HONOLULU — Less than 24 hours after a bruising, five-hour hearing that resulted in a negative recommendation from the Senate Hawaiian affairs committee, Ikaika Anderson withdrew his nomination for chair of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Ikaika Anderson’s nomination was to be voted on by the full Senate, but it was widely assumed that he lacked the votes needed to be confirmed

  • It was clear from the tenor and tone of nearly two hours of questioning that Senate Hawaiian affairs committee members were dubious about the nominee’s close ties to the governor, uncomfortable with his previously stated intention to deviate from an approved plan for spending $600 million in funding to build homes, and frustrated with what they characterized as a lack of preparation during two earlier Senate committee appearances

  • And while Anderson received support from several state department heads as well as former Honolulu City Council colleagues, former Govs. John Waihee and Neil Abercrombie and numerous individual testifiers, the committee ultimately voted 4-1 not to advise and consent

  • Anderson said he intends to continue working with the Hawaiian community and Green “in whatever opportunity may come up for me to be of service”

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, an emotional Anderson thanked Gov. Josh Green “for the opportunity to serve my native people, whose heart I’ve always worn on my sleeve thanks to the upbringing of my grandparents (former state legislator) Whitney and Hannie Anderson who served in leadership positions in the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.”

“But I respectfully ask, Governor, that you withdraw my nomination effective immediately,” Anderson said.

Anderson’s nomination was to be voted on by the full Senate, but it was widely assumed that he lacked the votes needed to be confirmed.

On Tuesday, Anderson tried unsuccessfully to steady what had over recent weeks become a dangerously tilting nomination. However, it was clear from the tenor and tone of nearly two hours of questioning that committee members were dubious about the nominee’s close ties to the governor, uncomfortable with his previously stated intention to deviate from an approved plan for spending $600 million in funding to build homes, and frustrated with what they characterized as a lack of preparation during two earlier Senate committee appearances.

And while Anderson received support from several state department heads as well as former Honolulu City Council colleagues, former Govs. John Waihee and Neil Abercrombie and numerous individual testifiers, the committee ultimately voted 4-1 not to advise and consent.

Chair Maile Shimabukuro and vice-chair Kurt Fevella, who had chastised Anderson at a Hawaiian Homes Commission meeting last month, were joined by Sens. Jarrett Keohokalole and Les Ihara in voting to oppose the nomination. Sen. Tim Richards cast the lone dissenting vote.

“While Ikaika is a good person, his evasiveness and unpreparedness before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means were too much to overcome,” said Keohokalole, co-chair of the Legislature’s Native Hawaiian Caucus. “His misrepresentation of the commission’s viewpoints on the $600 million plan significantly influenced my decision.”

Following the meeting, Green, who had testified in support of his nominee, issued a statement accusing the committee of playing politics and taking a shot at former DHHL chair William Aila, who testified against Anderson’s nomination.

“Instead, they chose to side with the last director that was unable to deliver housing and left the department with about 50% of its staff filled,” Green said of the committee’s decision.

In brief remarks following his request to withdraw his nomination, Anderson emphasized the level of support he had received.

“Despite yesterday’s Senate Hawaiian Affairs Committee meeting where support in favor of my confirmation was overwhelming, more than 2-to-1, the votes just weren’t there,” Anderson said. “I respect that process. I thank the state Senate for allowing me to go through the process and for allowing me the opportunity to be heard.”

A disappointed Green, who still has three nominees facing potentially difficult confirmation, said he hopes politics won’t be a part of future decision-making regarding his nominees.

“When you see that many individuals come forward to support a gentleman like Ikaika Anderson, you have to ask yourself why (the committee) ultimately wouldn’t pass him on to confirm,” Green said. “I won’t second guess the committee. I will say this: We were all sent here to do a job, to help people. In this case, it was to help build houses for the Hawaiian community, and I can’t think of anyone who was better poised to do that. He simply wanted to help out. Going forward, I would hope we would keep that as our priority and not let politics mix into our opinions.”

Anderson said he intends to continue working with the Hawaiian community and Green “in whatever opportunity may come up for me to be of service.”

“I appreciate Ikaika’s willingness to serve and admire his fortitude throughout this process,” Senate President Ron Kouchi said in a statement released late Wednesday. “Best wishes and aloha to Ikaika in his future endeavors.”

Shimabukuro also reacted to Anderson’s withdrawal with a statement acknowledging his support. 

“I appreciate the many testifiers who came forward to share their manao regarding Ikaika’s confirmation,” she said. “He is clearly loved by a wide array of organizations and people, and has accomplished much for the betterment of our state.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.