Finalists for an interim seat on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees to replace the late Linda Dela Cruz are to be submitted by the eight remaining members next Thursday, and a new board member could be in place by April 5 under procedures agreed to by the board yesterday.

Dela Cruz, 77, died March 15 at her Pana'ewa home. Her term was to end in November 2008.

The only requirements for her successor are that the person be a Hawai'i County resident who is a registered voter and not currently serving a prison sentence for a felony.

State law requires that a deceased OHA trustee's colleagues agree on a successor within 60 days of the death. If they fail to do so, the governor has 30 days to appoint a replacement.

At Thursday's meeting, trustees will be asked to write on a blank sheet of paper the name of an individual for consideration. Submittals are to be made public at the end of the meeting.

OHA Administrator Clyde Namu'o will then verify the qualifications of the candidates. They then will be asked to submit one page explaining why they want to be trustees, as well as their priorities.

On April 5, the eight sitting trustees will vote on a replacement, who must receive two-thirds of the votes — in this case six votes. If trustees cannot agree, additional rounds of voting would ensue beginning at the OHA board's next scheduled meeting on May 3.

Failure by the board to reach agreement on a successor by May 7, seven days before its 60-day deadline, would require the board to notify the governor that it would be up to her to fill the vacancy.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.