[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6671212,"mediaKeyId","2171496-8092aab735cacdde7575ddc74567cb79","parentId",2171496,"title","Public commenters allege nepotism and secret casino talks; call for renewed focus on Hawaiian sovereignty","audioSeconds",1907,"startMs",491000,"endMs",2398000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171496-8092aab735cacdde7575ddc74567cb79&start=491&end=2398","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171496-8092aab735cacdde7575ddc74567cb79/thumbnail_491000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6671212/Hawaii/Public-commenters-allege-nepotism-and-secret-casino-talks-call-for-renewed-focus-on-Hawaiian-sovereignty","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671212-f8315a11574aeb63cd047599ffa0319e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148721&Signature=NLEMybL3~V6f-8zSbGKWQSvMPTr4gx~jYozez4SGd64WSwwdKLW7-5pprodJikTktdi68SIL-dWX3BNeHaqG31vfxshuU1vSxiLgy2HBpUooxv2whRxmKfYoAdVAcOGakVEecLIv6E4GFLkT-U8R6ECsMTLvnaj9Qg1Y5yyBpm4RFM1X1vmdaJVbtvSlKvJW9OtEYef2h0Bn5lg3rSFX1LhjW6It7H8sP01dvTbpszXhz35tEC2TnxDbFPWjIyA9zWyMWbNNuwp4efCKra4QFGqeHFmzCtOsogeChh2AJIQVdAVIbNulI1SSQfNdn5FQUp164U0y7aeup~zfESqc9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hawaii - Task Force Created by Act 170","date","2025-01-01T05:05:43.023Z","article","Public commenters at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 4, 2024, raised allegations about internal hiring practices and private meetings regarding a proposed casino, and urged the board to keep Hawaiian sovereignty and beneficiary interests central to its work.

Jermaine Myers, who identified himself as an OHA beneficiary advocate and a Nanakuli Hawaiian homestead lessee, told trustees that “nepotism by Chair Hulu” had allowed two trustees to keep daughters in paid positions by moving them to different trustee offices after a nepotism rule took effect in July 2023. Myers said the positions paid ‘‘$50,000 plus benefits’’ and alleged that two trustees met privately with representatives of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians to discuss a casino proposal outside a joint committee meeting. He also said, attributing a claim he heard from a former vice chair, that two trustees met privately with Governor Green to request support for the proposal to swap OHA’s Kaka‘ako Makai lands for the Hawaii Convention Center.

Myers framed those statements as concerns he has raised about past and current leadership practices and said he will continue to advocate for beneficiaries and “pono leadership.” He described Chair Lindsey as someone who “maintains decorum, order, and diplomacy” amid criticism.

Renette Carlson, a longtime attendee who said she worked on Native Hawaiian roll efforts, spoke about Hawaiian sovereignty and urged trustees to prioritize sovereignty and the wellbeing of Native Hawaiians. She thanked previous efforts by the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, Kamehameha Schools and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and asked the board to act with urgency on sovereignty matters.

Senator Curt Favella provided public remarks in support of Trustee Kai Kahele, recounting shared experiences and urging unity; his remarks did not reference the allegations raised by Myers.

