Trustee Akina Votes No to Further Delay of OHA Independent Audit

OHA Board Pushes Audit Completion to December

News Release from OHA Trustee Keli’i Akina, PhD

HONOLULU, HI- Trustee Keli’i Akina was the lone dissenter today as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Resource Management Committee agreed to delay the independent audit of OHA and its LLCs.  Eight of the nine Trustees voted to extend the contract deadline to December 2019, seven months behind the original deadline for completion of the audit.

Trustee Akina said, “It is very troubling that the OHA Board of Trustees has taken a step backward for transparency and accountability by delaying the independent audit for fraud, waste and abuse. OHA beneficiaries, legislators and the public have been waiting for this long overdue audit for more than two years, and pushing back the deadline bypasses several key events including the performance evaluation of the CEO as his contract expires in June. This further delay of the promised independent audit for fraud, waste and abuse impacts the already eroded reputation of OHA.  Trustees need to be held accountable for greater transparency.”

Trustee Akina served as Chairperson of the Audit Advisory Committee that crafted the scope of the independent audit, for which the OHA Board set aside $500,000 and procured top financial services firm Clifton Larson Allen (CLA). 

Trustee Akina added, “I voted no today in part because questions haven’t been answered as to why the audit has been delayed, and why, according to OHA management, documents requested by CLA from OHA and its subsidiary LLCs have not been handed over in a timely fashion. While I believe there are alternatives to delaying the deadline for the independent audit, I will continue to work with the Board to ensure that it is completed.”

  *   *   *   *   *

OHA Board approves time extension for internal audit contract

News Release from OHA

HONOLULU (April 12, 2019) – The OHA Board of Trustees yesterday approved an eight-month time extension to the contract for its internal audit to provide its independent auditor sufficient time to finish its work.

“In March 2017, the OHA Board authorized an independent, internal audit of the agency as a proactive step to review our spending procedures in an effort to improve operations in furtherance of our legal mandate to better the conditions of Native Hawaiians,” OHA Chair Colette Machado said. “Yesterday’s Board action re-affirms the trustees’ commitment to this project, by providing our independent auditor with the necessary time to complete its important work.”

Trustee Dan Ahuna said: “When I became chair of the OHA Resource Management Committee in February 2019, my goal was to collaborate with my fellow trustees to maintain OHA’s positive momentum. Yesterday ’s action will close gaps in the audit monitoring that resulted in multiple delays and ensure that the audit will be completed by the end of this year.”

In September 2018, the BOT engaged an external CPA firm, CliffordLarsonAllen LLP (CLA), to conduct an independent audit of the agency and related LLCs, approving $500,000 in trust funds to audit FY12 through FY16.  The original term of the contract was from September 4, 2018 through April 30, 2019.  Yesterday’s Board action extends the ending date of the contract to December 16, 2019.

  *   *   *   *   *

Related: Secret Timeline Shows OHA Lying to Legislature While Stonewalling LLC Audit  

FH: YOUR KOKUA NEEDED NOW! - DEMAND THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS INDEPENDENT AUDIT NOT BE DELAYED