FORMER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SUES OHA FOR CORRUPTION COVERUP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hawai`i News Now - January 27, 2021- By Rick Daysog

A former high-ranking Office of Hawaiian Affairs executive has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the organization. 

David Laeha, OHA’s former chief financial officer, alleged that former OHA CEO Kamanao Crabbe began to retaliate against him just months after he was hired in 2017 and eventually fired him in 2019. 

His suit alleged that he was fired because because he questioned why OHA was not properly reporting millions of dollars in expenditures to state lawmakers and to the public. 

What he found was that they were very sloppy, he found that they went out of their way to avoid the kind of transparency which was necessary,” said Eric Seitz, his attorney. 

“At every stage, he made complaints and criticisms to his superiors and much of the time they just ignored him until finally they fired him.” 

But in an interview with HNN, Crabbe said Laeha made similar allegations in a discrimination complaint that has since been dismissed. 

He called the suit “another attempt to seek unwarranted financial gains.” 

As CFO, Laeha served as the watchdog for OHA’s $350 million trust and its million of dollars in grants and scholarships. 

Laeha’s suit also alleges he was fired because he rejected grant applications that didn’t go out for competitive bidding like they were supposed to or when the grants were issued to an ineligible company or organization. 

These are some of the same practices that were heavily criticized in a state auditor’s report in 2018. 

Federal authorities are also investigating. 

“We have a long history with these kinds of agencies where people are very sloppy about how they administer funds that belong to other people and how they use their positions to benefit friends,” said Seitz. 

OHA declined comment.

AUDITORS FIND A MESS AT OHA

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Hawai`i News Now - December 9, 2019

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs paid a mainland firm to take a hard look at questionable contracts, grants and other financial transactions. 

As expected, the firm ― CLA (CliffordLarsenAllen) ― found such lax management that potential fraud, waste and abuse was going unnoticed at the agency. 

The firm used its experience to judge which areas of spending had the most risk for problems and asked OHA to provide documentation on 185 transactions from 2012 and 2016. 

In many cases, the documentation was not adequate to establish that work OHA or its non-profit affiliates had paid for was actually produced. 

The review reinforced the prior findings of government auditors, which described lax controls on financial transactions ― many of which were arranged by former CEO Kaamanao Crabbe ― didn’t meet basic standards of procurement. 

Those transactions had few or no checks for insider dealing, competitive bidding or following up on how money was spent. 

Board of Trustees Chair Colette Machado said the board has already implemented recommendations, including taking away the CEO’s authority to spend without board review and new controls on trustee allowances. 

She said the board hired a new CEO, Sylvia Hussey, who helped reform management of the Kamehameha Schools. 

Machado said the CLA report and the prior audits are a road map for OHA’s reform. 

“Its been an opportunity to work with our new CEO she is a certified public accountant she has tremendous background in how to manage these things,” Machado said. Hussey has been given until January to propose reforms to the board. 

While the agency leadership prefers to look forward, Trustee Kelii Akina, said the report’s findings are alarming enough that more should be done to examine what happened in the past. 

“It would be a mistake to simply whitewash this audit and say there are no problems. clearly there are issues that have to be dealt with there are people who shold be held accountable,” Akina said. “I think its important to take a deeper look and see if there are problems throughout the entire organization.” 

Akina and his staff did their own analysis of the CLA findings, which total around 1,000 pages. 

“Between the years of 2012 and 2016, the audit found that 85% of all the transactions sampled had some kind of problem and 17% had indications of waste fraud and abuse. That’s egregious,” Akina said.

FLASH! - KAMANA`O CRABBE OUT AT OHA

 

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"WHO ARE OHAʻS REAL MISSPENDERS?"

Right Before The Election OHA Trustee Rowena Akanaʻs Been Called To Testify About Misspending Funds.

It Should Come As No Surprise This Is One Big Smokescreen.

Certain Others At OHA Want You To Watch The Left Hand So You Wonʻt See What The Right Hand Has Been Doing.

Watch This To See Who Those Certain Others Are & What They Donʻt Want You To Know.

Then Share This Video Today With Your Family & Everyone You Know.

