Keola Lindsey, a former Office of Hawaiian Affairs employee who was elected to the OHA Board of Trustees in 2020, has stepped down from his seat that represents Hawaii island.

OHA announced in a press release Monday that Lindsey would vacate his seat effective Tuesday to focus on the well-being of his family.

“My colleagues and I offer our heartfelt mahalo to Trustee Lindsey for his service to the lahui and we wish nothing but the best for him and his ohana,” OHA Board Chair Carmen Hulu Lindsey said in a statement.

Keola Lindsey was a member of the board’s Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment Committee and also took part of a committee that dealt with audits of OHA. He advocated for protecting natural resources and for those impacted by wildfires on the Big Island, according to the press release.

Although Lindsey’s term was set to expire in 2024, state law requires voters to choose his successor in this year’s elections.

The board now has 60 days to appoint a new board member who will serve on an interim basis until the election this fall. If the board does not fill the vacancy in that time, the governor will make an appointment.

The board plans to convene in February to fill the vacancy. State law also requires the board or governor appoint someone from Hawaii island.