Support OHA’s 2025 Budget Bill Before the Senate Hawaiian Affairs Committee

Mahalo to everyone who has supported OHA’s priority iwi kūpuna bill so far this session. Thanks to your support, this bill crossed over to the House last week, and will be heard at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2025, by the House Committee on Water and Land.

Submit Testimony by Wednesday, March 12, at 9:00 a.m.
Testimony received after the deadline will be accepted, but considered late. Those who wish to testify via videoconference must also submit written testimony.

How to Create a Legislative Account  |  How to Testify

Summary of OHA’s Budget Bill (HB 410 HD1)

Funds will be used to:

• Advance ‘Ōiwi wellbeing and reduce disparities in health, housing, education and economic development.
• Support 13 new staff positions to accelerate implementation of OHA’s 15-year strategic plan, Mana i Mauli Ola.
• Expand collaboration to ensure effective delivery of services to Native Hawaiians across government service-providers.
• Increase transparency and accountability through creation of an online dashboard showing progress in meeting Mana i Mauli Ola benchmarks.

Background:

• As of 2022, OHA only receives $21.5 million/year from Public Land Trust revenues instead of the approximately $78.9 million to which it is due as its pro rata share under Hawai‘i law – a gap that continues to grow.
• Until OHA receives its full 20% share of Public Land Trust revenues, appropriations from the legislature will be necessary to cover administrative and operational shortfalls.

Sample Testimony in Support of HB 410 HD1

Use this sample to submit your own testimony:

Aloha e Chair Richards, Vice Chair San Buenaventura, and Members of the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs:

I SUPPORT HB410 HD1 for the following reasons:

Delivery of Services: This bill increases funding for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to hire new staff and accelerate implementation of its 15-year strategic plan, Mana i Mauli Ola, to advance the wellbeing of its beneficiaries. The state has never allocated OHA its full pro rata share due by law and therefore periodic appropriations are just, fair, and necessary to enable OHA to meet its broad mandate to better the condition of Native Hawaiians.

Transparency and Synergy: OHA seeks to fund staff positions focused on leveraging partnerships with other state and county agencies and increasing transparency around OHA’s work through an online dashboard. This is a smart investment of taxpayer dollars to ensure collaboration between and among government entities that serve Native Hawaiians and share common goals.

As an OHA beneficiary and voter, I am happy to see the innovative approach that OHA’s leadership is bringing to its statutory and constitutional mandates.

Mahalo for the opportunity to testify in support of this important measure.

[Your Name]

[Your Contact Information]

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