BUYING PROTECTION

 

WILL YOU VOTE FOR BILL AILA NOV. 6TH?

ALERT! - HEREʻS WHO WE RECOMMEND FOR ELECTION IN TOMORROWʻS OHA PRIMARY VOTE & WHY 

Please forward this to all Hawaiians and our supporters.

Many of you have asked us which candidates we recommend for Office Of Hawaiian Affairs trustees in tomorrowʻs primary election.

Our answer is based on two premises -

First, while we recognize the Office Of Hawaiian Affairs is a part of the fake state, and therefore a part of the prolonged illegal US occupation of Hawai`i, we feel strongly that as long as OHA does exist, it should serve all its beneficiaries well.

For far too long this has not been the case. Rather than serving beneficiaries, private under the table dealings, personal enrichment and fortifying the illegal occupation has characterized activities at OHA.

Furthermore we are not convinced that voting in the upcoming OHA election is at odds with or contradicts support for a Free Hawai`i. This vote is about ending corruption at OHA so those kanaka beneficiaries and their `ohana who need help the most can receive it.

Our second premise is that only two things should dictate who to vote for -

One is making sure the forensic audit occurs.

The second is the removal and replacement of OHAʻs CEO, Kamana`opono Crabbe.

Unless these two things happen, there will be no reform of OHA.

Both of these actions have been stymied and blocked for too long by several of OHAʻs “old guard” trustees.

Your vote in this election is critical to shift the balance and majority vote of trustees so these two things can occur.
 
Unfortunately perfect candidates, like perfect human beings, do not exist.

And many who are running are not electable.

Therefore some of those we recommend for election are not without drawbacks, but do have a good chance of winning.

Most importantly, those we recommend support the forensic audit as well as the removal and replacement of OHAʻs CEO and if elected will shift the majority vote in order to make this happen.

Despite drawbacks, these are the ones who are electable and will make sure the forensic audit happens and vote to replace OHAʻs CEO.

Based on the above, we recommend the following -

At-Large Seats (3) - Rowena Akana
                               Lei Ahu Isa
                               Keali`i Makekau

O`ahu Seat (1) - Samuel Wilder King II

Maui Seat - Does not appear on tomorrowʻs primary ballot. (Since there are only two candidates, both will automatically advance to the general election in November.)

We are fully aware that you may currently have reservations about some of the above recommended candidates.

Simply put - if any of the above candidates are problematic but you are committed to reforming OHA, hold your nose & vote.

These are the ones who will create a new majority so that the “old guard” trustees will no longer be able to hold the other trustees and OHAʻs beneficiaries hostage and drive their private agendas.

OHA beneficiaries and voters have a unique opportunity now to reform OHA.

You can register to vote at your local polling place, so please vote tomorrow.

Mahalo.

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"WHO TO VOTE FOR IN THE UPCOMING OHA ELECTIONS"

Donʻt Know Who To Vote For In The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs Aug. 11th Primary?

Donʻt Even Know If You Should Vote At All?

Because  Many Have Asked, Weʻll Tell You Who We Recommend & Why.

Watch This To See Our Recommendations & Then Decide For Yourself.

Then Share This Video Today With Your Family & Everyone You Know.

ALERT! - HEREʻS WHO WE RECOMMEND FOR ELECTION IN THE AUGUST 11TH OHA PRIMARY VOTE & WHY 

Please forward this to all Hawaiians and our supporters.

Many of you have asked us which candidates we recommend for Office Of Hawaiian Affairs trustees in the upcoming August 11th primary election.

Our answer is based on two premises -

First, while we recognize the Office Of Hawaiian Affairs is a part of the fake state, and therefore a part of the prolonged illegal US occupation of Hawai`i, we feel strongly that as long as OHA does exist, it should serve all its beneficiaries well.

For far too long this has not been the case. Rather than serving beneficiaries, private under the table dealings, personal enrichment and fortifying the illegal occupation has characterized activities at OHA.

Furthermore we are not convinced that voting in the upcoming OHA election is at odds with or contradicts support for a Free Hawai`i. This vote is about ending corruption at OHA so those kanaka beneficiaries and their `ohana who need help the most can receive it.

