Governance Archives - The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)

OHA statement on U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh

STATEMENT OF OHA CHAIR COLETTE MACHADO ON U.S. SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BRETT KAVANAUGH HONOLULU (Sept. 12, 2018) – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) joins U.S Senator Mazie Hirono in calling the nation’s attention to Judge Kavanaugh’s extreme positions on…

OHA applauds federal rule

OHA APPLAUDS FEDERAL RULE TO RECOGNIZE NATIVE HAWAIIANS’ INDIGENOUS STATUS, CREATE OPTION OF GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP Statement Attributable to Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson Robert K. Lindsey HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi (Sept. 23, 2016) – “The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) applauds…

#kalaniopuu: Follow the return

Honolulu, HI – In 1779, the reigning chief of Hawai‘i Island, Kalani‘ōpu‘u, who traced his regal line to the great chief Līloa of Waipiʻo, greeted an English captain named James Cook after his ship made port in Kealakekua Bay. As…

OHA gears up for the legislative session

Each year, OHA’s Public Policy staff review thousands of bills introduced during the legislative session, and track and testify on hundreds of measures relevant to the Native Hawaiian community. In addition, Public Policy staff advocate for a package of bills…

Kāko‘o: DOI rule to strengthen lāhui opportunities

We are happy to provide helpful tools that we can use to garner support for a longstanding, crucial lāhui goal: Establishing an option for a Native Hawaiian government to achieve a government-to-government relationship with the U.S. Our website allows you…

OHA applauds court for invalidating Mauna Kea rule

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs applauds last week’s Circuit Court decision invalidating the Department of Land and Natural Resource’s Mauna Kea emergency rule. Judge Ibarra ruled that the department did not comply with the requirements for rulemaking because it failed…

OHA: Demolition of Mauna Kea ahu raises serious concerns

In a letter sent to the Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM) today, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) expressed serious concerns over the recent demolition of an ahu constructed by protectors on Mauna Kea in June. OHA notes OMKM’s…

When is it illegal to practice your culture?

MAUNA KEA — In the early morning hours of Sept. 9, 2015, eight Native Hawaiians were arrested on Mauna Kea. Seven wahine were arrested while they were in the act of pule, or prayer. This is the second law enforcement…

Mauna a Wākea: OHA submits testimony in opposition of proposed rules that would limit access

HONOLULU – At today’s Board of Land & Natural Resources meeting, a new rule (agenda item C-1) is being heard that would give the DLNR Chair the unilateral power to close hunting areas throughout the entire state, including those around…

Coming July 31st: An animated Hawaiian history film for the masses

By Lisa Asato When OHA Trustee Peter Apo grew up in postwar Hawai‘i, Hawaiian history wasn’t taught in school. And images of Hawaiians as dignified, proud and strong were lacking. What he did learn about Hawaiian history came from his…