Age: 63
Job: Principal at-will, Indigenous Consultants LLC
Background: Attorney; OHA trustee; Member of the Value Growth Associates Hawaiian Team
Should OHA be allowed to build residential units in Kakaako Makai?
Yes, absolutely yes. The state appraisals (OHA and State of Hawaii) were based on the construction of residential usage up to 400 feet. Following the settlement, the state legislature refused to affirm OHA’s development rights. If these rights are not restored, OHA should litigate to set the settlement aside.
Should Native Hawaiians seek federal recognition?
OHA’s reasons for seeking federal recognition are to protect trust entitlements. The establishment of a nation-to-nation relationship with the U.S. government should be pursued by the Hawaiian Nation, and not by state agencies whose representatives are elected by the public. The Hawaiian community has clearly rejected OHA’s federal recognition proposal.
