July 9, 2008
Contributed by Thomas Yoshida
As a Trustee, Admiral Kihune has consistently kept his focus on the mission of Kamehameha Schools, always holding Ke Ali'i Pauahi's interests paramount, being adamant about educating Hawaiian children with need. From the day he stepped forward as an Interim Trustee until today, he has stood for effective governance, inspired leadership and a bias for action to move Kamehameha Schools' mission forward. He has consistently supported programs to expand the educational reach of Kamehameha Schools and has taken the kuleana of land stewardship very seriously. His contributions have been enormous. As he embarks on his final year as Trustee, he does so with our deepest gratitude.
Under the Will of Ke Ali'i Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the Trustees were to be selected by a majority of the members of the Supreme Court of Hawai'i. However, in 1997 three of the five current Supreme Court Justices – Chief Justice Ronald Moon and Associate Justices Paula Nakayama and Steven Levinson – gave notice that they would not be exercising the power to appoint Trustees as granted by Pauahi's Will. The Justices maintained that position in 2006, when a replacement was selected for then-Trustee Constance Lau. If the Justices maintain this position in 2009, the upcoming vacancy cannot be filled as Pauahi intended. In that case, the Petition for Appointment of a Successor Trustee suggests that the court follow the selection procedure established in 1999 for the selection of the current Board of Trustees.
According to that process:
1. The Probate Court appoints a Screening Committee of seven persons who are knowledgeable about Kamehameha Schools and Pauahi's legacy and vision and experienced in the management and operation of a large institution, educational or otherwise.
2. The Screening Committee will accept applications and nominations, and may solicit applicants who have not applied.
3. The Screening Committee will select and interview 6 semi-finalists.
4. The Screening Committee will select three finalists, whose names are published in the newspaper.
5. The Screening Committee will receive comment from the community, including the Trustees and the Attorney General, for 30 days, and submit a report detailing the input to the Court.
6. The final selection will be made by the Probate Court.
Our duty as Trustees in this matter is to file the Petition for Appointment of a Successor, and then continue to do our best to fulfill Pauahi's vision and the mission of Kamehameha Schools while the selection process is underway.
I mua, Kamehameha!
Nainoa Thompson,
Chair, Board of Trustees
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
