The state Senate confirmed Michael Kaleikini, David Kaʻapu and Dennis Neves to the Hawaiian Homes Commission on Thursday.
Kaleikini was confirmed as East Hawaii commissioner by a vote of 21-4 and Ka‘apu received unanimous consent as West Hawaii commissioner. Neves was confirmed as Kauai commissioner by a 24-1 vote.
Kaleikini, who resides in the Waiakea area of Hilo, has been employed by Puna Geothermal Venture for 28 years. His responsibilities have ranged from plant operations to administration to his current role in business development. He’s also a U.S. Navy veteran who attended college in California and at Brigham Young University-Hawaii.
He is active in the community, serving on the East Hawaii Advisory Council for the American Red Cross, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii, Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference and the Mainstreet Pahoa Association Board.
Kaʻapu is an attorney in Kailua-Kona with an emphasis in quiet title, business law, wills and trusts, general litigation and land use.
He graduated from the University of Hawaii with a BA in anthropology (Hawaiian archaeology) and received his law degree from Santa Clara University.
Neves currently serves as the second vice president of the Kalalea Anahola Farmer’s Hui. He is formerly executive manager for the San Francisco Airport and the state Department of Transportation’s Kauai Airports district manager.
Kaleikini’s appointment to the commission by Gov. David Ige has been controversial. Written testimony to the Senate’s Hawaiian Affairs Committee — which ultimately recommended the full body support the appointment, ran 16 in opposition and only four in favor. Three of those submitting testimony in favor are members of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, including commission and Department of Hawaiian Homelands Chairman William Aila.
Those opposed cited his employment with PGV, his position on the senior executive committee of HIEDB — which backed a since-scrapped rocket-launching facility near homestead lands — and his support of a proposal, since shelved by HHC, to develop a casino on homestead lands on Oahu.
Kaleikini doesn’t live on homestead land, and some opponents said he showed little interest in the issues facing DHHL beneficiaries prior to his appointment to the commission by Ige.
The four senators voting no on Kaleikini’s appointment were Laura Ocasio of Hilo, Donna Mercado Kim and Gil Riviere of Oahu, all Democrats, and Kurt Fevella of Oahu, the Senate’s lone Republican.
Among the aye votes, 14 were cast with reservations. Those include: Sen. Joy San Buenaventura of Puna; Oahu Sens. Stanley Chang, Donovan Dela Cruz, Les Ihara, Michelle Kidani, Chris Lee, Bennette Misalucha, Sharon Moriwaki, Clarence Nishihara, Karl Rhoads, Brian Taniguchi and Glenn Wakai; and Maui Sens. Rosalyn Baker and Kalani English.