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By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin
In the latest fallout from last February's Rice vs. Cayetano decision, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board will now seek-relection in November.That means five trustees will resign their seats although they have two years left on their terms, while the other four are up for re-election.
OHA Chairman Clayton Hee told the Star-Bulletin this afternoon the five trustees whose terms expire in 2002 -- Rowena Akana, Mililani Trask, A. Frenchy DeSoto, Louis Hao and Hee -- are going to stand for re-election this fall to address last week's Hawaii Supreme Court opinion that the entire board serves as de facto trustees as a result of a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
That ruling opened the Hawaiians-only election to all voters and cast a shadow over whether the current board is legally seated.
"The eight de facto (trustees) and the appointed, Cataluna, intends to stand for election November 2000," Hee told the Star-Bulletin editorial board today.
A news conference was scheduled later today.
The terms of the other four trustees -- Haunani Apoliona, Colette Machado, Hannah Springer and Donald Cataluna -- expire this year and all are expected to seek re-election.
Hee explained the board does not quarrel with the last week's findings by the Hawaii justices that they serve as de facto trustees. Rather, it is the motivation for the entire board running for office this year.
"The board has agreed to stand for election. It's my interpretation that the board believes that is the honorable thing to do.
"That is honorable men and women should do under the circumstances," Hee said.
That said, OHA does intend to file a temporary restraining order in Circuit Court asking that all the trustees remain in office until Nov. 6, Hee said. And since the vacancies on the OHA board would occur within 60 days of an OHA election, the governor is not allowed to appoint trustees.
The temporary restraining order will also ask the state elections office to include the five trustees seats on the general election ballot.
OHA elections are now open to all registered voters in Hawaii. And non-Hawaiians can also run as OHA candidates, under a preliminary injunction granted recently by U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor, who is expected to issue a permanent ruling Friday.
Friday is also the last day for candidates to file nomination papers to run for the four OHA seats that expire this year. Those who want to run for the five other seats would have 10 days after the five trustees resign -- which they are expected to do on Friday -- to file as candidates.
The OHA board was expected to meet again this evening to discuss the situation. The state is expected to file a petition in Circuit Court by the end of today asking the de facto trustees be removed from office.
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
