Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 2, 1 February 2012 — Maui's Garmen "Hulu" Lindsey sworn in as Interim Trustee [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

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Maui's Garmen "Hulu" Lindsey sworn in as Interim Trustee

By Harold Nedd and Lisa Asato Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey was sworn in as Interim OHA Trustee Jan. 17, stepping into the position left vacant by the November resignation of Maui Trustee Boyd Mossman. Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who appointed Lindsey to the post after OHA Trustees eame to an impasse on the decision, said at the swearing-in ceremony that Lindsey exemplifies "complete devotion to the cause of Native Hawaiians." "No one is better qualified by virtue of culture, by virtue of political commitment going all the way back to John Anthony Burns, whose vision for Hawai'i

was as ours is today: respect, honor, a future based on Hawaiian values," Abercrombie said. "No one has better qualifications in terms of background to exercise the authority associated with the Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. And no one is better prepared to make the transition." Lindsey is the broker/owner of Lindsey Realty, whieh specializes in residential sales and property management in Upcountry, South Maui and Central Maui. She is also the owner of Kahulu Productions, a company specializing in Hawaiian entertainment productions for corporate visitors to Maui in resort hotels. Prior to owning her own businesses, Lindsey served as

Properties Administrator for Maui Land and Pineapple Co. Ine., where she was responsible for administering the company's employee housing programs, and Administrator of the Maui County Department of Puhlie Works, as well as the assistant to former Gov. John A. Burns' press secretary. Abercrombie, OHA Trustees and Lindsey's family members from O'ahu and Maui, who flew in the for occasion, filled the OHA boardroom as Intermediate Court of Appeals Associate Judge Lisa Ginoza swore in OHA's newest Trustee. "We are happy to weleome Hulu to our team," said OHA Chairperson Colette Machado. "We believe her business background as

well as her knowledge of Native Hawaiian issues will help the board as we seek to improve the lives our beneficiaries." Addressing the crowd, Lindsey said: "The Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have a fiduciary duty to our Hawaiian beneficiaries to make the critical decisions that relate not only to trust management but also to program development and implementation, and cultural and historic preservation and undertakings in many diverse areas. "My commitment is to work with the office and all of the Trustees and their staff to advance the status and better the conditions of our Hawaiian beneficiaries. I firmly believe in and support the mission of OHA to raise and strengthen our people and believe that I ean work collectively and supportively

to achieve this goal. I'm extremely grateful to Governor Abercrombie to give me this opportunity to serve my fellow Hawaiian beneficiaries. I thank my children for their support. Mahalo to my family and my extended family and I commit myself to work with all of these Trustees, again, collectively and supportively." Lindsey will serve on an interim basis until a special election is held in November to fill the remaining two years of Mossman's term. Mossman stepped down to heeome President of the Kona Hawai'i īemple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To hear an interview with Interim Trustee Huīu Lindsey, visit naoiwioIino.com and eīiek on the "Listen on Demand" buttonforthe Jan. 22 show. I

Board reorganization Trustee Peter Apo is the new Vice Chair of the nine-member board, and Trustee Rowena Akana is the new Vice Chair of the Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment Committee, aftera reorganization voteJan. 19. Akana filled the BAE vice chairmanship vacancy left by Apo. The board vice chairmanship has been vacant since Boyd Mossman resigned in November. Trustees Oswald Stender and Robert Lindsey remain as the Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, of the Asset and Resource Management Committee. Kaua'i and Ni'ihau Trustee Donald Cataluna voted via videoconference.

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Lisa Ginoza, lntermediate Court of Appeals Associate Judge, performed the swearing-in ceremony of Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey as 0HA's lnterim Trustee on Jan. 1 7. AT RIGHT: The OHA Board of Trustees with Gov. Neil Abercrombie, center, and his appointee, Hulu Lindsey, to his right. On hand for the ceremony were Trustees, from left, Oswald Stender, Haunani Apoliona, John Waihe'e, Peter Apo, Rowena Akana, Robert Lindsey and Chairperson Colette Machado. - Photos: Pmneine Murray