BAKER, Karl Veto
Party: Nonpartisan · Backing: Independent
Platform: Kumu hula and OHA development executive advocating mindful stewardship of Native Hawaiian lands.
- Served as CEO of Kuilei Consulting Inc., the development arm of OHA charged with overseeing projects at Kakaako Makai — 30 acres of Hawaiian lands transferred to OHA by the state in 2012 as partial settlement of ceded-lands revenues owed.
- Wrote in a 2022 Civil Beat op-ed that OHA's approach to Kakaako Makai must be 'mission-driven' and guided by Native Hawaiian stewardship values, not run-of-the-mill real estate development; cites OHA's Mana i Mauli Ola Strategic Plan which recognizes aina connection as the foundation of Native Hawaiian identity.
- Earned his uniki as kumu hula in 1995 and is co-kumu of Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, bringing cultural grounding to his advocacy for land stewardship.
- Campaign website is karlvetobaker.com; specific 2026 policy positions should be verified there and at candidate forums.
Editorial summary: Karl 'Veto' Baker is an OHA insider — he ran Kuilei Consulting, OHA's development arm for its Kakaako Makai lands — who brings both cultural credibility as a kumu hula and real-estate expertise. His 2022 Civil Beat writing frames OHA land development as a Native Hawaiian stewardship obligation, not a profit exercise. As a candidate for OHA At-Large Trustee, voters can expect him to emphasize prudent management of OHA's $884 million asset portfolio and land holdings while centering Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.
Key issues: OHA land stewardship (Kakaako Makai), Native Hawaiian beneficiary services, Asset management, Cultural preservation
Website: https://karlvetobaker.com
Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03