New OHA bloc
says discord pau

But trustees left out say the new
leaders are just power-hungry

By Gordon Pang
Star-Bulletin

The five members of a new leadership bloc at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs say they intend to bring harmony to a house often divided.

But those left out of power following yesterday's sudden coup say the reorganization was a classic power clash.

Trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto is expected to take over as chairwoman of the OHA board of trustees when it meets at a special meeting Tuesday.

She would replace Clayton Hee, who announced his resignation as chairman yesterday after a seven-year tenure.

Trustee Haunani Apoliona is expected to take over as vice chairwoman, replacing Abraham Aiona.

Others in the nine-member board's new majority are Billie Beamer, Collette Machado and Hannah Springer. Left out, with Hee and Aiona, are trustees Rowena Akana and Moses Keale Sr.

Committee leadership and assignments have not been determined.

The reasons given for the reorganization were vague. The new leaders said they did not want to point fingers as others have in the past.

"There may be speculation about what has brought us this decision," DeSoto told reporters. "The time for divisiveness, arguments and complaining is pau. The 'eha (pain) cannot continue."

She added, "Our decision to bring new leadership to this organization was a decision, not made very easily, to strengthen OHA so we can be better prepared for the negotiations that are ahead, and indeed for all of us to face the tough issues that face our people."

The negotiations DeSoto refered to are discussions the board is having with the state on the return of ceded-land revenues to OHA.

Hee said his decision to hire a real-estate broker, an overall negotiator and counsel from an outside auditor for the talks likely contributed to his ouster.

The board is scheduled to meet next week to narrow the list of potential consultants, and DeSoto said she did not expect the process to change.

DeSoto later told the Star-Bulletin that the solicitation of consultants was not a reason for the reorganization.

Earlier this month, trustees also clashed over a new law that makes the board chairman OHA's chief procurement officer. The law takes effect Nov. 15.

Members expressed unhappiness that decisions over purchasing would be put solely in Hee's hands. DeSoto and Beamer were particularly vocal in their objections.

But DeSoto said that too was not a reason for the reorganization since Hee, like the rest of the trustees, did not know about the new law.

Akana, Aiona and Keale said the move was about a need for power by the new majority members.

"This reorganization . . . is being motivated by their need to control every miniscule division and committee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs," Akana said in a statement.

Aiona said the new leadership has stressed the words lokahi (unity) and pono (goodness, morality). "They say they want to do everything right, but they haven't done that," he said.

"They don't worry about anything but what is good for themselves," Keale said. "People are getting too small.... It's bad for Hawaiians."