Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 12, 1 December 1996 — Hawaiians face crucial historic period [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiians face crucial historic period

bservers of OHA await with interest the reorganization meeting of the Board of Trustees as Hawaiian issues and programs face serious challenges in the courts, and from federal and state governments. There are three new members, and those members campaigned as a team. On a board that has been characterized by divisiveness, will the team continue to speak with one voice? And of course, the larger question inside OHA and out, in both the Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian

community, is whether Clayton Hee will maintain his hold on the OHA chairmanship. As chairman, Hee has been criticized for not being a team player, for not keeping fellow board members informed of his actions on behalf of the organization and of not consulting them before acting. On the other hand, under Hee's chairmanship, OHA has

stepped forward in a number of arenas, including forcing the state to face back payments of entitlements. Hee's background includes stints in both the state Senate and House of Representatives. He was part of the Cayetano-Toguchi-Abercrombie maveriek or dissident group in the early 1980s in the legislature and learned the political style of confrontation, rewarding your friends, exiling your enemies. He rose to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee, a rare position for a non-lawyer. Hee is personable, has a quick mind and disarming manner. Some observers note that he has a quick temper, too, but may be calculated in when he lets it show. He's unafraid to step into the middle of an issue and take on powerful people. "That takes political courage," says one long time state Capitol player. "He's not the consultative type. He's a realis-

tic, pohtical pragmatist." Hee's style is to "coimt votes." Before a board action, Hee lines up his support. Some trustees don't like what they eall "wheeling and dealing." īhe^M prefer full and open discussion at board sessions. Hee supporters say this "free and open discussion" disintegrates into rancor at the meetings. Another area of contention between some board members and Hee is his staunch friendship with Gov. Ben Cayetano. Cayetano's administration is seeking, through court action, to block payment to the Hawaiian people of some airport revenues. In addition, there are reports to OHA from labor leaders and others that the governor is using the payment of Hawaiian entitlements as reason for the state's tight contract negotiations. Hee believes a solution ean be worked out with Cayetano that will be a win for both Hawaiians and the state. Some board members prefer a more direct attack on the governor. Hee lost support on the board in the recent eleetion. To retain his chairmanship of the nine-member board, Hee needs a majority vote. Three trustees he could usually count on lost their bids for reelection — Kina'u Kamali'i, Samuel Kealoha and Moanike'ala Akaka. A fourth incumbent who ran for reelection, Trustee Moses Keale, who is not a Hee supporter, retained his seat. Keale has been on the OHA board since its inception. He's served as chair three times and has an extensive resume of business and eommunity service. Trustees Rowena Akana and Billie Beamer are both outspoken opponents of Hee and eaeh is well known in the community and highly visible through 'Olelo programs. Beamer is former chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission and former director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Akana, a former career counselor at 'Alu Like, has hosted radio programs. Also well-known is Trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto who has often supported Hee, but is independent. DeSoto is outspoken, was part of the Constitutional Convention whieh led to the creation of OHA and was a key player in returning Kaho'olawe. Vice Chairman Abraham Aiona has been closely allied with Hee. Aiona, a retired pohee officer who was chief of poliee on Maui also served on the Maui County Council for five terms. Trustee-elect Haunani Apoliona is president and CEO of Alu Like. She too has extensive community service credits and is well known as an entertainer. Trustee-elect Colette Machado is executive director of a community-based development non-profit organization. She was involved in the Protect Kaho'olawe movement. Trustee-elect Hannah Springer is an ethnographer, a writer and lecturer. The new board members, Apoliona, Springer and Machado ran on a platform calling for respect and cooperation within OHA. The fourth member of their team, Warren Perry, lost to Keale. Had he won, the Nā Lei Lōkahi slate would have held strong power within the board, needing only a single vote to get a majority for action. The board members-elect are reluctant to discuss their plans. Apoliona said the group prefers to wait until after the Dec. 6 investiture. Then, she said, they'd prefer to sit down as a team for a Ka Wai Ola o OHA interview.

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by Barbara A. Hastings

OHA's leadership big ?

Clayton Hee