Grassroot’s Akina Runs For OHA
Kelii Akina wants to win a trustee seat on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board.
The head of the is running for an聽at-large trustee seat on the board.
Kelii Akina said in a press release,聽鈥淭he people of Hawaii know it’s time to reform OHA. We have to preserve the Aloha Spirit, equally advancing the interests of both native Hawaiians and all people in unity.鈥
Akina is聽adjunct faculty with聽Hawaii Pacific University聽and聽a plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court case Akina v. State of Hawaii, which challenged the self-governance election process.聽
The candidate argues that聽OHA should聽“stop wasting millions of dollars on the creation of a federally recognized race-based nation, something which most native Hawaiians and all residents don’t want.”
Instead, he says, 鈥淥HA should spend its public funds on housing, jobs, education, and health care for those in need, rather than squandering it on a failed political agenda.鈥
Akina finished fifth in an at-large OHA race in 2014, one in which the top three vote-getters were elected trustees.
The field this year includes longtime incumbent Haunani Apoliona.
