OHA CANDIDATES PREPARE FOR DEBATE THAT WILL BE STREAMED LIVE FOR FIRST TIME

News Release from OHA October 23, 2014

HAWAI‘I ISLAND  – The candidates who are vying for four seats on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees in the Nov. 4 General Election are preparing to square off in a debate that will be streamed live at oha.org.

OHA and the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs are collaborating to host the 90-minute debate on Friday, Oct. 31, 2014 during the civic clubs’ convention in Waikoloa.

All eight candidates have been invited to the debate scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

Three seats will go to the top vote-getters among candidates Rowena Akana, John Waiheʻe IV, Lei Ahu Isa, Harvey McInerny, Mililani Trask and Keli'i Akina. One seat to represent Maui will go to winner of the race between Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey and Mahealani Wendt.

The debate is part of a larger effort to aid voters in making informed choices about candidates for OHA’s policy-making board, including whether they are up to a daunting array of responsibilities associated with managing a vital and large trust for the betterment of Native Hawaiians, and which directly as well as indirectly benefits both Hawaiians and the general public.

“We believe that it’s an important kuleana of all citizens, especially Native Hawaiians, to make informed choices about OHA candidates and to vote,” said OHA Chairperson Colette Machado.

About OHA

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is a public agency with a high degree of autonomy. OHA is responsible for improving the well-being of Native Hawaiians. OHA is governed by a Board of Trustees made up of nine members who are elected statewide to four-year terms to set policy for the agency. For more information, visit www.oha.org.

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