Bill would keep lobbyists off OHA’s board

Legislation introduced Friday would prohibit registered lobbyists from serving on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees.

But there’s only one target of the bill at this point: Keli‘i Akina.

Written and introduced by state Rep. Kaniela Ing (D, South Maui), the measure would affect only the board’s newest trustee, elected in November and registered with the state Ethics Commission as a lobbyist for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

“It’s the most egregious form of conflict of interest,” said Ing, chairman of the House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs. “OHA trustees are elected to serve the Hawaiian people, not push corporate agendas.”

Akina, president of the Grassroot Institute, responded that Ing’s “attack” is an unconstitutional attempt to curtail his freedom of speech “as a watchdog of state government.”

In an interview, Ing denounced the Grassroot Institute for receiving major funding from “extreme right-wing mainland advocacy groups who seek to dismantle Hawaiian programs.” The Donors Capital Fund and Cato Institute, which have close ties to the conservative Koch brothers, are among the donors.

Ing said he objects to the fact that Akina has fought to undercut Kamehameha Schools, Hawaiian homelands and Native Hawaiian self-determination efforts, yet he sits on a board that aims to help the Hawaiian people.

“If you follow the money, it all makes sense,” he said. “This is hewa (wrong) and against the mission and vision of OHA.”

Ing said that while he’s introduced measures to cut the political influence of corporate super PAC money in the past, this issue rises to a higher level of bad government.

“We’re not talking about campaign donations here,” Ing said. “This is mainland money directly lining the pockets of an elected official in order to influence policy. For legislators and other policymakers, this would be called bribery.”

Ing said his bill would end the double standard and ensure all OHA trustees “stand with their Hawaiian beneficiaries.”

Akina could not be reached for comment, but he did issue a news release Friday condemning the proposal.

Akina said he registered as a lobbyist simply to disclose the fact he plans to spend a few hours each month in ways that might influence public officials.

“I am not a lobbyist in the sense of someone who is paid to promote a special interest or the agenda of an association. I head an independent public policy think tank that develops recommendations for improving Hawaii’s economy and government,” Akina said.

“It is astounding to think that — with all the issues confronting our state — an elected legislator would go through the trouble to draft this bill, which would curtail the liberty of just one individual. Rep. Ing’s action raises larger questions about who put him up to it and why. And I also wonder why they are second-guessing the voters who put me into office knowing what I stand for,” Akina said.