Peter Apo

Peter Apo

Nonpartisan

Prior offices

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Oahu Resident Trustee

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Elections and appointments

Last election

August 10, 2024

Contact

Campaign website

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Peter Apo was a member of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, representing Oahu Resident Trustee. He assumed office in 2011. He left office in 2019.

Apo ran for election for an at-large seat of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. He lost in the primary on August 10, 2024.

Biography

Peter Apo attended the University of Oregon. His career experience includes working as the director of culture and education for the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, president of the Peter Apo Company, and trustee at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. He served a Hawaii State Representative.

Elections

2024

See also: Hawaii Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees election, 2024

General election

General election for Office of Hawaiian Affairs At-large Trustee

Incumbent Keli'i Akina defeated Lei Ahu Isa in the general election for Office of Hawaiian Affairs At-large Trustee on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Keli'i Akina (Nonpartisan)	61.5	200,554
		Lei Ahu Isa (Nonpartisan)	38.5	125,304

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 325,858
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Office of Hawaiian Affairs At-large Trustee

The following candidates ran in the primary for Office of Hawaiian Affairs At-large Trustee on August 10, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Keli'i Akina (Nonpartisan)	26.8	40,836
✔		Lei Ahu Isa (Nonpartisan)	20.2	30,860
		Peter Apo (Nonpartisan)	18.0	27,487
		Brendon Kalei'aina Lee (Nonpartisan)	12.3	18,744
		Patty Kahanamoku-Teruya (Nonpartisan)	11.6	17,670
	Submit photo	Leona M. Kalima (Nonpartisan)	7.5	11,424
	Submit photo	Larry Kawaauhau (Nonpartisan)	3.6	5,529

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 152,550
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Palikapu Dedman (Nonpartisan)
• Derek Kirkpatrick (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Apo in this election.

2018

See also: Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees election, 2018

Apo did not seek re-election in 2018.

2014

Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Oahu Trustee, Primary Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Peter Apo Incumbent	55.5%	92,388
	Nonpartisan	Christopher K.J Lum Lee	15.9%	26,463
	Nonpartisan	Jackie Kahookele Burke	15.2%	25,343
	Nonpartisan	C. Kamaleihaahaa Shigemasa	13.4%	22,222
Total Votes				166,416

2010

Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Oahu Trustee, General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Peter Apo	42.9%	101,307
	Nonpartisan	Walter Meheula Heen Incumbent	32.5%	76,799
	Nonpartisan	Jackie Kahookele Burke	24.6%	58,032
Total Votes				236,138

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Peter Apo did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Apo’s campaign website stated the following:

“	Hawaiian Unification OHA has an obligation to address the underlying purpose of the constitutional amendment that created OHA to serve as a center of gravity by framing a statewide discussion among Hawaiians and their institutions on how to pursue self-determination . For many Hawaiians self-determination does not necessarily translate to seeking independence from the United States. There are many models of native American and Pacific Island self-governance that does not require giving up American citizenship. OHA has a constitutional obligation to press forward with a statewide discussion that frames what Hawaiians mean by self-determination/self governance (Ea)with its beneficiaries. Shift Governance Model The idea of revamping the governance model to replicate a Legislative framework would heighten the level of sophistication in budgeting, decision making, and public accountability. As a political authority OHA Trustees are elected to office by the entire Hawai’i electorate as opposed to a Trust Fund Model (private sector or government) where Trustees are appointed by government leaders. As an electorate driven institution the legislative framework would heighten OHA’s public accountability with its higher level of operational sophistication in its committee structure, administrative structure, budgeting and accounting systems. No question making the shift from Trust to Legislative will require months of navigation and dialogue with Trustees, Hawaiian leaders from various sectors, and beneficiaries. While OHA would still operate under the legal umbrella of Statehood the legislatively framed governance model would, in a profound way, create a non-threatening sense of Hawaiian Nationhood. Establish a (non-voting) seat in Governor's Cabinet The Hawaiian community has a record of influencing state public policy down through the years. The issues are sprinkled across various state departments and when serious enough ends up being discussed in the governor’s cabinet for discussion and recommendations. But more often than not, by the time an issue reaches the cabinet level it’s too late to calm the waters. The Mauna Kea Thirty Meter Telescope debacle is a primary example. Having the OHA chair sit in on cabinet meetings will help avoid the public embarrassment of being asleep at the wheel. The OHA Chair can represent a Hawaiian community perspective as issues pop-up at the cabinet level. Establish a System of Public Authority to Validate Hawaiian Cultural Claims There is no adjudicating body, with the state or the Hawaiian community, with any authority to officially rule on claims of cultural injury. The Thirty Meter Telescope debacle is an example. Since 1819 when the Hawaiian Religion was completely dismantled in the Battle of Kuamo’o, the Hawaiian Priesthood, who had jurisdiction over all such cultural claims, was banished to the underbrush. Today, opposing parties have no way of resolving conflict in the absence of any established public authority to rule on a disputed cultural claim. Hawaiian cultural claims has a profound influence on land use, environmental issues, and cultural practices. This is an issue that impacts all Hawai’i – not just Hawaiians. I believe OHA has an obligation to, at least within its own structure, institute a way to adjudicate and rule with authority on claims of cultural injury. Simplify OHA Grant Applications Based on past complaints OHA’s grant application process needs refining to show a little mercy for small grant applicants. According to complaining applicants the application process seems to be one size fits all and appears geared toward large grant applicants applying for thousands of dollars. I would strongly encourage OHA administration to (1) provide staff assistance to small request applicants who need help filing, and/or (2) set-up a simplified application process for small requests. Special Fund for Hawaiian Musicians, Artists and Cultural Practitioners Of all the Hawaiian cultural priorities music and the arts profoundly provide the most embracing and celebratory umbrella of cultural expression that burns deep in the transgenerational passing of cultural pride, dignity, spirituality, and celebration of life. For decades now Hawaiian artists, musicians, and cultural practitioners struggle to survive. Yet, they are so fundamental to Hawai’i’s framework of global identity, dignity, and sense of nationhood it seems that it would be a logical and welcomed program to establish an OHA Special Fund for Musicians, Artists, and Cultural Practioners that would provide financial support to the Hawaiian Music & Art community. Creation of a DIGITAL HAWAIIAN NATION Creating a 360 degree digital framework that defines and frames every aspect of what constitutes the 21st Century Hawaiian community - its institutions, cultural programs and landscapes, economics, and its spread of geo-cultural communities located across the island chain. OHA does not need legislative or congressional approval to create a framework of what could be referred to as a virtual Hawaiian Nation.	”
—Peter Apo’s campaign website (2024)

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Peter Apo campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Office of Hawaiian Affairs At-large Trustee	Lost primary	$5,208	$1,822
Grand total			$5,208	$1,822
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	Office of Hawaiian Affairs Oahu Resident Trustee 2011-2019	Succeeded by -