Kanahele, 52, is the head of state for the Nation of Hawai'i and managing member of Malama First LLC. An advocate for an independent Hawaiian nation, Kanahele said current OHA trustees should not be seeking federal recognition for Native Hawaiians to stave off legal challenges to grants and entitlements that give preference to Hawaiians. Kanahele said he wants OHA to start a Native Hawaiian bank, which he said would "build a whole different credit assistance and economic foundation for the Hawaiian people."