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COURTESY PHOTO
Janeen-Ann Olds: She has lost the trust of her colleagues due to a telecom scandal
Probate Judge Derrick Chan today rejected Janeen-Ann Olds’ petition to be reappointed to a second term as a Kamehameha trustee.
Olds had lost the support of her fellow trustees as well as a number of prominent Kamehameha Schools’ alumni, including its former president, Michael Chun, who cited ongoing controversies surrounding Sandwich Isles Communications and Waimana Enterprises.
Olds is currently CEO of Sandwich Isles and previously served as general counsel to Waimana.
Chan’s comments were sparse in denying Olds’ petition.
“It’s the court’s paramount objective to consider only the best interest of the trust, and therefore based on the records and files in this case I must deny this petition,” said Chan.
The four other Kamehameha trustees, as well as an independent court master hired by the court to conduct an independent assessment of Olds’ petition, had both recommended in filings with the court that Olds’ petition be denied.
Attorney Lex Smith, who represented Olds during the court proceeding, said after the hearing that they were disappointed by the court’s decision. He said that he believes Olds could have continued to be an effective trustee despite the loss of support from her colleagues.
Robert Nobriga, chair of the Kamehameha trustees, said that the trustees “appreciated the difficult decision that the court had made.”
“We feel it is the right decision and in the best interest of Kamehameha Schools,” he said. “We are looking forward to putting this matter behind us.”
The Federal Communications Commission is currently investigating Sandwich Isles’ operations and finances following the July conviction of Al Hee, the company’s founder, on seven counts of federal tax fraud.