Our second premise is that only two things should dictate who to vote for -

One is making sure the forensic audit occurs.

The second is the removal and replacement of OHAʻs CEO, Kamana`opono Crabbe.

Unless these two things happen, there will be no reform of OHA.

Both of these actions have been stymied and blocked for too long by several of OHAʻs “old guard” trustees.

Your vote in this election is critical to shift the balance and majority vote of trustees so these two things can occur.
Unfortunately perfect candidates, like perfect human beings, do not exist.

And many who are running are not electable.

Therefore some of those we recommend for election are not without drawbacks, but do have a good chance of winning.

Most importantly, those we recommend support the forensic audit as well as the removal and replacement of OHAʻs CEO and if elected will shift the majority vote in order to make this happen.

Despite drawbacks, these are the ones who are electable and will make sure the forensic audit happens and vote to replace OHAʻs CEO.

Based on the above, we recommend the following -

At-Large Seats (3) - Rowena Akana
                               Lei Ahu Isa
                               Keali`i Makekau

O`ahu Seat (1) - Samuel Wilder King II

Maui Seat - Does not appear on the primary ballot. (Since there are only two candidates, both will automatically advance to the general election in November.)

We are fully aware that you may currently have reservations about some of the above recommended candidates.

For example, some have questioned Sam Kingʻs position/support regarding the Thirty Meter Telescope. Yet Sam does state that he supports the “protection and proper management of Mauna Kea.”

Simply put - if any of the above candidates are problematic but you are committed to reforming OHA, hold your nose & vote.

These are the ones who will create a new majority so that the “old guard” trustees will no longer be able to hold the other trustees and OHAʻs beneficiaries hostage and drive their private agendas.

OHA beneficiaries and voters have a unique opportunity now to reform OHA.

Please vote August 11th.

Mahalo.

WILL YOU VOTE FOR BILL AILA SO HE CAN STOP THE AUDIT & HELP PROTECT OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS CEO KAMANA`O CRABBEʻS JOB?

LOOK WHO SPENT PROTECTION $$$
ARE YOU SURPRISED?

NO REFORM AT THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS WITHOUT THIS

VOTE FOR TRUTH & TRANSPARENCY AT THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS AUG. 11TH

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"WHO WANTS TO KILL OHAʻS FORENSIC AUDIT?"

Why Havenʻt You Heard Lately About OHAʻs Forensic Audit?



After Voting For It Some OHA Trustees Have Been Secretly Trying To Kill It Off.

Is There Someone Who Could Actually Help The Audit Move Forward?

Watch This To See Who It Is & How You Can Show Your Support. 
Then Share This Video Today With Your Family & Everyone You Know.

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"ACCUSED OHA MIS-SPENDERS - WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR THEM ANYWAY"

Misspent Funds At The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs Is Noting New.

But Two Trustees Accused Of Minor Misspending Could Actually Be Key To Stopping All Misspending At OHA.

How In The World Could That Be?

Watch This To See Who They Are, How It Would Work & Why You Should Vote To Re-elect Them.
Then Share This Video Today With Your Family & Everyone You Know.

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"HOW 5+1 = 0"

How Can Five Plus One Equal Zero?

Itʻs Simple If Weʻre Talking About The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs.

It Explains How Trustees Can Be Kept In The Dark About Fraud & Corruption.

Watch This To See Why Weʻre Not Talking Fuzzy Math, But Rather About Accusations Of Wrong-Doing At OHA That Do Add Up.

Then Share This Video Today With Your Family & Everyone You Know.

OHA TRUSTEE TO FIGHT CHARGES

"I'm going to fight them to the death."

That's what Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Rowena Akana said Wednesday when asked how she'll respond to a state Ethics Commission investigation over alleged gifts and spending.

In a confidential Ethics Commission document leaked to the media, the state said Akana accepted more than $72,000  in legal fees paid to her attorney from Hawaiian heiress Abigail Kawananakoa. The money was given to Akana so she could defend herself in a lawsuit filed by other trustees. Akana said the legal fees were not a personal gift.

"I don't see anything wrong with that. It's not against the law," Akana said. "I haven't done anything that's against the law."

