Press Release Archives - The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)

Photo: OHA Staff receive Native Hawaiian Housing award

OHA receives 2018 Native Hawaiian Housing Award

WAIKĪKĪ (Oct. 9, 2018) – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) today received the 2018 Native Hawaiian Housing Award at the 17th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention, hosted by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) at the Waikīkī Prince Hotel. OHA…

OHA hires new Chief Operating Officer

HONOLULU (October 3, 2018) – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) today announced the selection of Sylvia Hussey, Ed.D., as the agency’s new Ka Pou Nui (Chief Operating Officer), whose responsibilities will include helping to oversee the agency’s day-to-day operations…

OHA to host Kūlia Grant orientation sessions on Kauaʻi

LĪHUʻE (October 2, 2018) – OHA will host two orientation sessions on Kauaʻi on October 4 for its new $500,000 pilot grants program, which will offer smaller, one-year funding awards for projects that benefit the Native Hawaiian community. The Kauaʻi…

UH’s proposed rules fall short of ensuring appropriate stewardship of Maunakea

OHA submitted formal testimony to the University of Hawaiʻi stating that the University’s proposed administrative rules for Maunakea “fall short” of ensuring appropriate stewardship for the sacred mountain. Enacted in 2009, Act 132 authorizes the University of Hawaiʻi’s Board of…

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…

Photo: Puna relief aid recipient receives a check

OHA emergency funds distributed to lava flow victims

Hawaiʻi Island (August 22, 2018) — A second batch of checks from OHA’s natural disaster relief program were released today to 55 Native Hawaiian households to help them cope with the devastating impacts from the recent lava flows in Puna. “We…

Photo Illustration of person peeling away an Aloha Poke poster to reveal a dollar bill

Hundreds to participate in protest against Aloha Poke Company

CHICAGO (August 9, 2018) – Native Hawaiians from across the nation will participate in a series of protests over the next week against Aloha Poke Company’s aggressive efforts to assert ownership over the Native Hawaiian word “aloha”. The “Aloha Not…

Statement from OHA CEO Kamanaʻopono Crabbe on the Aloha Poke controversy

HONOLULU (August 1, 2018) – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is appalled by the Chicago-based Aloha Pokē (sic) Company’s recent attempts to assert control over ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the traditional language of the native people of Hawaiʻi. OHA is currently…

Ke Au Hawaiʻi Festival to feature Hawaiian entertainment, market and food

HONOLULU (July 30, 2018) – Thousands will gather at Aloha Stadium this Saturday for the Ke Au Hawaiʻi Festival, a celebration of Native Hawaiian achievement featuring Hawaiian music, hula, food, a market and speeches about Native Hawaiian issues. The festival…

OHA Board of Trustees to meet on Lānaʻi

LĀNAʻI CITY (July 10, 2018) – Lānaʻi residents will have the opportunity to share their manaʻo directly with the OHA Board of Trustees when it holds a public meeting on island on Thursday, July 12. The board meeting includes time…