a resident of that district and be a registered voter of Hawaii. Elections are held in even numbered years, so only four or five seats are up for election at any given time. In 2024 four (4) of nine (9) seats are up for election.Term: Four years, not subject to term limits.Base Salary (FY2024): Trustee --$58,560; Chairperson --$66,768
Education
UHM. PhD
Community/Military Service
Numerous community boards commissions
Qualifications are on my resume as can be found online Google Lei Ahu Isa..Also I was a former OHA Trustee for 8 years where accountability and transparency was achieved. But I lost last year and now am back to work on fulfilling the purposes for which this public trust was created/established by the Federal Govt in 1959 Pub.L.. No.8603 Sec. 5 or the Congressional Record which set aside 2203,500 acres to BENEFIT the Native Hawaiian people. Latest Homeless Data collected had 30% of the population claiming to be Native Hawaiian!
Understanding the "fiduciary" duty of a Trustee, I want to help carry out the purposes for which this public trust was created. Per Constitutional amendment, the State of Hawaii which has guardianship of this land trust, must give 20% of the Revenue collected from lease rents of these lands should go to OHA for carrying out the betterment of Native Hawaiian people. The State govt does NOT give 20% of the net revenue from airports, harbors, etc. They Keep most of it to balance their Budget. And OHA has no recourse:( so sad.
Housing that is cheap...not so called "affordable". I tried looking at the Rental ads , and a studio is $2,000. Native Hawaiians live on the streets, in the parks, on the beaches, etc. because they cannot afford to eat, if they are paying rent! We need that "Mandated" revenue to help Native Hawaiians get off the street, and not MOVE them out to Las Vegas.
Education
Ph.D. and M.A., University of Hawaii; B.A., Northwestern University; Kamehameha Schools, Class of '76
Community/Military Service
Trustee at Large, Office of Hawaiian Affairs (2016-present); CEO, Grassroot Institute of Hawai`i (2013-present); Founder, Center for Tomorrow's Leaders; President Emeritus, Youth for Christ Hawai`i.
Campaign Phone
(808)256-9792
My greatest qualification for re-election as Trustee at-Large is a proven track record. I made and kept a campaign promise to confront corruption! When elected in 2016, OHA’s reputation was at a record low. There were serious concerns over the financial management and the ethics of trustees and administrators. I fought to rid the agency of fraud, waste, and abuse. Despite opposition, I championed a historic independent audit, now the blueprint for change. Today, OHA is financially transparent and accountable. I seek re-election to ensure that OHA meets the needs of the Hawaiian community.
Since elected in 2016, I supported OHA’s mandate to “better the conditions'' of Hawaiians by helping steward the Native Hawaiian Trust Fund. My priority was to protect the trust through forensic audits and financial reform, grow the trust pursuing real estate acquisition and development, and use the trust to improve the wellbeing of Hawaiians. To protect the trust, reforms were instituted to prevent the “fraud, waste and abuse” I had encountered. In growing the trust, we have new landholdings and our financial portfolio has grown. In using the trust, advances were made in OHA’s grants awards.
Native Hawaiians face many problems from housing, health care, education, jobs, and economic empowerment to their needs as a people in identity, culture, politics, and the ‘aina. So I am proud of the work I’ve been able to develop with my fellow OHA trustees, addressing these issues through a 15-year strategic plan,“Mana i Mauli Ola” (Strength to Wellbeing). As a Trustee, I’ll continue to support efforts to develop economic self-sufficiency amongst Hawaiians through education, training and access to financial capital. Ensuring that Hawaiians see results is my commitment to OHA’s beneficiaries.
