A sharply critical state audit of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is expected to be released to the public today.
Despite OHA’s official and unofficial responses to the barrage of criticism, state auditor Marion Higa’s final report maintains its position that agency mismanagement is severely hampering OHA in bringing about the betterment of Native Hawaiians.
The audit takes issue with a 1999 administrative reorganization that it says led to an organizational crisis and exodus of key staff.
It says not all the staff were qualified for their reassignments and that many employees were placed in positions before those jobs had approved job descriptions.
"This practice is contradictory to the spirit and integrity of public sector employment that promotes merit and fairness," the report says.
The audit based such findings on interviews and an employee questionnaire on the reorganization.
The report also says that delays in the hiring and firing of OHA money managers cost the organization millions of dollars and accuses some trustees of spending improprieties in connection with their annual allowances.
The identities of trustees and money managers implicated in the audit’s examples of financial mismanagement are protected in the final version of the report.
The report will go to the governor and the state Legislature.
OHA Chairwoman Haunani Apoliona has pledged to address legitimate concerns cited in the audit and take corrective measures.
OHA administrator Randall Ogata’s contract expires this month, and it is not known whether it will be renewed.
