It is rare when Hawaii’s government give voters both the problem and a possible solution, but that is what is happening with the astounding state auditor’s report on the out-of-control spending by the Office of Hawaii Affairs.
State Auditor Les Kondo is required to audit OHA every four years and this year’s study shows OHA with a serial disrespect for OHA beneficiaries — that is, Native Hawaiians — as the trustees spent money like drunken sailors running through Waikiki.
Auditors can’t really say that, but as Kondo put it: “This form of behind-the-scenes giving is inherently inequitable to OHA’s many other beneficiaries who may be in need of financial assistance, but are unaware of who and how to ask for help.”
Trustees dropped more than $14 million in discretionary spending. Some of it was petty and greedy, as a trustee who spent $34.30 at Don Quijote for Christmas tree lights for the office and $99.46 for a Christmas tree.
Another trustee (names were not made available) took $249 in OHA money for a Hawaiian Airlines Premier club membership. And another got OHA to buy a $106.08 Walmart car air freshener.
More disturbing are the political and religious payments. A beneficiary was paid $400 “for entertainment for musical interlude as part of 2016 Prayer Watch.” The Pacific Buddhist Academy was given a “$1,750 donation to the 9th Annual Lighting Our Way Banquet.”
Another beneficiary got $255 for “chair setup and chairs for God’s Ohana Day,” and Lohea Audio picked up $1,400 for the sound system setup and technical service for God’s Ohana Day.
OHA made a $500 donation to the Legal Defense Fund for Mauna Kea plus $149.79 for musubi for Mauna Kea demonstrators and gave Sam’s Club $151.14 for food for demonstrators on Mauna Kea, according to the audit.
Unlike other states with Native American residents controlling their own form of tribal government, Hawaii, instead, has created a separate group of residents. As the law creating OHA states: “There (shall) be an office of Hawaiian affairs to address the needs of the aboriginal class of people of Hawaii.”
Money to run OHA comes from the state and ceded land revenue payments — that is land that the Kingdom of Hawaii controlled and was ceded to Hawaii when it became part of the U.S.
Because of the audit, trustees are now saying they will consider a moratorium on some of the spending practices, but it is obvious much more needs to be done.
If voters in the state want to do something, the way to move ahead is to change the set-up of OHA — not destroy OHA or rule it out of existence, but change how it operates.
Because OHA was created by the 1978 state Constitutional Convention, OHA has to be changed by the state Constitution.
This November, Hawaii voters will be asked if Hawaii should hold another ConCon. That is the way to have the discussion about what is, and what is not, working with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Voters can act, not with a fear that OHA will be undone, but that it can be made to serve its beneficiaries. This month’s audit shows why change is needed now.
Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays. Reach him at 808onpolitics@gmail.com.