The board did not take formal action on the allegations during the meeting. Trustees and staff acknowledged public comments and proceeded with nominations and votes on board leadership.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","OHA Board of Trustees Meeting - Oʻahu - 12/4/24","oneSentenceSummary","During public testimony at the Dec. 4, 2024, OHA board meeting, speakers raised accusations about trustee staff hires and private discussions with a tribal casino proposer, and urged the board to prioritize Hawaiian sovereignty.","taxTitle","Task Force Created by Act 170, Executive , Hawaii","taxId",26072,"location","Hawaii","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6671214,"Kai Kahele elected OHA board chair; Keoni Souza chosen vice chair; committee chairs ratified",872,1376000,2248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171496-8092aab735cacdde7575ddc74567cb79&start=1376&end=2248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171496-8092aab735cacdde7575ddc74567cb79/thumbnail_1376000.jpg","/articles/6671214/Hawaii/Kai-Kahele-elected-OHA-board-chair-Keoni-Souza-chosen-vice-chair-committee-chairs-ratified","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671214-d3484656f24ee11a33d574b0bce3b937/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148721&Signature=QNFDAbOdgom70hLon6HYB4DEcbipdqVU7~QDquv4tUCNFdHPB4co1tNnCAyZj6gET0OKye68yIHQirWmDRG7oofUseI1P1Ac14mEULeVtzlLcKrfjVHPvGmmR~fo9BORj-QLYSh~HXLBbUtiIvk8dvC2z5uYy6vZ5s9lRK-zBiHHU7ZbN6QIkXSiVSIs6BjqEjq3AsRIfWGfU5aelZ-uByFEyw3G4XuiuWSwapvEMc5OKmGkM4BKRBNEN9WnSCVsV1WZ5FgpWxJWIkcFKif4OO0ke7bla7kqpMpnRCR0wv3Bm09MTZVDRysGhHfDDwBOYnyhnGesCtT7FfCuNLw9Cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees elected Trustee Kai Kahele as board chair and Trustee Keoni Souza as vice chair during a roll-call vote at its Dec. 4, 2024, meeting.

Kahele received five votes, the simple majority required under the board's stated voting procedure, and was declared chair after trustees completed the roll call. Later in the meeting, trustees chose Keoni Souza as vice chair by a 5–4 roll-call tally over a nomination for Trustee Carmen Hulu Lindsey.

The vote followed the chair's announcement that the board would conduct nominations and roll-call voting consistent with Robert's Rules and state open-meetings requirements. Board counsel referenced an opinion from the Office of Information Practices—identified in the meeting as OIP opinion 24-3—stating that individual votes must be recorded and that secret ballots do not meet that requirement.

Trustees also moved to appoint and ratify committee chairs and vice chairs. The board ratified the appointment of Trustee Galluteria as chair and Trustee Akaka as vice chair for the Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment with a roll-call vote reported as nine yes votes. The board ratified Trustee Luana Alapa as chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance with nine yes votes; the vice chair position for that committee was left open. Trustees ratified Keoni Souza as chair and John D. Waheae IV as vice chair for the Committee on Investment and Land Management with nine yes votes.

During his remarks accepting the chair nomination, Trustee Kai Kahele said he would “lead with humility, with transparency” and emphasized collaboration, outlining priorities such as education, housing, economic resilience and cultural revitalization as central to OHA’s work.

After the new leadership and committee appointments were confirmed, Kahele thanked outgoing Chair Carmen Hulu Lindsey for her service and said he looked forward to working with the administration and staff.

Votes at a glance

- Board chair (election): Kai Kahele — elected (5 votes). Nomination(s) included Carmen Hulu Lindsey and Kai Kahele. Method: roll-call; legal threshold: simple majority of trustees to which the board is entitled.
- Vice chair: Keoni Souza — elected (5 votes); Carmen Hulu Lindsey received 4 votes.
- Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment: Trustee Galluteria (chair) and Trustee Akaka (vice chair) — ratified (9 yes votes).
- Committee on Budget and Finance: Luana Alapa (chair) — ratified (9 yes votes); vice chair left open.
- Committee on Investment and Land Management: Keoni Souza (chair) and John D. Waheae IV (vice chair) — ratified (9 yes votes).

No formal motions to change committee assignments or to reopen votes were recorded during the meeting. The board adjourned after the appointments and final roll-call votes.","At its Dec. 4, 2024, meeting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees elected Trustee Kai Kahele as board chair and Trustee Keoni Souza as vice chair by roll-call votes, and the board ratified appointments to three standing committees.","actionData","errors"]

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Public commenters allege nepotism and secret casino talks; call for renewed focus on Hawaiian sovereignty

Kai Kahele elected OHA board chair; Keoni Souza chosen vice chair; committee chairs ratified