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 Keoni Souza, 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, Kanekoa Crabbe, Brickwood Galuteria, Clifford Kauaula, Brendon Kalei’āina Lee, Philip Martin, Ronald Nihipali, Kalena Parish 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?

As OHA trustee, vice chair, and chair of the Investment and Land Management Committee, I have worked to strengthen governance, accountability and stewardship of OHA’s resources for the benefit of Native Hawaiians. I am seeking another term because this work is ongoing. OHA’s mission is bigger than any individual trustee, and I remain committed to creating opportunities for beneficiaries while ensuring we are good stewards for future generations.

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?

I have consistently seen that the greatest challenge facing Native Hawaiians is the ability of our ‘ohana to remain in Hawaiʻi. Housing affordability, economic opportunity, and the rising cost of living continue to force many to move away. Building pathways home is not simply a housing issue, it is a cultural issue. My focus will continue to be on leveraging OHA’s resources, partnerships and advocacy capacity to help more families remain in Hawaiʻi and build generational stability.

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

Economic opportunity and mālama ʻāina. We can uplift more Native Hawaiians by expanding pathways to homeownership, supporting Native Hawaiian-owned businesses, investing in workforce development, and growing opportunities in agriculture, renewable energy and cultural enterprises. Mālama ʻāina means continuing responsible stewardship of our lands and resources. By caring for our people and our places, we can build stronger, more resilient communities for future generations.

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?

OHA Trustees have a significant fiduciary duty to oversee a trust approaching $1 billion and ensure those resources are managed responsibly for Native Hawaiians. The salary adjustment was determined by the State Salary Commission after trustee compensation had gone largely unchanged for nearly a decade. Ultimately, beneficiaries should judge trustees by their results. I remain committed to transparency, accountability and delivering meaningful outcomes for our lāhui.

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

OHA should advocate for cultural protection, environmental stewardship, a strong Native Hawaiian voice in decision-making and enforceable accountability measures. Native Hawaiian voices must remain central to decisions affecting these lands. OHA should not only have a seat at the table but also the ability to negotiate and advocate for outcomes that protect our cultural resources, safeguard the ʻāina and uphold the interests of our beneficiaries.

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?

Resources redirected toward stewardship should support cultural practitioner access, protection of cultural sites, ecosystem restoration, invasive species management, educational programs and Native Hawaiian stewardship workforce development. These investments help preserve the cultural and natural resources of Mauna Kea.

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?

OHA should engage with cultural practitioners, scientists, conservation organizations, educational institutions and community stakeholders while ensuring that the cultural significance and integrity of Mauna Kea remains at the forefront of all stewardship decisions.

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 support the Public Land Trust working group in a transparent and equitable process that provides clarity regarding revenues owed to Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. Additional revenues should be strategically allocated for areas of housing, down payment assistance, education, youth sports, economic opportunities, health, cultural preservation and land stewardship to meet the Strategic Plan.

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?

As chair of OHA’s Investment and Land Management Committee, I have already taken steps to move Kakaʻako Makai forward. We have projects underway through partnerships with DHHL and are advancing a Native Hawaiian Cultural Center Feasibility Study. My goal is to create lasting benefits for our lāhui while honoring the area’s cultural significance and responsibly stewarding OHA’s trust assets through mission-driven investments and sustainable development.

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?

Public trust begins with ethical leadership. I will continue to follow established processes, disclose potential conflicts, recuse myself when appropriate, and support transparency and accountability measures that help beneficiaries understand how decisions are made and how OHA resources are managed. Trust is earned through actions, not words.

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 are responsible for setting policy, strategic direction and oversight, while administrators are responsible for implementation and day-to-day operations. Tensions can arise when those roles become unclear. I believe the best way to move forward is through collaboration, accountability and a shared commitment to OHA’s mission. Beneficiaries are best served when everyone remains focused on results rather than personalities.

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?

OHA and DHHL serve many of the same beneficiaries, and we need to create more opportunities to work together. We can strengthen collaboration on housing development, financing tools, infrastructure planning, workforce housing initiatives and advocacy efforts for Native Hawaiian families. By leveraging OHA’s state resources alongside DHHL’s federal resources, we can build stronger partnerships and accelerate solutions that help more Hawaiians live, work and thrive in Hawaiʻi.