Age: 56
Job: President/CEO, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Background: Adjunct faculty, Hawaii Pacific University, University of Hawaii; retired president, Youth for Christ Hawaii
Should OHA be allowed to build residential units in Kakaako Makai?
OHA should not be given exemptions from state and county development laws others must obey. OHA’s recent legislative agenda sought exemption for condominium height limits and from the sunshine laws in an effort to close trustee meetings to public scrutiny. OHA is a public agency that must be held accountable.
Should Native Hawaiians seek federal recognition?
No. Hawaiians never were and are not today an Indian tribe by federal definition. The Hawaiian kingdom consisted of citizens of multiple ethnic groups under a constitutional monarchy. There is no Hawaiian tribe — only self-styled tribal leaders seeking land, power and gambling rights of a federally recognized tribe.
