What's Being Discussed

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Budget and Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting is held remotely but can also be attended in person at 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 200, Honolulu. Three main topics are on the agenda:

• Event sponsorship awards: The committee will review funding requests from 11 organizations seeking grants through OHA's Hoʻākoakoa Lāhui event sponsorship program for the third quarter of fiscal year 2027. Events range from cultural celebrations honoring Prince Kūhiō to youth STEAM days and community galas.
• Agricultural disaster relief: The committee will consider expanding an existing farming assistance program — the Mahiʻai Micro Fund — by redirecting $225,000 in existing funds to help farmers recover from the March 2026 Kona Low storm.
• Disaster relief fund reallocation: The committee will consider a bookkeeping exchange that shifts unused Home Depot gift cards (originally for Kaʻū storm relief) to assist Native Hawaiian families on Kauaʻi affected by Hurricane Lowell, while redirecting an equal amount of cash back to continued Kaʻū recovery efforts. The total disaster relief dollars authorized by the Board do not change.

Decisions Expected

• Approval of event sponsorship grants for 11 community organizations and a related budget adjustment
• Approval of expanded agricultural recovery funding totaling $225,000
• Approval of the disaster relief fund exchange between Kaʻū and Hurricane Lowell programs

Who Should Pay Attention

• Native Hawaiian community members and nonprofit organizations seeking OHA sponsorships
• Farmers and agricultural workers impacted by the 2026 Kona Low storm
• Families in Kaʻū and Kauaʻi affected by recent disasters
• Anyone interested in how OHA allocates its budget