(BIVN) – Wally Ishibashi is no longer on the Hawaiian Homes Commission, but he was present for Monday’s meeting in Waimea, and took the opportunity to talk to the body he was once a part of from “the other side of the table”.

Up until recently, Ishibashi represented the East Hawaiʻi seat on the Hawaiian Homes Commission. That seat is now vacant.

“During this last legislative session we experienced a lot of confrontation from East Hawaiʻi, so I wanted to explain that to you guys,” Ishibashi said. “I’m no longer a commissioner for East Hawaiʻi, but it all ties in together.”

Ishibashi said the discontent from East Hawaiʻi is due in part to “failure from the [Department of Hawaiian Home Lands] to execute plans already in place.”

“I was under a false impression that being a commissioner you can make one big change for the betterment of our people,” Ishibashi said. “Sad to say I was wrong, and now is the time to move forward.”

“I apologize – kala mai – to my people, that I failed you as a commissioner,” Ishibashi later said. “So we got to move forward we got to move and take this fight to the next level.”

“My advice to the Commission is take a little bit time today to learn of the issues that face East Hawaiʻi, that face Moku o Keawe,” Ishibashi said.

Following his testimony, the Hawaiian Homes Commission and DHHL staff honored Ishibashi for his years of service on the commission.

Big Island Video News will be featuring other public testimony given at Monday’s Department of Hawaiian Home Lands meeting in Waimea.