OHA trustees approve first reading of telework policy after broad staff support

HONOLULU — The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on May 15 approved on first reading a motion directing the administrator to develop and implement a telework program for positions whose duties are compatible with regular telework, and scheduled a second reading for May 29.

The action, recorded as board of trustees action item BOT 2508, passed first reading by a roll-call tally of eight yes votes and one abstention. The motion instructs the administrator to fold the telework policy into OHA’s Executive Policy Manual, requires employees to meet eligibility criteria, and directs the administrator to provide the board an annual update on implementation.

Trustees, staff and island-based employees described the vote as a significant step toward modernizing OHA’s workforce practices and improving retention and productivity. Hundreds of minutes of public and employee testimony at the meeting emphasized long commutes, recruitment challenges and the agency’s existing IT capability to support remote work.

Public commenters and OHA staff who testified said the agency already uses Microsoft 365 and Teams for remote collaboration and that a formal policy would allow OHA to advertise telework-eligible positions and compete for talent statewide. “Telework is not a luxury to me. It's a solution rooted in practicality and productivity,” said Kristen (staff member), who told trustees she commutes roughly two hours…