Civil Beat has asked candidates for the Hawaiʻi General Election on Nov. 3 to answer a survey about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following comes from Kanekoa Crabbe, nonpartisan candidate for Office of Hawaiian Affairs at-large trustee.

His opponents are Adrian Kealiʻi Akina, Ikaika Anderson, Karl Baker, Shelby Billionaire, Jackie Burke, Michelle Costello, Brickwood Galuteria, Clifford Kauaula, Brendon Kalei’āina Lee, Philip Martin, Ronald Nihipali, Kalena Parish, Keoni Souza and John Waiheʻe IV.

Go to Civil Beat’s 2026 Elections Guide for general information, and check out the other candidates on Civil Beatʻs 2026 Hawaiʻi Primary Ballot.

Why are you best suited for the job of OHA trustee? And why do you want the job?

I am running for OHA trustee because I care deeply about Hawaiʻi’s future and want Native Hawaiian families to thrive here at home. I have spent years protecting our land, water and cultural resources through community advocacy and action. I will bring an independent voice, accountability and a commitment to OHA’s mission. I am not seeking a political career — I am seeking to serve our people and help build a stronger future for generations to come.

What do you see as the most pressing problem facing Native Hawaiians, and what is the first thing you would do to address it in the first six months after being elected?

The most pressing issue facing Native Hawaiians is displacement from Hawaiʻi due to the high cost of living and lack of affordable housing. In my first six months as an OHA Trustee, I would focus on identifying barriers that delay housing development and advocate for solutions that help Native Hawaiians stay in or return home to Hawaiʻi. OHA must prioritize housing, accountability and opportunities that strengthen our communities and future generations.

Here’s a question from a constituent: What are your plans to economically uplift more Hawaiians? Protect the ʻāina?

My plan to economically uplift Native Hawaiians is to prioritize affordable housing, support local entrepreneurship, expand workforce training and invest in opportunities that help families remain in Hawaiʻi. To protect the ʻāina, I will advocate for responsible stewardship of our land and water, safeguard cultural and natural resources, and ensure community voices are heard before major development decisions are made. A healthy ʻāina and a strong local economy go hand in hand.

OHA Trustees received a salary increase of 62% last June. Do you support the raise, and what will you do to ensure you are worth the money?

While fair compensation can help attract qualified leaders, OHA trustees must be accountable to beneficiaries and taxpayers. My focus is not on the salary but on the responsibility that comes with the position. If elected, I will earn that compensation by being accessible, transparent and results-driven — prioritizing housing, protecting our ʻāina and resources, engaging with communities statewide, and ensuring OHA’s decisions and investments deliver measurable benefits for Native Hawaiians.

What should OHA advocate for as negotiations continue over Army training land leases?

OHA should advocate for the protection of cultural resources, environmental stewardship, public transparency and meaningful Native Hawaiian consultation throughout any Army land lease negotiations. Agreements must include strong safeguards for sacred and cultural sites, protection of water resources, independent environmental monitoring and clear accountability measures. The long-term interests of Native Hawaiians, the ʻāina and future generations must come before short-term considerations.

OHA dropped two lawsuits last year over Mauna Kea and decided that those resources would be directed to stewardship of that mountain. What types of activities or programs should those funds support?

Those funds should support Native Hawaiian-led stewardship, cultural education, environmental restoration, watershed protection, invasive species control and the preservation of cultural and historic sites on Mauna Kea. Investments should also create educational and workforce opportunities for Native Hawaiians while ensuring that stewardship decisions are guided by cultural practitioners, lineal descendants and the broader community.

A new 12-member authority that includes members of the protest movement who opposed the TMT, as well as astronomers is set to take over stewardship of Mauna Kea by 2029. Could the new management structure help resolve long-standing disputes? And how do you see OHA working with entities that have interests in Mauna Kea, including major landowners at lower elevations?

The new stewardship authority has the potential to build trust and reduce conflict by bringing together Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, community representatives and the scientific community. Success will depend on transparency, accountability and a shared commitment to mālama Mauna Kea. OHA should serve as a bridge among stakeholders, advocating for cultural and environmental protections while encouraging respectful collaboration that benefits the mountain and future generations.

For decades, OHA believes the state has shortchanged its beneficiaries on payments from the use of public lands. The Legislature has cleared a way for a working group to determine an annual amount of revenue due to OHA. What do you want to see come out of that process? And what should OHA allocate any additional revenues toward?

I want to see a fair, transparent and legally sound resolution that honors the state’s obligations to Native Hawaiians and provides long-term certainty for all parties. Any additional revenues should be invested in priorities that directly improve beneficiary well-being, including affordable housing, education, economic opportunities, cultural preservation and stewardship of our land and water resources. The focus should be on strengthening all Native Hawaiian communities statewide.

OHA has attempted to develop residential towers in Kakaʻako Makai. However, those efforts have been repeatedly rejected by the Legislature, stalling any development for the last 20 years. How should OHA move forward on lands it owns in this area?

OHA needs to get out of Kaka’ako Makai ASAP and receive fair compensation from the State of Hawai’i either in cash or through a land swap. OHA’s decision in 2012 to accept 30 acres in Kaka’ako Makai was done so impulsively and 14 years later, they have not done anything of significance with these parcels. I am highly against any and all residential towers in Kaka’ako Makai as the entire area is a toxic dump that is prone to flooding from natural disasters and sea level rise.

Last year, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court ruled that OHA trustees are subject to the state ethics code that governs the conduct of state employees and is intended to prevent things like nepotism, fraud and conflicts of interest. How would you, as a trustee, uphold the ethics code and ensure transparency at OHA?

I would strictly follow the state ethics code, fully disclose any potential conflicts of interest and recuse myself when appropriate. I support greater transparency in OHA’s decision-making, contracts, investments and expenditures. Beneficiaries deserve an organization that operates with integrity, accountability and openness. Public trust is earned through ethical conduct, transparent governance and a commitment to serving the interests of Native Hawaiians above all else.

There has often been tension between the Board of Trustees and OHA administrators. In just the latest example, the current chief executive officer has sued the board. What can be done to ease those tensions between administrators and trustees?

Trustees and administrators must have clearly defined roles, open communication and mutual respect. Trustees should focus on policy, oversight and strategic direction, while administrators manage daily operations. Transparency, accountability and a shared commitment to OHA’s mission should guide all decisions. Regular communication and collaboration can help reduce conflict and keep the focus on serving Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.

Are there ways for the office to work more collaboratively with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to address the housing shortage for Native Hawaiians?

Yes. OHA and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands should work more closely to accelerate housing development, infrastructure funding and beneficiary services. OHA can help support planning, financing, workforce development and advocacy to remove barriers that delay projects. By aligning resources and priorities, both agencies can help more Native Hawaiian families access affordable housing and reduce the wait for homestead opportunities.