Departure of DHHL director lamented

The man tapped by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to chart a new course for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands announced Friday he will resign after the legislative session ends in May.

DHHL Director Alapaki Nahale-a said the decision to leave was his own.

"Working for state government at this level has been a rewarding experience but also taxing on a number of levels," Nahale-a said in a statement. "While I am proud of all that we’ve accomplished so far, the decision for me to move on is what I believe is best for my family, which is my No. 1 priority."

Alapaki Nahale-a:
He said the decision
to leave was his alone

Observers noted that Naha­le-a, 44, is the father of four, including two who are youngsters, and has been commuting from Pepeekeo, just outside Hilo, since his appointment in December 2010.

"Alapaki is a man who has and will do good things for Hawaii, especially Native Hawaiians. While I am saddened by his resignation, I am very proud of the work that he has done," Abercrombie said in a statement. "He has reminded me of the sacrifice that many state workers are making to better Hawaii."

Leaders of the Native Hawaiian community said they were saddened to hear of Naha­le-a’s impending departure.

Colette Machado, chairwoman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, said DHHL and OHA were able to begin an unprecedented era of cooperation with Naha­le-a at the helm. The OHA board and Hawaiian Homes Commission have been meeting at least quarterly since September. "I’m disappointed he resigned," she said. "We will miss him."

Senate Hawaiian Affairs Chairman Brickwood Galuteria said Nahale-a brought a refreshing perspective to DHHL, noting that he was the first homesteader to take charge of the agency tasked with placing Native Hawaiians on homestead lands as spelled out by the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921.

Galuteria said Naha­le-a was steadfast in fighting for DHHL autonomy over lands under its control.

Richard Soo, a homesteader in the Kalawahine Streamside Homestead in Papa­ko­lea, said Naha­le-a was an out-of-the-box Cabinet selection whose expertise has been in education, not government or politics.

"As an educator you look more at the whole as opposed to just the numbers," Soo said.

For instance, Nahale-a was working on ways of providing rental housing for people eligible for homestead leases, he said. "To me that was really forward-thinking."

DHHL is also taking an active role in development of a correctional facility on Maui. Nahale-a said DHHL wants to help bring incarcerated Hawaiians back from the mainland.

Nahale-a will serve until May 15, and he will help Abercrombie in selecting his successor, the governor’s news release said.

It was announced earlier this week that M. Wai‘ale‘ale Sarsona, Nahale-a’s chief of staff, is resigning to become director of Kamehameha Schools’ Ho‘o­lako Like Department, which oversees the schools’ 17 Hawaiian- focused public charter and conversion schools.

Last year, Robert "Bobby" Hall, Nahale-a’s deputy, retired.

Nahale-a is the latest of several high-profile Abercrombie appointees to resign.

Also departing since the administration took office in December 2010 have been Human Resources Director Sunshine Topping, homeless czar Marc Alexander, Civil Defense Deputy Director Ed Texeira, Hawaii Public Housing Authority Executive Director Denise Wise, Chief of Staff Amy Asselbaye, Deputy Chief of Staff Andrew Aoki and Communications Director Josh Levinson.