Thursday, July 2, 1998
HHSAA selection
might be nullified
A state senator says
By Pat Bigold
it might be 'null and void'
for lack of a quorum
Star-BulletinState Senator Sam Slom said the selection of Keith Amemiya as the Hawaii High School Athletic Association executive director could be "null and void" if information his office is receiving is correct.
"What I am getting indicates that there was not a quorum present (for the executive board)," said Slom (R-Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina).
The Star-Bulletin reported Monday that only three of the regular members of the HHSAA executive board were present for the selection of Amemiya on June 22. The association's constitution states that at least "four regular members" need to be present for a quorum.
"I think a number of people are aware of that, and the point is that, if there wasn't a quorum, then the action is null and void," said Slom.
"What I'm hearing is that there's a lot more going on than we know and someone should be looking at it."
Amemiya, a 32-year-old attorney, was a nontraditional selection to direct the body that handles all 22 Hawaii state tournaments. He has no athletic administration background and operates a small domestic corporation called Camden Group Ltd. with his wife.
He is the son of former state attorney general Ron Amemiya.
Slom said he's asking people who have information about the HHSAA selection process to contact him or House education committee chairman David Stegmaier (D-Kalama Valley, Hawaii Kai, Koko Head), and identify themselves. Slom serves on the Senate education committee.
Although they are from different parties, the two lawmakers say they have agreed to cooperate in researching the HHSAA issue.
"If people have additional information, if they have input, if they have been ignored in the past, or if they think there is more that we, as legislators, should know, we want them to call," said Slom.
"What bothers me the most is the arrogance I am experiencing in this whole matter," said Stegmaier. "And as far as I'm concerned, there's no reason for it.
"It disturbs me that somehow people's egos are taking precedence over the interests of the public -- especially the students -- public and private. When this kind of animosity is created, there's a greater likelihood that unreasonable decisions will be reached. And that troubles me."
Meanwhile, Board of Education member Winston Sakurai said he thinks his body "should be taking more of a lead" in resolving the HHSAA controversy.
"I think the public has been concerned about openness at the meetings and decision-making," he said.
"If we look into it, we might want to issue an invitation for the new executive director to sit down with us and talk. Maybe we can do that in the next couple of months before school starts."
Sakurai said he's been asked by people why the BOE allowed the HHSAA to become autonomous, and therefore unaccountable, in July 1995.
He said the BOE does have some leverage over the HHSAA because public school principals, students and facilities are essential to the association's survival.
But Sakurai said he would prefer to resolve the matter amicably.
BOE chairperson Karen Knudsen said last week she is concerned about the HHSAA's unwillingness to allow public access to its operation.
