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Ota becomes
first non-Hawaiian
elected to OHA

Hee, Apoliona, Stender,
Akana, Waihee win
respective races

ELECTION RESULTS ONLINE

Election Results

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By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

A Maui business and a member of 442nd Regimental Combat Team became the first non-Hawaiian elected to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board.

Charles S. Ota, who is the first non-Hawaiian ever appointed to the OHA board, defeated candidate Louis Hao for the Maui seat.

Ota, whose campaign slogan ads included the 442nd’s “Go For Broke” motto, has spent more than $50,000 on this race.

“Charles Ota represents the future, in that OHA must be part of the larger community,” interim board Chairman Clayton Hee said tonight.

“His win, and I believe he will win handily, is very symbolic,” said Hee, who also has defeated Vicky Holt Takamine for the OHA Oahu seat.

In the special election for three at-large seats, former Bishop Estate trustee Oswald Stender, resigned trustee Rowena Akana and John D. Waihee IV, the former governor’s son, won seats in the at-large race.

Candidate Waihee said tonight he’s cautious and nervous about his slim lead but feels fortunate to have moved up to third place in the special at-large races.

“I don’t want to get happy and then get disappointed later. I want to wait this out,” Waihee said.

“I feel a little better than the first printout.”

Waihee said his campaign focused on signwaving, community meetings and some last minute commercials.

“It’s been a good campaign. You know what, just to be in the top five is amazing to me,” he said.

Former Gov. Waihee said John is doing well for his first campaign. The family is spending election night together at their home in Nuuanu.

“I’m very proud of him,” he said. “He worked very hard.”

In the regular election for the one OHA at-large seat, Haunani Apoliona maintained a lead over appointed interim trustee Dante Carpenter. On the Big Island, Linda K. Dela Cruz has slipped past Hannah Springer, while on Kauai former appointed trustee Donald Cataluna had a comfortable lead over appointed interim trustee Jean Ilei K. Beniamina.

Cataluna was appointed by Gov. Ben Cayetano to fill the Kauai seat after the death of Moses Keale earlier this year. Although he didn’t have to, Cataluna resigned along with the rest of the board in early September to avoid state legal action to remove them from office in the wake of the Rice decision that struck down racial restrictions to run and vote in OHA.

The board’s resignation prompted Cayetano to appoint the nine interim trustees who will remain in office until Nov. 28, when the new board takes office.

General Election Guide
State Office of Elections