Robert Kamaile “Bob” Lindsey, Jr.
April 24, 1948 – May 30, 2025
By Kama Hopkins
For more than 40 years, Robert K. “Bob” Lindsey Jr. stood as a trusted steward of Native Hawaiian affairs, especially for his beloved Hawaiʻi Island. A former national park ranger, Kamehameha Schools executive, state legislator, and longtime Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) trustee, Lindsey’s life work has reflected deep cultural grounding, political strategy, and a servant’s heart.
No matter his role or location – whether on the forest trails of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, in the halls of the state legislature, in the boardrooms of Kamehameha Schools, or representing OHA in the community – Lindsey’s calling remained constant: to serve. His affinity for uplifting others through public service and cultural stewardship defined not only his professional path, but the legacy he leaves behind.
This hoʻomanaʻo honors his journey – from the early days of rural legislative work to his leadership on behalf of the lāhui. Lindsey’s public service is rooted in a lifelong love for Hawaiʻi’s people and places.
Lindsey was born in Hilo and raised in Waimea on Hawaiʻi Island when it was still a small ranching community. In the ninth grade he became a boarding student at Kamehameha School for Boys, graduating in 1966. He went on to attend UH Mānoa, earning a degree in sociology and, later, two certificates in executive development.
He began his career working within the judicial system on Hawaiʻi Island as a probation officer under Judge Nelson Doi. This role provided him with early insight into the human dimensions of justice, rehabilitation, and the social services that support individuals and families. It also deepened his understanding of how government could serve people with dignity and compassion, an ethos that stayed with him throughout his career.
He later served as a ranger at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park – a kuleana that deepened his connection to the ʻāina. Later, he joined Kamehameha Schools, where he served in multiple roles culminating with his promotion as manager of the Land Assets Division for Hawaiʻi Island. In this capacity, Lindsey oversaw the stewardship of educational lands, agricultural leases, and culturally significant sites – balancing economic use with cultural responsibility and advancing the educational mission of the organization.
His approach combined cultural sensitivity, environmental responsibility, and fiscal discipline and this foundation would later shape his leadership at OHA where he approached every decision through the lens of mālama ʻāina, cultural perpetuation, and long-term sustainability.
Lindsey’s entry into government began in the mid-1980s when he was elected to the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives. From 1984 to 1986, he represented a unique “canoe district” that included parts of Hawaiʻi Island as well as Hāna, Maui – uniting rural communities across islands.
This role deepened his understanding of the needs of residents in rural communities and strengthened his lifelong commitment to uplifting underserved areas. Because he was raised in Waimea, Lindsey brought a personal connection to the rural communities he served and forged early relationships with fellow legislators, many of whom would remain allies throughout his career.
Although his tenure in the legislature was brief it laid the groundwork for the relationships and reputation he would later build upon as an OHA trustee. Lindsey understood that effective leadership required not only cultural sensitivity but also political strategy – skills he would carry with him into his next chapter of public service.
Decades later, as an OHA trustee, Lindsey’s early work with lawmakers culminated in a historic milestone: he became the first OHA trustee representing Hawaiʻi Island to be invited to join the Hawaiʻi Island Legislative Caucus as a guest member. This exclusive group of state house and senate members meets regularly to coordinate legislative strategy for Hawaiʻi Island.
Lindsey’s inclusion signified more than just personal respect – it marked an institutional shift in how OHA was viewed by state government. It acknowledged the importance of Native Hawaiian representation at the legislative table and reinforced Lindsey’s role as a unifier between lawmakers and Hawaiian communities. His participation ensured that beneficiary voices were directly heard in state policy conversations.
Lindsey was elected as the OHA trustee for Hawaiʻi Island in 2007. From the start, he brought not only professional credibility but also a deep understanding of community needs. He served with humility and focus, blending cultural values with strategic planning.
From 2014 to 2016, he served as chair of the OHA Board of Trustees (BOT). Under his leadership, the board worked to strengthen OHA’s governance framework, prioritize financial accountability, and expand its community reach.
Lindsey emphasized strategic partnerships – especially with aliʻi trusts, nonprofit organizations, and state agencies – to grow OHA’s capacity and better serve Native Hawaiians across sectors like housing, education, and economic development.
He strongly believed that economic sovereignty was key to helping Native Hawaiians move forward successfully in today’s world. He emphasized that true empowerment required not just cultural knowledge or legal recognition, but access to economic resources and opportunities that could sustain individuals, families, and communities across generations.
After his tenure as BOT chair, Lindsey continued to serve as an active and influential trustee. He chaired the committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment, where he focused on direct community impact – supporting programs to improve education, health, and housing outcomes for Hawaiian families.
