Brickwood Galuteria

vol2026 Trustee At-Large Candidate

• Age – 70
• Occupation – OHA Trustee-At-Large; former senator; musician; cultural practitioner; advocate
• Where did you grow up – Kapahulu, Kakaʻako, Moanalua, and Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu
• Schooling – Kamehameha Schools, Pacific University, Harvard
• Current residence – Pālolo, Oʻahu
• Website – wearekupuna.com

Write-in Responses

1. I bring more than four decades of service in government, culture, and community advocacy shaped by work across public institutions, cultural organizations, and media. As an OHA Trustee‑at‑Large, I help guide beneficiary advocacy, resource allocation, and policy oversight for Native Hawaiian wellbeing. My decade in the Hawaiʻi State Senate, including service as Senate Majority Leader, strengthened my ability to navigate complex systems and build coalitions that support Hawaiʻi’s people. Culturally, I have long been entrusted with roles that protect and uplift Hawaiian identity, including service with the Oʻahu Island Burial Council, Kawaiahaʻo Church, the Polynesian Voyaging Society, and the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. As a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award‑winning musician and longtime broadcaster, I’ve amplified Hawaiian language and values. These experiences strengthen my ability to steward resources responsibly and support the wellbeing of our lāhui.
2. A trustee is a fiduciary – legally and morally responsible for protecting trust assets, advancing beneficiary wellbeing, and ensuring decisions are made with care, transparency, and accountability. My understanding of the role begins there. As a trustee, I steward Public Land Trust revenues, oversee programs and policies, and ensure OHA’s resources are used wisely for Native Hawaiians. Within the agency, a trustee helps set direction, uphold governance standards, and insist on clear reporting, responsible budgeting, and disciplined oversight. Trustees guide policy rather than administration, requiring collaboration, patience, and the courage to ask difficult questions. Within the lāhui, the kuleana is deeper. A trustee must listen to community voices, understand lived realities, and carry forward values such as respect for kūpuna, protection of iwi kūpuna, and care for ʻāina. Leadership is service, and I approach this kuleana with steadiness, humility, and commitment to our people.
3. My manaʻo on the military’s use of crown and government lands begins with a simple truth: these lands are part of the Public Land Trust, and Native Hawaiians are entitled to a fair pro‑rata share of revenues. The military’s one‑dollar‑a‑year leases are neither fair nor reflective of the cultural and historical significance of these ʻāina. With leases expiring in 2029, we must secure agreements grounded in fairness, transparency, environmental restoration, cultural protection, and a robust community benefits package shaped with beneficiaries. OHA’s Military‑Leased Lands Working Group helps ensure Native Hawaiian interests, cultural sites, iwi kūpuna, and future land use are fully represented. My approach is balanced and pono: insist on accurate inventories, clear reporting, and revenue structures that reflect true value while advancing community wellbeing and long‑term stewardship of our ʻāina and lāhui.

Yes/No Questions