Keli`i Akina Wins Seat in OHA Trustee-at-Large Run-off Challenges 20-Year Incumbent Haunani Apoliona

News Release from KeliiAkina.com

HONOLULU, HAWAII--August 14, 2016 - In a field of seven Primary Election candidates for Trustee-at-Large in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Keli`i Akina, Ph.D., secured one of two seats in the November General Election run-off. Dr. Akina received 32,113 votes (12.7%) as the leading challenger to twenty-year incumbent Haunani Apoliona, who received 61,216 votes (24.2%). The remaining five candidates who did not make the cut-off received a total of 55,666 votes (22.1%), and 136,489 voters (41%) left their OHA Trustee-at-Large option blank.

Akina said, "I am tremendously grateful to all of our supporters for the opportunity to become one of two general election contenders for the important seat of OHA Trustee-at-large. The majority of voters chose not to vote for the incumbent, sending a loud message that they want new leadership at OHA. Now, with only one challenger to an incumbent who represents two decades of OHA`s failed policies, the public has a clear choice for new leadership going into the general election."

Akina continued, "Under its current leadership OHA has wasted tens of millions of dollars in the failed pursuit of a federally recognized race-based nation, something the majority of Hawaiians do not want. Instead, OHA should be using its funds to meet the real needs of Hawaiians for housing, jobs, education, and health-care. It's also time for OHA to stop dividing Hawaii`s people and start uniting them in the Aloha Spirit."

Dr. Akina is available for interviews and has posted his positions on the issues at www.keliiAKINA.com.

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