OHA RATIFIES INDEPENDENT AUDIT
Trustee Keli‘i Akina To Chair Audit Committee
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees voted to ratify “a financial audit and management review of OHA and its subsidiaries.”
The Board approved the audit by a vote of 8-0 (Trustee Ahuna was absent).
Among other goals stated in the action item approved yesterday, the audit seeks to “identify potential areas of waste, fraud and abuse in the procurement of goods and professional services.”
Resource Management Committee Chair Carmen Hulu Lindsey appointed Trustee Keli`i Akina to lead the Audit Advisory Committee tasked with drafting a request for qualifications (RFQ).
The Audit Advisory Committee will consist of Trustee Akina (Chair), Trustee Lei Ahu Isa (Vice Chair) and three non-Trustee staff.
Chair Hulu Lindsey has asked the Audit Advisory Committee to supervise the audit process after the auditing firm is procured.
According to Trustee Akina, “I am grateful to my fellow Trustees for their commitment to transparency and accountability as the foundation for building a strong OHA that meets the needs of its beneficiaries.
"The audit approved today by the Board of Trustees is unique from all other audits in OHA’s history, as it will provide a systematic examination of serious concerns that have been raised by trustees, beneficiaries and the community at large.”
Native Hawaiian beneficiaries of OHA came to the Board meeting today in support of the audit.
The OHA Board’s action today reflects its mission to achieve a greater level of transparency and responsiveness to the needs of its beneficiaries.
