Kalei Akaka

2026 Oʻahu Trustee Candidate

• Age – 43
• Occupation – OHA Oʻahu Trustee
• Where did you grow up – Kona, Hawaiʻi Island and Honolulu, Oʻahu
• Schooling – Chaminade University
• Current residence – Honolulu, Oʻahu
• Website – ShakaVoteAkaka.com

Write-in Responses

1. I am honored to serve as your OHA Oʻahu trustee since 2018; born and raised in an ʻohana dedicated to service to community, deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture, arts, values and ʻōlelo mākuahine. Time spent on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as my grandfather served as U.S. representative and as the first Native Hawaiian U.S. senator gave me a unique understanding of government, the power of relationships and the spirit of aloha to advance our people. My experience at the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in both the house and senate as a legislative aide and legislative researcher in the senate committees on Judiciary and Government Operations and Higher Education, taught me how to review legislation and advocate effectively, applying these skills as I’ve chaired and vice chaired the OHA Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment Committee to review and recommend bills, positions, testimony, strategize and advance OHA’s mission and Mana i Mauli Ola strategic plan. I continue to strengthen OHA’s connection to our beneficiaries having established OHA O‘ahu Island community meetings and site visits, and bettering internal to external communications having established committee leadership meetings alongside administration. With Hawaiʻi in my heart, I humbly ask for your vote in my re-election as OHA Oʻahu trustee. Please Remember to SHAKA and VOTE AKAKA!
2. An OHA trustee has fiduciary responsibility, obligation to the beneficiaries’ trust, Hawaiʻi constitutional kuleana, furthering OHA’s mission and Mana i Mauli Ola strategic plan, advocating in Native Hawaiian rights and care of Kō Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina. I connect with beneficiaries by staying on the pulse of the needs, concerns, and celebrations, which guides my advocacy at the county, state, and federal levels of government with humility, steadfast commitment and dedication to making decisions that are pono for our beloved Kānaka ʻŌiwi. I see my role as being a bridge. I connect our beneficiaries with government, I connect our cultural values with policy, and I connect the work we do today with the future we want for the next generations through guidance and ʻike of our kūpuna.
3. OHA has constitutional kuleana to advocate for Hawaiian people to receive the 20% of revenues and proceeds from Hawaiian Kingdom crown and government Lands also known as the ceded lands of the Public Land Trust, including the share from the military’s use of these lands, waters and skies. I continue to advocate for fair market value compensation and respectful processes, land acknowledgments of history and restoration of original Hawaiian names, proper stewardship of ʻāina, wai, iwi, meaningful access for lineal descendants and ending live-fire training. These lands remain Hawaiian Kingdom crown and government lands regardless of current management, including lands via Executive Order. Mahalo to all advocating alongside OHA. Let’s work toward fair and pono solutions.

Yes/No Questions