The commission said accepting the money may have violated a gifts and fair treatment law if "these gifts were due to Akana's status as an OHA trustee."

During Wednesday's OHA board meeting, a courier showed up to serve Akana with confidential documents from the state Ethics Commission, but Akana skipped the meeting and avoided him.
In addition to the legal fees, other spending of her allowance is coming into question, including her use of an OHA allowance for:

• Political contributions, including $500 for a band at an event hosted by Kanaka Maoli, a political action committee;
• Home cable TV and internet services;
• A $249 Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club membership;
• And food for parties for OHA personnel.

Akana said the spending is all above board, and that some of the charges are false.

For example, she said the Hawaiian Air membership didn't come from her allowance and that OHA approved all of her expenses.

She also blames OHA's CEO, Kamanaopono Crabbe, and her detractors for trying to take her down.

"This is a smear campaign. It definitely came from OHA," said Akana, referring to the leaked document.

"The Administration at OHA is doing everything they can to discredit me because I have been trying to clean house at OHA for two years," she added.

The Ethics Commission investigation comes as the FBI and Attorney General are investigating the agency.

Akana said that she knows of two other trustees who've reported to the Ethics Commission because of their expenditures.

OHA and the commission did not comment on the investigation.

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"WATCH OUT! - THE SCREWS ARE TIGHTENING AT OHA"

The Pressure Is Growing At The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs.

Why? Because The Forensic Audit Is Now Focused On OHAʻs LLCʻs.

What Are LLCʻs & Why Are They Under Such Scrutiny?

Watch This As We Explain About OHA LLC Wrongdoing Thatʻs Just The Tip Of The Iceberg.

Then Share This Video Today With Your Family & Everyone You Know.

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"IS THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS A BROKEN TRUST?"

Where Have We Seen This Before?

Why Does OHAʻs CEO & The “Old Guard” Trustees Keep Going Down The Same Road?

Donʻt They Know Or Even Care That This Will End Badly?

Watch Our Report & Decide For Yourself If OHA Is Destined To End Up Like Another Famous Broken Trust In Hawai`i.

Then Share This Video Today With Your Family & Everyone You Know.

"SHAME ON YOU!" - AN OPEN LETTER TO THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TRUSTEES

TO: OHA Chair Colette Machado
TO: All OHA Trustees

RE: Your Fiduciary Obligations to the Beneficiaries, all Beneficiaries, not just those with merit--inside dealing and special self-interest appeal

I want to first and foremost mahalo all of the Trustees that showed up for the Board of Trustees Meeting on March 22, 2018 at 10:00 am.

Most importantly, I want extend my deepest and sincerely aloha to the Trustees that voted to Terminate CEO Kamana`opono Crabbe's contract effective immediately.

At the same time, I want to express my disappointment to the Trustees that voted to keep CEO Kamana`opono Crabbe's contract active and alive. It's you that I believe are the complicit Trustees that supported the CEO with his self-interest dealings (non-competitive grants each over $25,000, CEO sponsorships for $25,000 or less--which some of you may or may not have directly or indirectly benefited, procurement contracts, etc.)

It's the complicit Trustees that know that if the CEO is terminated, the 170 employees of OHA that live paycheck to paycheck--paying mortgage, car payments, children's school tuition & fees, etc--and who cannot currently afford to be a part of the movement to bring Truth and Transparency to OHA-- would feel safe to speak about what they know and have seen at OHA.

It's only by keeping the CEO in a position of power, with the power to terminate any employee that speaks and share the information they have about corruption, that you are also therefore protected as well.

Shame on you for allowing this type of environment to continue to exist at OHA, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Shame on you for also keeping the incompetent and complicit Board Counsel Robert Klein. 

It's under his poor counsel that you never settled with Trustee Akana years ago, but instead paid $800,000 for a written apology letter. 

It's under his poor counsel that you sued the Office of Information Practices, and lost. 

It's under his poor counsel that the CEO's contract was renewed in November 2016. 

It's under his poor counsel that the F.B.I. is in OHA's hale.

Shame on you!

E hana kokou to the pono Trustees. E hana kakou.

Germaine Meyers
OHA Beneficiary for Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment and Nanakuli Hawaiian Homestead Lessee