Keli’i Akina to Run for OHA Trustee-at-Large

Pledges to oppose race-based nation plans and meet real needs of Hawaiians

News Release from Akina Campaign May 28, 2014

HONOLULU, Hawaii May 28, 2014.  Keli’i Akina, Ph.D., has announced plans to run for the position of Trustee-at-Large in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, an election in which all registered voters in the State of Hawaii are qualified to vote.  Dr. Akina will file nomination papers on Friday, May 30, at 8:30 A.M. at the State Election Office at 235 South Beretania Street, Room 203. News media and the public are welcome to attend.

Akina says, “There is an urgent need to reform the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  Instead of meeting the real needs of Hawaiians for housing, jobs, education, and health, OHA has been wasting millions of public dollars trying to start an unconstitutional, race-based nation.  This has not only divided Hawaiians from non-Hawaiians, it is dividing Hawaiians from each other.  It’s time to replace existing trustees with leadership that possesses integrity, capability and the Aloha Spirit for all people of Hawaiʻi.” 

Akina is the retired President of Youth for Christ Hawaii, and currently President/CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, an independent public policy think tank which has been a watchdog of government agencies such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  He is also on the adjunct faculty of Hawaii Pacific University. 

If elected, Akina pledges to work to get O.H.A. to:

   1.  Immediately abandon all efforts at race-based, sovereign nation building.

   2.  Use lands to develop affordable housing, agriculture, aquaculture and other food industries.

   3.  Replace racially exclusive benefits programs with economic revitalization that serves all residents of areas with large Hawaiian populations like the Waianae Coast.

   4.  Insist on sweeping reform of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and make it possible for lease-holders to become fee simple owners of their property.

   5.  Promote the Aloha Spirit by celebrating the combined benefits of Hawaiian and      American culture and values.

In Akina’s first run for O.H.A. Trustee-at-Large in 2012, he garnered nearly 38,000 votes, establishing broad name recognition and a significant base for his 2014 challenge to incumbents.

A graduate of the Kamehameha Schools and accomplished Hawaiian chanter, Akina holds degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Hawaii.  An expert in East-West philosophy and ethics, Akina frequently lectures in universities in Asia, especially China.  He and his wife Patty live in Honolulu and have four children.

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Dear FRIENDS,    May 30, 2014

Here's some EXCITING NEWS Team Akina wants to share with you from the desk of KELI'I AKINA:

We have officially launched our campaign!

On Friday, May 30th, I filed my nomination papers for the position of Trustee-at-Large in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, an election in which all registered voters in the State of Hawaii are qualified to vote.  

There is an urgent need to reform the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  OHA has been dividing Hawaii’s people on the basis of race and wasting money in pursuit of an unconstitutional sovereign nation.  And they’ve been doing all this while ignoring the real needs of Hawaiians.

If elected, I will work to unite Hawaii’s people in the American and Aloha Spirit and do everything in my power to stop OHA’s divisive race-based nation plan.  I will insist that OHA meet the real needs of Hawaiians for housing, jobs, education, and health.  And I will demand that OHA steward its land holdings and assets for the good of all of Hawaiʻi’s people and be accountable as a government agency.

Will you join me uniting Hawaii’s people and reforming OHA?  Will you join me in fighting to preserve the Aloha Spirit for generations to come?

If so, I need your most generous financial support to mount the most aggressive campaign.  My efficient and dedicated campaign team has already generated more than 50,000 Facebook hits per week during the three-week pre-campaign phase!  They are sharp and know how to multiply every dollar. And they will multiply your dollars.  We need contributors at every level:  $6000 (individual limit), $2500, $1000, $500, $250, $100, or any amount.  Which amount can you give?

Click Here to: DONATE NOW

The OHA Trustee race may be one of the most important elections in Hawaii this year.  Let’s win it together and preserve the Aloha Spirit!

With much aloha,

Keli’i

Akina for OHA – Uniting Hawai’i!

View this short video:  “7 Myths About OHA”  

Our mailing address is: PO Box 62312, Honolulu, HI  96839

Our website is: www.TeamAkina.com