OHA candidate forums begin Tuesday with Oahu trustee race

Oct 12, 2026

Hawaii voters are getting a look at the candidates for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board, with infighting among current trustees emerging as the central complaint.

  • Forums for OHA trustee candidates run Tuesday through Thursday, starting with the Oahu island seat.
  • Incumbent Keliʻi Akaka, elected in 2018, faces challenger Lee Moana Wong, a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner and community leader.
  • Wong called the current fighting among trustees unacceptable and made rebuilding public trust her top priority.
  • Akaka pointed to his record on advocacy and listening to community needs.
  • Candidates also tackled OHA's $1 billion portfolio, military land leases, and the long-stalled Kakaako Makai development.

Outlook: Every registered voter in Hawaii can vote in this race regardless of island, so the remaining forums for Maui and the at-large seats will shape a contest decided statewide.

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