(BIVN) – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs announced three finalists in its search for a new Administrator/Chief Executive Officer.
On Monday, OHA revealed the finalists are Todd Apo, Kaulana Park and Summer Sylva.
OHA says it also provide an opportunity for beneficiaries and community members to engage with the finalists through a “talk story” session on Thursday, October 15. The event will be held from 4:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at OHA headquarters in the Nā Lama Kukui building at 560 North Nimitz Highway (Oʻahu).
The finalists will then be considered during a Wednesday, October 21 committee meeting of the OHA Board of Trustees. The next day, October 22, approval of a new CEO is expected to at the full Trustees meeting.
“Selecting OHA’s next Administrator is one of the most consequential decisions this Board will make, and we have approached this process with the seriousness and diligence it deserves,” said OHA Board Chair Kaialiʻi Kahele in a news release. “Each of these finalists brings substantial leadership experience and a demonstrated record of service. Just as importantly, we want our beneficiaries and communities to have an opportunity to learn more about the finalists, hear directly from them and participate in this important process.”
OHA provided this additional information on each candidate:
Todd Kala Apo
Apo brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, government, real estate and resort development, corporate public affairs, and law. Most recently, he served as CEO of ʻIole, a nonprofit stewarding 2,400 acres in North Kohala. His executive experience also includes senior leadership roles with the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Howard Hughes Corporation, The Walt Disney Company and The Resort Group at Ko Olina.
Apo served on the Honolulu City Council from 2005 to 2010, including as Council Chair, Vice Chair and Budget Committee Chair. His career encompasses strategic planning, fiscal oversight, land and asset management, government relations, affordable housing, sustainability, community engagement and organizational development.
Kaulana H. R. Park
Park brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in Native Hawaiian trust administration, land development and construction, banking, community development and public service. He currently serves as Vice President of Laulima Hawaiʻi, helping lead a more than 500-acre master-planned community in Kapolei, with responsibilities including planning, financing, budgeting, contracts, risk management and project delivery.
Park previously served as Director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission after more than six years as Deputy Director. Earlier in his career at OHA, he managed the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund, helped establish OHA’s Evaluation & Research function and contributed to organizational strategic planning.
Summer Lee Haunani Sylva
Sylva brings more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning Native Hawaiian advocacy, law, public policy, government, nonprofit management and OHA. Since September 2025, she has served as OHA’s Interim Administrator and CEO, overseeing more than 130 employees, statewide operations, major organizational initiatives and annual budgets of approximately $70 million to $80 million.
Sylva previously served as Chief of Staff to the OHA Board of Trustees, Senior Advisor for Native Hawaiian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior, a senior FEMA advisor during the Maui wildfire response, and Executive Director of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation. Her experience includes organizational leadership, Native Hawaiian policy and advocacy, crisis management, legal affairs, governance and public administration.
