They will make structural and operational changes aimed at safeguarding the trust against future abuses of power. In this process, change may well come to the language of the 1884 will of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop that established the sacred trust to support the Kamehameha Schools and the education of children of Hawaiian ancestry. There's also the issue of the millions of dollars that were lost to the trust and the beneficiaries through excessive compensation, poor investments, lobbying against legislation and other losses. Former Bishop Estate trustee Oswald Stender said yesterday the rebuilding has to start soon. If we fix it, we will get the quality of people and governance that this institution was lacking.
Struggles begin Determining the new selection process already has proved contentious.
Last week, state lawyers and the court-appointed special master stood in Probate Court arguing against each other's proposals. The master, Benjamin Matsubara, proposed that the new trustees be selected by a Probate Court judge who would make the appointments after reviewing a list of finalists drawn up by a seven-member advisory panel. Deputy Attorney General Dorothy Sellers argued against it, advocating that the Intermediate Court of Appeals select future trustees. A decision is pending. Before such structural changes are agreed on, symbolic changes already have been formalized.