PUBLIC STATEMENT TO OHA VOTERS

from Mililani Trask, former OHA Trustee, Aug 25, 2026

This is former OHA Hawai'i Island Trustee Mililani Trask-retired attorney, Native Hawaiian advocate, United Nations delegate to the Pacific Forum, co-author of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and founding member of Ka Lahui Hawai'i.

I am sharing this statement to explain why I will not vote for incumbent OHA Trustee-at-Large Keoni Souza and why I am asking OHA voters to VOTE NO on his re-election.

For more than 50 years, I have served the Native Hawaiian community and the public and helped shape public policy concerning Native Hawaiian rights and entitlements. In all those years, I have never experienced another person-much less an elected official-use the kind of bullying, threatening behavior and physical intimidation that I experienced from Keoni Souza.

I witnessed this disturbing and unacceptable conduct and experienced it firsthand. In my judgment, his behavior was disgusting, despicable, and entirely incompatible with the responsibilities of public office. It cannot be excused, normalized, or condoned. It makes him unfit to serve our people as an OHA Trustee.

I also have serious concerns about his qualifications and professional representations. Trustee Souza is known as a Hawaiian musician and residential real-estate salesperson, yet I have personally heard him describe himself during meetings as a real-estate developer. Voters should ask him to substantiate that claim by identifying his development experience and portfolio. Selling residential property is not the same as planning and completing major commercial developments involving valuable public trust lands.

On or about November 2, 2023, during an OHA Board executive session concerning OHA's Kaka'ako Makai properties, I opposed statements made by Trustee Souza urging Trustees to resolve the OHA-State ceded land controversy by accepting a settlement with OHA receiving the Hawaii Convention Center which OHA could then be used for gambling & boxing activities.

I had to inform him that Gambling is illegal in Hawai'i without legislative authorization, and that. Trustee Souza became visibly angry, stood up, crossed the room to where I was seated, came within inches of my face, and shouted using the 'F'' word and challenging me to go outside so he could teach me a lesson.

I experienced his words and actions as a direct threat of physical violence. Fellow Trustees, OHA staff, and members and of the administration witnessed the incident and can speak for themselves about what they saw and heard. Those present appeared shocked by the confrontation.

This was not a spirited policy disagreement. It was an elected official using physical intimidation and an alleged threat of violence against a colleague who challenged his position. Using physical size and aggression to frighten or silence someone is not leadership. It is bullying and abuse of power, plainly and openly, and it has no place in public office.

Our disagreement involved proposals affecting OHA's Kaka'ako Makai lands, including exchanging those lands for the Hawai'i Convention Center and pursuing gaming there. I made clear that I would oppose any exchange of OHA lands that was not first presented to Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, the public, and the Legislature for review and approval.

These lands are held for our people. Decisions about their future require transparency, consultation, and accountability-not threats, retaliation, or intimidation.

Another intimidation tactic I have observed is Trustee Souza repeatedly telling people that labor unions are ''backing his play," including the building trades and his construction allies. In my view, invoking organized labor in this manner is intended to project political power and discourage opposition.

That behavior does not reflect the brotherhood, solidarity, dignity, or democratic values of organized labor. My family has a long and well-known history of labor leadership, including my uncles David Trask, a public-sector labor leader, and Tommy Trask of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. I know the labor movement as one built upon collective strength, fairness, mutual respect, and the protection of working people-not threats, bullying, or the use of union relationships to intimidate others.

Over the past two years, I have watched OHA meetings and witnessed additional behavior by Trustee Souza that I consider despicable and profoundly unprofessional. I have also received reports from colleagues, beneficiaries, and members of the public alleging similar conduct, including public humiliation of colleagues, hostile confrontations with people expressing dissenting views, retaliation against constituents, and attempts to pressure outcomes through intimidation.

Those reports require independent verification, but their consistency raises serious concerns about a broader and repulsive pattern of conduct. This is not behavior that the public should tolerate from any elected official.

An OHA Trustee must be able to hear opposing viewpoints and conduct the people's business without losing control of his temper, terrorizing colleagues, threatening violence, humiliating others, or using the authority of public office to pressure and silence opposition. Conduct resembling that of a thug is not leadership; it is an abuse of the public trust.

Public officials must be held accountable when they use threats, intimidation, or the power of their positions against others. Before casting their ballots, voters should carefully examine Trustee Souza's record, qualifications, representations about his professional experience, political agenda, and support for gaming-related initiatives.

For these reasons, I urge OHA voters to VOTE NO on Keoni Souza.

Our beneficiaries deserve Trustees who respect differing viewpoints, protect trust assets, demonstrate self-control, and conduct themselves with dignity. Our lands, resources, safety, and public trust are too important to accept anything less.

Mililani Trask

Former OHA Hawai'i Island Trustee