Hawaiian activist Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele is among a group of high-profile candidates lining up to challenge the three incumbent "at-large" trustees on the board of the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Others jumping into the fray: former state Sen. Whitney Anderson; former state Rep. Danielle Ululani Beirne; former OHA trustee Roy Benham; cultural expert and musician Manu Boyd; and Robin Danner, executive director of the Council on Native Hawaiian Advancement.

They will face off against trustees Rowena Akana, Oswald Stender and John Waihe'e IV, all of whom are seeking re-election to four-year posts.

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."

Boyd, who first was employed by OHA 14 years ago as a cultural specialist and is now the state agency's public information director, is running for the first time. Also a kumu hula and leader of the musical group Ho'okena, Boyd said he believes he brings expertise in Hawaiian culture and language, as well as communications and administrative skills to the table. "It's time for more options," Boyd said.

Danner has headed the nonprofit Council on Native Hawaiian Advancement since its inception in 2001. The group is dedicated to advocacy of Native Hawaiian programs. Danner said her background would bring a unique perspective to the OHA board. "OHA's resources are the people's resources, and I'd like to try to include communities and community development practitioners in a larger way," she said.

Anderson, who served in both the House and the Senate for a number of years, said he wants OHA to work more closely with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in providing homes and other resources to Hawaiians. A former president of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Anderson said he also wants to work with non-Hawaiians "to ease their doubts about Hawaiian programs."

Akana said the at-large race typically draws an interesting crowd of applicants "because there are three seats (and) people think it's easier than running against someone." It's not, she said, particularly because at-large candidates are expected to represent people statewide.

Waihe'e said he's encouraged by the entry of known candidates into the at-large race, even if it means he will have to work harder to try to retain his seat. "We should get the best people running for it," he said. "Whenever people run unopposed, to me, that doesn't represent the people well."

Others who had filed for the at-large seats were Newton Harbottle of Kane'ohe; Frank Kawelo and Arvid Youngquist, both of Honolulu; and William Meyers of Papaikou.

In all, five of the nine OHA seats are up for grabs this fall. Terms for the other four trustees end in 2008.

In addition to the at-large posts, candidates are vying for two of six district seats. In the race for OHA's O'ahu district seat, incumbent Dante Carpenter is being challenged by, among others, retired judge and former elected official Walter Heen.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.