OHA trustee Cataluna resigns as vice chairman

Advertiser Staff

Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Donald Cataluna resigned as vice chairman in the midst of a board debate over how many leaders the board needs and for what term of office.

The discussion arose because a year ago, the board of trustees adopted a rule stipulating that its chairperson and vice chairperson would have a term of at least one year.

Although board attorney Robert Klein said this set only a minimum term, some board members — including Cataluna, Rowena Akana and Linda Dela Cruz — said they favored a turnover in leadership.

Dela Cruz said she believed that the board's former structure, with more committees, allowed for better involvement of all trustees.

The vacancy left by Cataluna is to be filled at the next board meeting.