Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), historically the lowest-paid elected officials in the state given their significant financial responsibilities, might soon see a substantial increase in their compensation.
The OHA Salary Commission is deliberating a plan to raise the annual salary for trustees to just over $91,000, marking a 62% increase from the current amount of $56,000. The chairperson’s salary would rise to approximately $100,000 per year, a 50% jump.
If the proposal receives approval during the commission’s forthcoming meeting, it would be the first raise for trustees since 2016 and would surpass the annual salaries of state legislators. So far, the proposals have not faced any public objections.
Commission members are advocating for these salary hikes to cultivate a more professional board, allowing trustees to dedicate their efforts solely to their mission of enhancing the lives of Native Hawaiians without the distraction of secondary employment.
Currently, five of the nine trustees maintain other jobs, with some generating $100,000 or more through outside work according to their financial disclosures.
For instance, Chairman Kai Kahele works as a pilot for Hawaiian Airlines, earning a minimum of $250,000 annually. Vice Chairman Keoni Souza has a career as a musician that brings in at least $100,000, while Trustee Keli?i Akina earns over $150,000 as the president of the Grassroots Institute, a public policy think tank.
The OHA Salary Commission operates independently of the trustees, which means its decisions stand unless both the House and Senate reject them through a concurrent resolution, a challenging process that would necessitate hearings and votes in both chambers.
In a preliminary salary proposal, the commission indicated its objective to offer current and future trustees compensation that is competitive with other elected officials in Hawaii.
Additionally, the governor, lieutenant governor, members of the executive branch, state lawmakers, and judges are also expected to receive pay increases within the year, as another state-level Salary Commission concludes its work shortly.
Uniquely, the OHA operates under its own salary commission, with members appointed by the governor every four years.
The current highest-paid OHA trustee, the board chair, receives over $66,000, which is less than what their aides earn, according to salary data.
Trustee Carmen Hulu Lindsey expressed her sentiments during a board meeting, stating that the compensation “is not a whole lot of money,” and she feels almost as though they are in a “poverty zone.” The salary commissioners noted in their report that increased compensation could attract a more diverse pool of candidates, including individuals who could not previously afford to assume these roles.
Trustees have shared during testimonies that they dedicate no less than 40 hours a week to this seemingly part-time position. They manage a trust fund valued at almost $600 million, along with commercial properties located in Iwilei and Kaka?ako, as well as various other land parcels throughout the islands.
Their responsibilities include year-round duties, in contrast to state lawmakers, who only convene for four months of the year and earn up to $83,000.
Trustee Kalei Akaka, the former chair of the Beneficiary Advocacy Committee, clarified to the salary commission that she spends the first half of the year advocating for Native Hawaiian matters during the legislative sessions and stays informed about federal issues in Washington, D.C.
Typically, trustees hold community meetings from July to December and are involved in emergency responses, such as those stemming from the wildfires on Maui in 2023.
“We’re in constant communication from a county, state, and federal perspective,” Akaka remarked. “That advocacy is year-round.” Previous proposals from the commission had suggested even higher salary increases. A plan for the commission’s earlier January meeting proposed $127,000 for the chair and $117,000 for the trustees.
Commission members moderated their salary proposals by evaluating the average pay of county council members across Hawaii and contemplating potential public and political backlash that might compel lawmakers to dismiss the proposal.
“What is the golden number that won’t be refused so we aren’t stuck with this for another four years?” Commissioner Dennis Rose queried during a January meeting. Under the current proposal, by 2028, trustee compensation could increase to an annual amount nearing $106,000, with the chair’s salary reaching $116,000.
