We must end the
By Kinau Boyd Kamalii
bullfight at OHABENEFICIARIES of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) are angry, frustrated and ashamed of the behavior of its trustees.
At the recent two-day meeting of Ho'omalu ma Kualoa, these feelings found expression. With more than 200 participants representing Hawaiian sovereignty organizations, professional associations, civic clubs, family groups and individuals, a unanimous motion resulted in giving the board 10 days (the time offered by the governor to accept an OHA submittal as his own) to fill the present vacancy. Otherwise, the trustees should all resign.
The unexpected death of Trustee Billie Beamer in January created the vacancy on the board, and left it bitterly and evenly divided into two warring factions.
Her replacement will hold the decisive, majority-making vote between the factions and the key to the chairmanship and other leadership posts on the board.
But why has this process been so bruising and brutal? Is it simply a battle for control and the title of chairperson?
As with any struggle for power in Hawaii, the answer is land and money. Sometime very soon, the Hawaii Supreme Court is expected to rule on the state's appeal of Judge Dan Heeley's award of more than $500 million in past due revenues to OHA.
In the severely depressed economy of Hawaii, a ruling by the court to uphold this judgment would have serious and far-reaching political and financial consequences. Without the cash reserves to pay this award, many believe negotiations for a settlement would involve a significant transfer of land as payment.
At the least, such a ruling and proposed settlement would affect the election for governor, and likely echo in every other electoral contest.
But individual political futures are of less consequence than long-range economic effects. A favorable ruling by the court would mean an increase in state indebtedness and would certainly affect the state's bond ratings.
Issuing bonds is the state's way of borrowing money for large projects, similar to a mortgage loan for a family to build a house. The lower the rating, the higher the interest rate -- meaning the state would pay more for less money.
OHA, as described in state law, also has the authority to issue bonds. The Heeley award, combined with earlier OHA settlements and investments, could leave OHA in the enviable position of having nearly $1 billion in assets to leverage four or five times over through bonds.
That's a lot of leverage. A lot of jobs. Why, OHA could even bail out Liberty House.
Yet at OHA board meetings, the discussions are about style, not substance. One faction proudly holds up renewed openness, accessibility of records and commitment to consensus to justify support for the chairwomanship of Frenchy DeSoto. The other faction derides such details and argues for the efficiency of a chairmanship bordering on dictatorship offered by Clayton Hee.
Somewhere in their discussion, the mission of OHA to work for the betterment of native Hawaiians has been lost. Somewhere in their discussion, the possible promise and benefit of OHA to all the citizens of Hawaii has been lost.
Attending OHA meetings is like watching a bullfight. The tension and morbid curiosity isn't over whether the bull will die, but if the matadors will live.
There is blood on the sand, the matadors have fallen on their own swords, and the governor will make the appointment without their recommendation.
The only way for OHA and its matador trustees to survive now is to do their jobs. And stop the bull!
Kinau Boyd Kamalii is a former OHA trustee
and now serves as the chairwoman of Ho'omalu ma Kualoa,
a Hawaiian unity orgaization.
