Keli`i Akina Wins Seat as OHA Trustee - Vows to Challenge Financial Practices and Race-Based Nation Plans

News Release from www.KeliiAkina.com November 9, 2016 

HONOLULU, HAWAII--November 9, 2016 -- Keli`i Akina, Ph.D. has won the General Election race for Trustee-at-Large in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, garnering 163,699 votes.  Akina successfully challenged long-term incumbent Haunani Apoliona who earned 156,158 votes.  A historic 73.1% of all voters cast a vote in the OHA Trustee-at-Large election. 

Dr. Akina said, "I want to thank Trustee Apoliona for her years of service to the people of Hawaii, and I welcome her continued input on the advancement of native Hawaiians, something to which she has devoted her entire life.  I also want to thank all voters who cast votes in the OHA election.  You participated in record numbers and demonstrated that OHA is relevant and of concern to the entire community. Finally, I especially want to thank all of my supporters for your faith in me, financial contributions and tireless campaign volunteer work."

Akina ran on a platform of uniting Hawaii and cleaning up OHA`s financial practices.  He repeatedly told voters that, if elected, he will work to: 

(1) Shut off OHA`s wasteful spending on race-based, federal recognition schemes that most Hawaiians do not want;  

(2) Focus on meeting the real needs of Hawaiians for housing, jobs, education, and health-care; and; 

(3) Bring truth and transparency to the OHA board.

As an OHA Trusteeship is a part-time board position, Akina will continue to serve as President/CEO of the Grassroot Institute, an independent public policy think-tank.

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Dr Akina Shares His Plans

From Grassroot Institute, November 9, 2016

By now you have hopefully heard the exciting news that I was elected to the position of Trustee-at-Large for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. 

You may not have heard much about my race from the Grassroot Institute because we carefully made sure that no campaign activity was conducted by Grassroot, a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization. 

Now that I have been elected to the Board of OHA, I look forward to continuing as the President/CEO of Grassroot Institute, as the OHA Board is only a part-time position! Most trustees, like legislators, maintain their private practices or employments while serving in public office. I'm grateful that the Grassroot Board authorized this while I chose to run for office. 

Like all public office holders, I have the opportunity to benefit from the powerful research conducted by Grassroot that scrutinizes our state economy and government. 

This will especially help in my role as a public watchdog!

I'm grateful to many of you who, outside of Grassroot, rallied around me in my pursuit of public office. I hope that many more constituents of Grassroot will consider seeking roles in government and the public sector. 

Together, let's continue to build the capacity of the Grassroot Institute and Grassroot Hawaii Action to promote the values of individual liberty, free markets and limited, accountable government. 

E hana kakou (Let's work together!),

Keli'i 

Keli'i Akina

President/CEO