Voters are favoring incumbents in this year's race for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees.

At-large trustee Kelii Akina had a significant lead over former trustee Lei Ahu Isa. Early results show Akina had 38%, compared to Ahu Isa's 24.3%.

Trustee Luana Alapa had a smaller lead over Kunani Nihipali in the race for the Molokai-Lanai trustee seat. Alapa had 32.5% compared to 21.9% for Nihipali.

And on Kauai, Trustee Dan Ahuna led Laura Lindsey by 30% to 23.7%.

A new trustee, Kai Kahele, won the Big Island seat in the primary. He will replace outgoing trustee Mililani Trask.

Although most of the nine members of the Board of Trustees represent geographical areas, they operate nationwide. That means name recognition is crucial in these matchups, since OHA races don't often attract big donors like those that fund statewide campaigns for governor.

This often gives incumbent operators an advantage.

Ahu Isa, a former state legislator, has reported that she did not raise any money for her campaign this election season. Meanwhile, Akina, whose campaign is often the best-funded among OHA candidates, spent $82,000 during the election cycle that began in 2022.

In 2016, Akina led a platform to promote transparency at OHA. His efforts, along with those of other trustees, led to a series of forensic audits that identified misspending and possible instances of waste, fraud and abuse in grants and contract programs.

Now, Akina would like to receive an accurate accounting of land revenues ceded due to OHA from other government agencies. The office estimates that this should be about $70 million per year, although that number is still being determined by a working group that includes OHA and other state officials.

Ahu Isa promised to focus on funding grant programs to alleviate homelessness.

Alapa faced an early challenge to her residency on Molokai, but the state election board confirmed her candidacy. Alapa has said she wants to increase OHA's visibility and create a micro-grant program to fund home repairs for Native Hawaiians.

Nihipali wants to see reparations from the United States for his role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893.

On Kauai, Ahuna has advocated for more educational programs, while Lindsey has said OHA should make greater efforts to register Native Hawaiians to assess their needs.

OHA trustees manage an investment portfolio valued at nearly $600 million.

They will also oversee the development of properties OHA owns in Iwilei and Kakaako, where the office is evaluating new strategies for development after requests for zoning variances stalled in the Legislature in recent years.

OHA also wants to take over management of Mauna Ala from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Which agency will ultimately manage the burial site of many Hawaiian monarchs will likely impact the next legislative session.