Throughout his years of service, one motto defined Lindsey’s leadership: “always with aloha.” It was a phrase he learned from his mother and one that guided his decision-making and relationships throughout his life. He used it not only in words but in action – at the legislature, in trustee meetings, in the community, and with his staff.
He modeled aloha even when board discussions grew tense. While he and his fellow trustees did not always agree on policy, he firmly believed in keeping differences at the table and never letting them erode personal respect. That principle helped maintain unity and professionalism during pivotal moments at OHA.
Lindsey’s commitment to working “always with aloha” wasn’t reserved for the boardroom. It extended to his staff. When he was first appointed to the board, Tiona Wailehua served as his secretary, and I (Kama Hopkins) was honored to serve as his aide. Upon Tiona’s retirement, her daughter, Kauikeaolani Wailehua, joined the team and became his second aide.
Lindsey had a special way of honoring the people who worked alongside him. One of the most meaningful ways he did this was in how he introduced us. Whenever he met someone new, he would say, “I’m Bob. This is Kama and Kaui. We work together at OHA.”
He never said we worked for him. He always said we worked with him.
That distinction, simple but powerful, made us feel seen and valued, and it inspired us to give our best every day to help him help our beneficiaries.
Lindsey also served during times of organizational scrutiny. As with many public institutions, OHA was called to address concerns around transparency and alignment with its mission. Rather than shy away Lindsey leaned in, supporting audits, encouraging open dialogue, and championing reforms that emphasized measurable results and cultural integrity.
He acknowledged that OHA’s strategic plan needed revision and modernization, and he called for long-term planning that was both ambitious and grounded in data. He believed OHA’s asset base had to grow significantly to fulfill its vision and often called for stronger collaboration across government and community networks to make that happen.
Lindsey’s commitment to the community extended far beyond boardrooms.
He served on the boards of Habitat for Humanity West Hawaiʻi, the West Hawaiʻi Mediation Center, and Kanu o ka ʻĀina Learning ʻOhana. These roles reflect his belief in community-based solutions and culturally responsive systems that uplift families from within.
Whether building affordable homes, resolving community disputes, or supporting Hawaiian-focused charter education, Lindsey’s service consistently reflected the belief that change happens closest to the ground.
Lindsey’s approach earned widespread community support across Hawaiʻi Island. In one election, although he placed second in the primary race, he surged in the general election, winning with one of the most decisive votes ever recorded for an OHA trustee candidate from Hawaiʻi Island. This outcome demonstrated both the trust that constituents had in him and the deep relationships he had built over decades of service.
Voters appreciated his calm demeanor, thoughtful communication, and clear commitment to Hawaiian issues. Many credited his unique blend of executive experience, cultural grounding, and legislative know-how as essential to effective governance for OHA and Hawaiʻi Island alike.
As Lindsey eventually stepped away from public office, his contributions remained visible across multiple sectors. From stronger legislative connections to thoughtful land stewardship and culturally rooted program development, his legacy endures in the institutions and lives he touched.
He helped lay the foundation for a more responsive, transparent, and strategic OHA, one that could evolve while holding firm to its cultural foundations. His inclusion in the Hawaiʻi Island Legislative Caucus set a new standard for collaboration between Native Hawaiian governance and state lawmakers.
More importantly, his work reflected a lifelong belief that Hawaiian leadership must be accountable not only to history, but to the future.
Lindsey’s journey is one of quiet power and steady transformation. From our native forests to executive boardrooms, he brought a consistent sense of kuleana, compassion, and courage.
Beyond his many professional accomplishments, Lindsey was, above all, a devoted family man. He cherished his wife, Kathy, and found great pride and joy in their sons and their spouses. His moʻopuna (grandchildren) were a continual source of love and inspiration. His legacy lives on not only through his public service, but through the values, aloha, and kuleana he instilled in his ʻohana.
His life reminds us that real leadership is not loud. It is consistent, humble, deeply rooted in place, and oriented toward the wellbeing of others. The way Lindsey lived his motto, “always with aloha,” is a lesson in grace and humility that continues to guide those who had the honor to work with him.
Hawaiʻi Island, and the larger lāhui, are better because Robert Kamaile Lindsey Jr. chose to serve.
Kama Hopkins was a senior aide to Trustee Bob Lindsey for 15 years. He currently serves as a cultural advisor at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa and on Nā Pua a Lunalilo, the nonprofit board of King Lunalilo Trust and Home. He is also a talented musician who has played professionally since 2001 and, as a member of the musical group Holunape, is a multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner.
