Name recognition ruled in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs election last night.

Trustees Haunani Apoliona, Robert K. Lindsey and Colette Machado defeated challengers vying for their seats.

Apoliona, OHA trustee and chairwoman, won the at-large seat against challengers Helene Honda, Colin Kippen and Sol Nalua'i.

This will be Apoliona's fourth term with the agency.

“;I appreciate the voters who expressed support for my leadership and the direction of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The majority of the board of trustees have worked diligently and responsibly to improve OHA's advocacy and delivery of service to our community. The return of all incumbents provides the needed stability to continue this direction,”; Apoliona said last night.

“;This is such a crucial time for Hawaiians,”; she said.

For her next term, Apoliona said she plans to continue advocacy on passage of the federal recognition legislation to protect native Hawaiian programs and assets. “;With President-elect Obama's public commitment to sign the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, I say 'Let's move it,'”; she said.

Apoliona said she also plans to focus on formation of a native Hawaiian governing entity. “;Native Hawaiians' greatest challenge is to move forward in a unified direction,”; she added.

Kippen, executive director of the Native Hawaiian Education Council, said he is pleased with the results based on his first time running for office and hopes changes will be made in the agency to improve conditions for beneficiaries. “;I think there are still great policy issues that we still have to get to,”; he said.

“;It's not about me, it's about creating this change we're trying to make and making the office more effective and bettering the conditions of Hawaiians,”; he added.

In the race for the Big Island seat, Lindsey had a major lead over challenger William Meyers, a mental-health technician who sought to improve medical care for native Hawaiians. Lindsey seeks effective changes for beneficiaries in his upcoming term. “;We need to communicate with our folks,”; he said.

He noted that they are making progress in housing with the agency's collaboration with the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Lindsey plans to seek more resources relating to health issues for native Hawaiians. “;It's an area where I think OHA hasn't given enough focus,”; he said. “;Hopefully, we can put more resources in that area.”;

For the Molokai seat, Machado defeated challenger Waipa Purdy for her fourth term with the agency. Machado said she would provide stability based on her experience.

Since 1999, she has served as chairwoman of the agency's Governmental Affairs Committee. For the past four years, she has also served as chairwoman of the Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment Committee. Machado said she will continue to press for the passage of the Akaka Bill.

Machado supported the luxury development at Laau Point in West Molokai. The island suffered a major hit with the shutdown of Molokai Ranch. “;If you're going to live on Molokai, you need people to earn a living wage. There is no economic engine,”; she said.

Purdy, who is against development, said the project would have had an adverse effect on the community. “;We didn't want our lifestyle to change,”; Purdy said.

For the Kauai seat, trustee Donald Cataluna ran unopposed.