OHA Delays CEO Pick Until After Election
Board trustees postponed selecting a new chief executive until after the November 3, 2026 General Election.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in People
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The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees has delayed choosing a new CEO until after the General Election. Board Chair Kai Kahele made the decision at the last minute, and the board could take the matter up as early as Dec. 7.
Why it matters
Five of the nine OHA trustees are up for reelection, and the board deferred the decision so newly elected trustees can take part in choosing the next CEO. The agency controls close to $1 billion in assets, so leadership choices carry significant weight for Hawaii.
The OHA board previously voted five-to-four in favor of former Councilmember Todd Apo over Interim CEO Summer Silva, and five of the nine trustees are up for reelection in the November 3, 2026 General Election. The agency holds close to $1 billion in assets, and the outcome of the CEO search remains unresolved.
The players
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
The Honolulu-based state agency that manages assets and programs benefiting Native Hawaiians, governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees.
Kai Kahele
The Board Chair of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs who made the decision to delay the CEO selection.
Todd Apo
A former Maui County Councilmember who was previously favored by a five-to-four OHA board vote and remains a finalist for the CEO position.
Summer Silva
The OHA Interim CEO who lost a prior five-to-four board vote to Todd Apo and remains a finalist for the position.
The details
Trustees want more time to examine candidates and their backgrounds before a final vote. Finalists Todd Apo, Summer Silva, and Kaulana Park could remain in consideration, depending on the trustees.
Timeline
Monday: Trustees voted to release all redacted documents related to a lawsuit by the former CEO.
November 3, 2026: General Election, after which the CEO selection is delayed.
Dec. 7, 2026: Earliest date the board could take up the CEO selection at its next meeting.
Season Trajectory
The OHA's earlier five-to-four vote for Todd Apo over Summer Silva set the stage for this contest, and the delay ties the final choice to the outcome of the November 3, 2026 General Election. Whether the new trustees side with the earlier majority or reopen the search will shape the agency's leadership direction.
Residents of Hawaii who rely on OHA programs or land decisions may see how the agency's new leadership shapes its housing and military lease negotiations. The timing means leadership continuity remains uncertain until at least December.
The takeaway
Leadership at a state agency controlling nearly $1 billion can change after an election, so voters have a direct stake in the CEO outcome. Following the board's December agenda will show whether the earlier majority holds.
What happens next
The board could take up the CEO selection as early as Dec. 7, 2026, at its next meeting.
Further reading
Explore more on People coverage across Hawaii.
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