Letter: Akina’s right to speak up to demand a better OHA

In 1978, the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), was conceived to assist our native population. But over the decades, OHA has given us squabbling, corruption, malfeasance and incompetence — not to mention, the waste of millions of taxpayers’ dollars. In short, the agency has fallen far short of its considerable promise.

For many non-Hawaiians, like myself, it’s been an amusing sideshow. But the welfare and progress of Hawaiians is everyone’s concern.

Now comes OHA trustee Keli‘i Akina, who dares to make this mess-of-a-public-agency more open to the scrutiny it so rightly deserves. The board says: “Trustees should speak with one voice!” What they really mean is: “Don’t air our dirty laundry!”

To OHA, Akina is a traitor. For his courage in standing up and demanding a better OHA, for me, and for all of us in this state, he’s a true hero.

C. Richard Fassler

Manoa

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