#Office of Hawaiian Affairs

The Department of Hawaiian Homes Lands will lead a public rally on Tuesday, March 25, to honor Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, recognize legislative efforts aimed at decreasing DHHL’s waitlist, and promote support for proposed legislation.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs hosts a Mea ʻAi & Manaʻo community followup meeting on Maui from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11 at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, Pilina Event Center.

Maui County highlights in the House Finance Committee draft budgets for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 include $1.6 million in both fiscal years for Kamehameha III temporary school in Lahaina and $12 million in fiscal 2026 and $6 million in fiscal 2027 for Maui Health System.

The Maui County Council’s Water Authority, Social Services and Parks Committee has recommended full Council confirmation of Jonathan Likeke Scheuer as the Hawaiian Homes Commission representative to the East Maui Regional Community Board.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs today announced the launch of “AHO”- the Access to Home Ownership program, a new mortgage loan program designed to address Hawaiʻi’s affordable housing crisis and assist Native Hawaiians in achieving their dreams of homeownership in Hawaiʻi.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee unanimously recommended passage Tuesday of a bill to set user fees only for nonresidents visiting state parks and trails.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has named Lise Vaughan-Sekona, Esq., as OHA’s community engagement director, filling another key position on its leadership team. Vaughan-Sekona reports to OHA Chief Operating Officer Kēhaulani Puʻu.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has appointed Summer Sylva as the new chief of staff for the OHA Board of Trustees. Sylva, an attorney and advocate for Native Hawaiian rights, brings extensive experience in governance, cultural stewardship and advocacy for Native Hawaiian rights to this role.

A measure aimed at addressing a shortage of nurses on Maui by establishing a four-year nursing Bachelor of Science degree program at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College has passed second reading on the Senate floor. Now, it’s headed to the influential Ways and Means Committee for decision-making on funding.

Members of the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives Native Hawaiian Affairs Caucus presented their 2025 Legislative Package, with four priority bills aimed at representing and advocating for the needs of the Native Hawaiian community.

NOAA is designating the marine portions of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, a 582,570 square-mile area in the Pacific Ocean, as America’s 18th national marine sanctuary. Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary will be the largest sanctuary in the National Marine Sanctuary System, and is one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. 

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees elected in 2024 were inducted into their terms of office at an investiture ceremony held Thursday at Central Union Church in Honolulu. 

A study commissioned by the Hawai’i Seaglider Initiative has found that 78% of Hawai’i residents support the introduction of an interisland sea glider service, according to an announcement.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources voted 5-0 Friday evening to issue a revocable permit to Alexander & Baldwin and subsidiary East Maui Irrigation Co. for the use of East Maui stream water, much of it for Upcountry drinking water and for nearly 10,600 acres of Mahi Pono farm lands.

US Sens. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Public Archives Resiliency Act, legislation that would authorize grants to promote preservation, climate resilience, adaption, and continuity of vital government records and protect other records of historical or cultural significance.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees elected Trustee Kaialiʻi Kahele as board chair on Wednesday. Kahele succeeds Trustee Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey of Maui who has served as chair for the past four years. The board and administration recognized and thanked Lindsey for her service as board chair.

The “Hui Makua o Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu” has announced a grant award from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs totaling $40,000. The funding supports Hawaiian Language Immersion activities across Molokaʻi.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has selected veteran communicator Bill Brennan as its new Director of Communications. He began his new role on Nov. 1.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a semi-autonomous state agency, is made up of nine elected officials who serve four-year terms.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health issued a Stop Work Order for the Individual Wastewater System project at 4400 Oneone Road, which uncovered multiple human burials . This decision comes after persistent advocacy from the local community, cultural descendants, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to protect iwi kūpuna (ancestral remains) and ensure the integrity of cultural and environmental resources in the area.