Payday coming for staff at OHA

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Five days after the Office of Hawaiian Affairs began the new fiscal year without a permanent manager or an approved operating budget, trustees who oversee the agency approved enough of a budget yesterday to continue paying themselves and OHA's staff.

The trustees also received word that Clyde Namu'o had accepted the offer to be OHA's new administrator, subject to approval of his employment contract Thursday.

But it could be weeks before budget portions that pay for programs to assist Native Hawaiians will be considered, OHA chairwoman Haunani Apoliona said. She said she did not believe programs would be jeopardized in the meantime, however.

The process has been delayed largely because of infighting among trustees over who should run the $300 million agency, and the vote over Namu'o's contract is expected to be split.

"I'm hopeful the majority of trustees will see the bigger picture and allow this organization to move forward," Apoliona said.

She and four other trustees voted June 21 to offer Namu'o the job, while two voted against him and two were delayed and unable to vote. Several of those on the losing side alleged that the vote had been secretly rigged, and Namu'o had whesitated to accept the $85,000 per year position amidst the acrimony.

Namu'o, 49, who has served as deputy courts administrator for 10 years, said he had agreed to start at OHA by August 1, but had not yet signed the contract.

"They haven't presented me with an official contract yet, but that's just a technicality," he said. "It isn't because there are any outstanding issues."

OHA deputy administrator Ronald Mun has been designated to run the agency until a permanent manager is hired.

The budget approved yesterday earmarked $5,372,385 for OHA trustee and staff salaries, fringe benefits and new initiatives for this fiscal year. Of that amount, $1,159,622 is for the trustees and their secretaries and aides, and the rest is for agency administrators and staff.

Budget segments that are still pending include $11,091,933 for various programs to assist Hawaiians and promote Hawaiian rights. The complete proposed operating budget for the year is $18,394,750.

Voting in approval of the budget were Apoliona and trustees Donald Cataluna, Linda Dela Cruz, Colette Machado, Oswald Stender and John Waihe'e IV. Trustees Clayton Hee and Charles Ota voted in opposition without comment, while Rowena Akana was absent.