Trustee Akina Commends OHA Board for Deciding Not to Seek Exemption from the Sunshine Law
News release from Office of Trustee Keli’i Akina PhD, Oct 31, 2024
Honolulu, HI - The Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs voted 4-3 to deny the motion to exempt the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from Chapter 92 of the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, also known as the Sunshine Law. This was a change in the board’s earlier position which approved the motion at yesterday’s Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Engagement by a vote of 5-1.
Trustee Akina, who opposed the motion, stated, “I am grateful that the OHA board decided against the motion to seek exemption from the Sunshine Law. The board showed a commitment to transparency and accountability.” Trustee Akina added, “although practical difficulties related to the implementation of the Sunshine Law were raised, I believe that there are also practical solutions. By adhering to the Sunshine Law, OHA can build greater trust with its beneficiaries and all citizens of Hawai‘i, including elected officials.”
Trustee Akina is available for further comment or interviews.
HPR: OHA rejects proposal that would exempt itself from open meetings law | Hawai'i Public Radio
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Trustee Keli‘i Akina OPPOSES OHA’s Effort to Exempt Itself from the Sunshine Law
News release from OHA Trustee Keli‘i Akina Oct 30, 2024
Honolulu, HI - The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is considering a motion to exempt itself from Chapter 92 of the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, also known as the Sunshine Law. The board of trustees will vote on whether to pursue the exemption through proposed state legislation at today’s Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Engagement meeting.
Trustee Akina said, “I respectfully oppose OHA's proposal to exempt itself from the Sunshine Law. The Sunshine Law promotes greater transparency and accountability within government. The Sunshine Law specifically allows for the public to know what our government is doing, when it is meeting, and what it is discussing.” Trustee Akina added, “Government should not be allowed to circumvent and undermine laws that seek to better safeguard our democracy. And the government should not seek to undermine the public’s effort to have greater access to government information. OHA’s proposal ignores the fact that citizens in Hawai‘i, including OHA beneficiaries, want their government to be more transparent, not less. It would not be beneficial for OHA‘s reputation to be perceived as seeking to evade transparency or public scrutiny. OHA is still recovering from reputational damage caused by recent instances of fraud, waste and abuse. We should reinforce the positive reforms which OHA has made as we continue to improve our trustworthiness amongst beneficiaries and the public.”
Trustee Akina is available for further comment or interviews.
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DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this news release are the personal views of Trustee Akina and may not reflect the views of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs or its Board of Trustees.
Keliʻi Akina, Ph.D., is a community leader who is known for the phrase he has coined, "E Hana Kākou" - Let's work together! Over the past several years as a public policy adviser at the local, state, and federal levels, Dr. Akina’s mission has been to preserve the Aloha Spirit by which native Hawaiians and people of all races are welcomed and encouraged to work together for a better future for all our keiki. He was elected to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees in November 2016.
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A sunny day at OHA
CB Nov 1, 2024: … OHA CEO Stacy Ferreira said that the board can’t operate effectively under the Sunshine Law.
“It just does not allow our board to effectively and efficiently address the issues that come across not just the board’s table, but through the front door every day,” she said at a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Chairwoman Carmen Hulu Lindsey said the Sunshine Law prevented more than two trustees traveling to Kauai to meet with community leaders over iwi kupuna in Wainiha.
Supporters also pointed to the Legislature, which is exempt from the open meetings law and allowed to deliberate behind closed doors.
The Blog thanks those members of the community who stood up for transparency and accountability.
“Just because the Legislature does it, doesn’t make it right,” Maui County Council member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez said on Wednesday.
Duh.
At Thursday’s meeting, she said OHA and the trustees should take the time to learn the ins and outs of the law, and that not doing so was akin to a “child refusing to eat vegetables.”
Lu Ann Lankford-Faborito also testified against the Sunshine Law exemption.
“Discussion outside the public feels a little secretive,” she said.
Trustee Keli‘i Akina said OHA needs to build trust in the community and in the Legislature in order to move bills and gain support for proposals.
“Embracing the Sunshine Law tells people we want to be transparent, we want to be open,” Akina said. “Rejecting the Sunshine Law tells them the opposite.”
Trustee Keoni Souza voted in favor of the bill on Wednesday but voted against the proposal on Thursday. While he still supports seeking exemptions from the Sunshine Law, he said testimony over the last two days swayed his vote.
“I feel passionate about certain things until someone brings something to light,” he said.
read … The Sunshine Blog: 'Corporate Vampires Continue To Suck Us Dry'
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Money and Retaliation: OHA Wants Out From Under Hawaii's Sunshine Law
CB Oct 30, 2024:… The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is considering asking the Legislature to exempt meetings of its board of trustees from Hawaii’s Sunshine Law.
OHA says it needs to be able to act expeditiously and discuss confidential and financial matters that could be hampered under the public meetings law. The office is also proposing safeguards to ensure some public reporting and participation stays intact.
The proposal is part of OHA’s bill package for the 2025 legislative session. The board is scheduled to discuss it in committee meetings Wednesday morning….
It also wants to be able to discuss legal matters and investment practices dealing with the Native Hawaiian Trust, valued at nearly $600 million, in private.
OHA wants to be able to discuss personnel matters and grievances in private as well….
It also suggested setting up rules that keep discussion on things like grant awards, various programs and certain budget issues open to the public while exempting cultural matters and other negotiations from public meeting.
But the board of trustees can already take up many of those matters in executive session, Brian Black, executive director of the Public First Law Center, said.
“This proposal to exempt them entirely doesn’t make sense,” Black said….
Another proposed bill would give the trustees the power to convene OHA’s salary commission.
Right now that power rests with the governor. Commissioners are supposed to meet every four years to recommend salary adjustments for the trustees, but OHA said past administrations have failed to convene the salary commission.
With a salary of $58,560, OHA trustees are some of the lowest paid elected officials in Hawaii…
Secrets: OHA to Take Control of Kahana Valley Living Park?
read … OHA Wants Out From Under Hawaii's Sunshine Law