Hawaii Island Trustee Robert “Bob” K. Lindsey Jr. has been named the new chairman of the policy-making board for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Lindsey succeeds Colette Machado, the trustee for Native Hawaiians on Molokai and Lanai who has led OHA’s Board of Trustees the past four years.
“I welcome this new opportunity to play a more significant role in helping to push for the best results for our beneficiaries as well as to ensure that our organization is being responsive to their needs,” Lindsey, who has been a trustee since April 2007, said in a prepared statement.
Lindsey’s appointment came during a reorganization meeting, where OHA’s Board of Trustees also selected a vice chairman and leaders for its three subcommittees. Dan Ahuna, the trustee for Native Hawaiians on Kauai and Niihau, is the board’s new vice chairman, replacing Oswald Stender, who retired in November.
As for the three sub-committee leaders, they have all been re-elected to four-year terms, taking their oath of office just before being selected to be the chairperson for their respective subcommittees.
Trustee Rowena Akana has been selected to lead the Committee on Asset and Resource Management; her vice chairman will be Trustee John Waihee IV. Waihee will also lead the Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment; his vice chairman will Trustee Peter Apo. Trustee Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey will continue to lead the Committee on Land and Property; her vice chairman will be Ahuna.