• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
  • Instagram
OHA: Office of Hawaiian Affairs

How to Submit Public Testimony for OHA Board of Trustees Meetings

Public testimony can be submitted to the OHA Board of Trustees either: (1) in writing emailed at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting, or (2) as live, oral testimony online during the Public Testimony portion of the virtual meeting. Public testimony must be limited to matters listed on the meeting agenda.

Written Testimony

Persons wishing to provide written testimony on items listed on the agenda should submit testimony via email at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Any testimony received after this deadline will be late testimony and distributed to the Board members after the scheduled meeting.

Submit written testimony to: BOTmeetings@oha.org. Testimony sent to OHA’s general email or other email addresses will not be processed as testimony. Due to COVID-19, please do not fax, mail, and/or hand-deliver written testimony.

Indicate the following information in your email:

  • Include “Testimony” in the subject line;
  • Provide your name with position/title and organization, if applicable;
  • Indicate the meeting (Board, BAE Committee, RM Committee or Joint BAE/RM Committee) and date of the meeting;
  • List the agenda item(s) you are providing testimony for; and
  • Your position (support, oppose, or comment) on each agenda item you plan to provide testimony.

NOTE: Testimony submitted by the deadline will be posted to OHA’s website and included in the Board’s minutes; hence it will be accessible for public viewing. Please do not include personal information (phone number, home address, etc.) that you do not want the public to have access to.

Oral Testimony Online

Persons wishing to provide oral testimony online on items listed on the agenda during a virtual meeting will need to register first. To provide oral testimony online, you will need (1) a computer or mobile device to connect to the internet, (2) internet access, and (3) a microphone to provide oral testimony. Oral testimony by phone will not be accepted at this time.

Registration links are unique and change for each virtual meeting. Please check the following meeting schedule webpages for the most current registration link:

The registration to provide oral testimony online will remain open until the Public Testimony section on the agenda has concluded. You will need to register prior to this time if you would like to orally testify. Once the Public Testimony section on the agenda has concluded, oral testimony online will no longer be accepted.

Once you have completed your registration, a confirmation email will be sent to you with a link to join the virtual meeting. Please use this link to join the virtual meeting. Oral testimony online will be limited to five (5) minutes.

How to Testify Orally During a Virtual OHA Board of Trustees Meeting – PDF Format

Testimony for Community Concerns

The OHA Board and its Committees may list on its agenda an item for Community Concerns. This is optional and not a requirement of Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS), Chapter 92, Public Agency Meetings and Records. Public Testimony is a requirement of HRS 92 and limited to matters listed on the meeting agenda; however, Community Concerns would allow the public to provide testimony on matters not listed on the meeting agenda.

If Community Concerns is listed on the agenda, interested persons may submit testimony under this item. The Board members are not required to respond to matters not listed on the meeting agenda.

Similar to Public Testimony, testimony for Community Concerns can be submitted to the OHA Board of Trustees either: (1) in writing emailed at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting, or (2) as live, oral testimony online during the Community Concerns portion of the virtual meeting.

Written Testimony for Community Concerns

Persons wishing to provide written testimony for Community Concerns should submit testimony via email at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Any testimony received after this deadline will be late testimony and distributed to the Board members after the scheduled meeting.

Submit written testimony to: BOTmeetings@oha.org. Testimony sent to OHA’s general email or other email addresses will not be processed as testimony. Due to COVID-19, please do not fax, mail, and/or hand-deliver written testimony.

Indicate the following information in your email:

  • Include “Testimony for Community Concerns” in the subject line;
  • Provide your name with position/title and organization, if applicable;
  • Indicate the meeting (Board, BAE Committee, RM Committee or Joint BAE/RM Committee) and date of the meeting; and
  • List each matter you wish to address and your comments on each matter.

Please do not include personal information (phone number, home address, etc.) that you do not want the public to have access to.

Oral Testimony Online for Community Concerns

Persons wishing to provide oral testimony online under Community Concerns during a virtual meeting will need to register first. To provide oral testimony online, you will need (1) a computer or mobile device to connect to the internet, (2) internet access, and (3) a microphone to provide oral testimony. Oral testimony by phone will not be accepted at this time.

Registration links are unique and change for each virtual meeting. Please check the following meeting schedule webpages for the most current registration link:

The registration to provide oral testimony online under Community Concerns will remain open until the Community Concerns section on the agenda has concluded. You will need to register prior to this time if you would like to orally testify. Once the Community Concerns section on the agenda has concluded, oral testimony online will no longer be accepted.

Once you have completed your registration, a confirmation email will be sent to you with a link to join the virtual meeting. Please use this link to join the virtual meeting. Oral testimony online under Community Concerns will be limited to five (5) minutes.

How to Testify Orally During a Virtual OHA Board of Trustees Meeting – PDF Format

LATEST NEWS

More
King Kalakaua

OHA celebrates Kalākaua’s legacy & advocacy at Merrie Monarch

More
Blue icon thumb

OHA seeks nonprofit to administer $1.66 million emergency financial assistance program

More

Office of Hawaiian Affairs fills four key executive positions

More
Photo: FestPac

OHA trustees approve $1.5 million for the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture to be hosted by Hawaiʻi in June

More
Photo: Ninau Kawaihae

OHA selects Niniau Kawaihae as Director of Community Engagement

More