KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii Island resident Trustee Robert Lindsey defeated Mililani Trask to retain the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaii Island residency seat during Tuesday’s general election.
Lindsey, a full-time trustee and former state legislator who lives in Waimea, took 58 percent of votes cast statewide with all 247 precincts reporting. Lindsey garnered 183,989 votes compared to Trask’s 134,028.
In the at-large seat on the ballot, incumbent Haunani Apoliona was ousted by challenger Kelii Akina, who earned 51 percent of votes cast statewide. Akina received 153,891 votes while Haunani Apoliona received 147,999.
All OHA trustees are elected statewide, although some trustees are elected to residency seats on the nine-member board. Others are elected as at-large representatives.
The office, created in 1978, is a semi-autonomous agency of the state, charged with managing the land and resources, mineral rights and income belonging to the Native Hawaiian people. The Board of Trustees also formulates policy relating to affairs of Native Hawaiians and advocates their interests.
Non-Hawaiians as well as Hawaiians are eligible to run for and vote for the Board of Trustees.