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OHA trustees vote unanimously to enter executive session after public testimony alleging rushed budget process and improper legal counsel
Summary
On July 10, 2025, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees voted 9-0 to go into executive session to consult with attorneys on trustees’ duties after public testimony alleging the biennium budget process and use of external counsel bypassed board approval and limited beneficiary input.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees voted 9-0 on July 10, 2025, to enter an executive session pursuant to "HR section 92-5" to consult with attorneys on trustees’ duties related to OHA’s financial affairs, employees and operations, after a public commenter raised concerns about the board’s budget process and use of outside legal counsel.
The testimony came from Jermaine Myers, who identified himself as an OHA beneficiary and a Nanakuli Hawaiian homestead lessee. Myers said beneficiaries lacked adequate time to review the most recent biennium budget and questioned use of legal advice during board discussions. "Beneficiaries did not have sufficient time on this financial matter to give input," Myers told the trustees, and asked, "Why couldn't the executive session wait until after public testimony?" He also cited the Sunshine Law while…
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