OHA Board of Trustees (Office of Hawaiian Affairs)
Meeting of the Board of Trustees - Office of Hawaiian Affairs
AI-Generated Summary
Plain-language overview — always verify with official documents
What's Being Discussed
- Event sponsorship awards: The board will review funding requests for 11 community events under the Hoʻākoakoa Lāhui sponsorship program, including cultural festivals, a STEAM day, and charity galas.
- Agricultural disaster relief: A proposal to expand the Mahiʻai Micro Fund by reallocating up to $225,000 to help farmers recover from the March 2026 Kona Low storms.
- Hurricane Lowell relief flexibility: A proposal to allow unused gift cards originally meant for Kaʻū residents to be redirected to help Kauaʻi families affected by Hurricane Lowell, without changing the total amount of disaster funding.
- Malu Project funding framework: A plan for how OHA will distribute $55 million received through state law (Act 032, 2026) to address urgent needs of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries and organizations facing funding cuts.
- Military land lease recommendations: The board will consider accepting a report with eight recommendations on OHA's position regarding U.S. military land leases expiring between 2028 and 2031.
- Trustee code of conduct hearing: A formal complaint filed by Trustee Keoni Souza against four other trustees will be heard and decided in open session, with a separate closed legal consultation also planned.
Decisions Expected
- Votes on event sponsorship awards and a related budget adjustment
- Approval of expanded agricultural relief funding
- Approval of the Malu Project framework for $55 million in Native Hawaiian relief funds
- Acceptance of military land lease recommendations
- Findings and possible sanctions in the trustee conduct complaint
Who Should Pay Attention
- Native Hawaiian communities and organizations seeking OHA grants or sponsorships
- Farmers and agricultural workers impacted by the 2026 Kona Low storms
- Residents of Kaʻū and Kauaʻi affected by recent disasters
- Anyone interested in OHA governance and trustee accountability
How to Participate
This is a public meeting — all community members are welcome to attend and provide testimony. Meetings are typically held in person and may also be accessible online.