OHA puts off search for new manager

By Yasmin Anwar
Advertiser Staff Writer

Backers of OHA administrator Randall Ogata mounted a filibuster yesterday to delay the search for a new top manager to head the agency.

As Office of Hawaiian Affairs meetings go, yesterday's was less productive and more burlesque than most.

Maui Trustee Charles Ota quoted his wife referring to OHA trustees as livestock.

By the end, Linda Dela Cruz and John Waihe'e IV were so confused about the motion on the table that they needed help voting.

A divided board finally voted 5-4 to postpone consideration of Ogata's fate for 14 days, as well as other pressing board matters.

As a supporter of Ogata, Ota demanded to know why trustees were launching a search before the June 30 expiration of Ogata's contract.

"We haven't fired this buggah here yet," Ota said.

Oswald Stender responded that search and recruitment efforts can take months, and that Ogata is welcome to apply for the position.

To demonstrate Ogata's popularity with staff, Ota held up a letter of support from Rona Rodenhurst, OHA's research and development officer.

"To make the type of strides we have takes leadership with a vision, skin tougher than a white rhino, a heart of compassion for the people he serves. That's Mr. Ogata," Rodenhurst's letter said.

As he left the meeting, Ota pointed again to the letter: "This is one of many letters you're going to get from staff that's going to back this damned, bloody Japanee."

Ogata, 54, was hired as OHA administrator in 1997 and became the agency's first non-Hawaiian top manager. His two-year contract was extended in 1999, and he was given broader powers to reorganize the agency.

The job pays $85,000 a year, with an additional $10,000 a year in protocol expenses and a $350-a-month car allowance.