Former U.S. representative Kai Kahele was elected chair of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Kahele succeeds trustee Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey, who served in the position for the last four years
  • The board elected trustee Keoni Souza as board vice-chair
  • Kahele was elected to represent Hawaii island in the November General Election
  • It is his first elected office since vacating his seat as Hawaii District 2 representative in a failed bid for governor

 

Kahele succeeds trustee Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey, who served in the position for the last four years.

“I am both humbled and honored that my fellow trustees have placed their trust and confidence in me to lead the board,” Kahele said in a statement released on Wednesday. “I look forward to leading transparently and in collaboration with the board, staff, community and our beneficiaries. Together, we at OHA will commit our efforts to improving the lives of our Native Hawaiian beneficiaries with the energy and passion our people deserve.” 

The board elected trustee Keoni Souza as board vice-chair. 

Hawaii Supreme Court associate justice Todd Eddins administered the oath of office to the newly elected and reelected OHA trustees prior to Wednesday's board meeting. In addition to Kahele, trustees Kelii Akina (at large), Luana Alapa (Molokai and Lanai) and Dan Ahuna (Kauai and Niihau) were sworn into office.

Kahele was elected to represent Hawaii island in the November General Election. It is his first elected office since vacating his seat as Hawaii District 2 representative in a failed bid for governor.

Born in Milolii on Hawaii Island, Kahele graduated from Hilo High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he starred as a member of the UH men’s volleyball team. Kahele, a combat veteran and commissioned officer in the Hawaii Air National Guard, also holds an MS in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Kahele, who also works as a commercial pilot for Hawaiian Airlines, is the son of the late state senator Gil Kahele. He was appointed by then. Gov. David Ige to fill his father’s District 1 seat when the elder Kahele died in 2016. In four years in the Senate, Kahele held positions as majority whip, majority floor leader and chair of the committees on higher education and water and land.

He was elected to Congress in 2020.

“This is an exciting time for the agency, and I look forward to working with Chair Kahele and the entire board addressing the challenges within our Hawaiian communities as well as seizing innovative and transformational opportunities to better serve our beneficiaries,” said Stacy Kealohalani Ferreira, OHA ka pouhana/chief executive officer.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.