OHA trustees debate bylaws revisions including chief of staff role and public testimony time

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees held a lengthy first reading and discussion of proposed revisions to its bylaws (action item BOT 2501), focusing on the role of a chief of staff, who the draft says would "coordinate daily trustee aide and secretary staff functions, operations and activities," changes to testimony and presentation time limits, and creation of two vice chair positions. Interim General Counsel Everett Ota walked the board through the draft and said the package also removes provisions that conflict with Hawaii's Sunshine Law and updates references to state ethics statutes.

Why it matters: The proposed wording prompted trustees to question whether the chief of staff language would effectively let that position direct or manage staff who currently serve at the pleasure of individual trustees. Trustees said that change could create conflicts of loyalty for trustee aides and secretaries and undermine trustee independence. The board did not adopt the bylaws at this meeting; trustees asked counsel to revise the language and return a new draft for consideration at the Feb. 6, 2025 meeting.

The packet presented to trustees included a clean draft of revised bylaws, a redline comparing the proposed draft to bylaws adopted in October 2024, and the existing bylaws. Everett Ota, identified in the meeting as interim general counsel, summarized proposed changes including adding a second vice chair position, clarifying committee succession, making explicit a chairperson-emeritus designation, and tightening requirements to ensure written…