OHA’s 2025 Legislative Package

OHA developed four measures for the 2025 Legislative Session on three foundational principles:

• Stop Native Hawaiian identity erasure,
• Elevate Native Hawaiian identity as an inseparable facet of the state’s identity,
• Uplift and empower our most vulnerable communities as a crucial component of Native Hawaiian self-determination.

The four measures in our Legislative Package are:

1. Funding: SB269 / HB410  Relating to the Budget of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs
   OHA is requesting a $1,858,454 increase in FY26 and $1,996, 208 increase in FY27 in general fund appropriations (reflected in the FY26 and FY27 biennium budget totals of $4.8M and $4.9M). These increases are necessary to adjust for the cost of inflation since 2020 when OHA began implementing its strategic plan Mana i Mauli Ola and to fund the newly created 13-member Strategy and Implementation (S&I) Team. OHA’s S&I team will leverage their subject matter expertise to develop specific tactics to reduce disparities Native Hawaiians face in health, housing, education and economic development in line with OHA’s strategic plan, and provide concrete metrics for the public and elected officials to track the impact that OHA’s program funding is making in improving Native Hawaiian social conditions, among other initiatives vital to attaining OHA’s statutory mandates.

   HB1358 HD3 Status		DC228 PLT Working Group Interim Report
   2/12/25 View Hearing		Agenda
   Action Alert 2/10/2025		Submit testimony in support of HB1358_HD1 Sample Testimony | Submit Testimony
   2/7/2025	H	Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-12-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
   2/6/2025	H	Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Ward excused (1).
   2/6/2025	H	Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 198) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
   2/4/25 View Hearing	H	The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. Agenda  | HB1358 Testimony Submitted 2/3/25 WAL
   Action Alert 2/1/2025		Submit Testimony on HB1358 by Monday, February 3, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Sample Testimony  |  Submit Testimony
   1/30/2025	H	Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 02-04-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
   1/27/2025	H	Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 4
   1/23/2025	H	Introduced and Pass First Reading.

   SB1600 Status
   1/27/2025	S	Referred to HWN/WTL, WAM.
   1/27/2025	S	Passed First Reading.
   1/23/2025	S	Introduced.

2. Kaka‘ako Makai Bill: SB534 Relating to the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority 
   In 2012, the legislature conveyed certain lands valued at approximately $200,000,000 from the State to OHA (Kaka‘ako Makai lands) as settlement of past due amounts. The valuation was based on residential development as the highest use of the Kaka‘ako Makai lands. This bill would repeal the residential development prohibition on certain land parcels allowing OHA to maximize the value of Kaka‘ako Makai lands consistent with the legislative intent. This bill would also raise the residential height limit along Ala Moana Boulevard to 400 feet, subject to the provision that 50% + 1 unit in any tower would be reserved for essential workforce housing (<140% AMI); dedicate a portion of residential association fees to the maintenance of open spaces and public infrastructure preserving public access and use of the shoreline areas; and require owner occupancy of all residential units.

   SB534 Status
   2/4/2025 View Hearing	S	The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Kanuha, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Aquino.
   2/3/2025 View Hearing	S	The committee(s) on WTL/HWN 02-03-25 1:00PM; CR 229. The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HWN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Ihara ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura. Agenda
   1/29/2025 View  Hearing	S	The committee(s) on HOU deferred the measure until 02-04-25 1:00PM; CR 225. The committee(s) on WTL/HWN deferred the measure until 02-03-25 1:00PM; CR 229.SB534 Testimony submitted 1/28/2025
   Action Alert 1/24/2025		URGENT: Testify in support of SB534 by Tues, Jan. 28! Sample Testimony  |  Submit Testimony
   1/21/2025	S	Referred to WTL/HWN/HOU, JDC/WAM.
   1/17/2025	S	Passed First Reading.
   1/17/2025	S	Introduced.

3. Protection of Iwi Kūpuna: SB268 / HB409 Relating to Burial Council Composition
   This bill would address longstanding quorum and composition issues by removing the designated landowner seat from the Island Burial Councils allowing the councils to meet with a quorum of seven members (with the exception of Moloka‘i which will remain at five members). OHA also anticipates supporting additional legislation to implement recommendations made by the Burial Sites Working Group convened in 2022.

   SB268/HB409 Status
   1/28/2025 View Hearing	S	The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HWN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, San Buenaventura, Keohokalole, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara. SB268 Testimony Submitted 1/27/25 HWN
   Action Alert  1/26/2025		Submit Testimony on SB 268 and 269 by Mon, Jan. 27 at 1:00 p.m. Sample Testimony  |  Submit Testimony
   1/24/2025	S	The committee(s) on HWN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
   1/21/2025	S	Referred to HWN, JDC.
   1/15/2025	S	Introduced and passed First Reading.
   1/14/2025	S	Pending Introduction.

As part of its mandate to advocate for Native Hawaiians, each year OHA submits a package of proposed bills to the Hawaii State Legislature, and the agency’s Board of Trustees also votes to take positions on a wide variety of legislation impacting the Hawaiian community.

OHA remains the principal public agency in the state responsible for the performance, development, and coordination of programs and activities relating to Native Hawaiians.

Stay Connected

Stay up-to-date on issues and legislation affecting OHA and the Lāhui throughout the 2025 Legislative Session. Continue to check this page for updates on these measures.
To receive alerts about opportunities to testify at upcoming hearings, please fill out the “STAY CONNECTED” form located in the sidebar to the right of this page.

Be an Advocate for the Lāhui in 2025

• Go to the Hawaii State Legislature website
• Register to set up a user account
• Sign up for hearing updates directly from the Legislature
• Submit Testimony on a bills (Testimony Instructions).
• Watch live or archived committee hearings and floor sessions
• Find your legislator
• Review 2025 Primer Sheets for House and 2025 Primer Sheets for Senate
• View important dates this session: 2025 Legislative Calendar.
• View OHA’s past legislative efforts for 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
• Learn how a bill becomes law