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OHA: Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Support OHA’s 2025 Budget Bill at its First House Hearing!

Submit Testimony by Tomorrow, January 30 at 2:00 p.m.
Testimony received after the deadline will be accepted, but considered late. Those who wish to testify via videoconference, must also submit written testimony.

See the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Hearing Notice and Submit Testimony Here


Summary of OHA’s Budget Bill (HB410)

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.

How to Create a Legislative Account  How to Testify


SAMPLE TESTIMONY

Aloha e Chair Tarnas, Vice Chair Poepoe, and Members of the House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs

I SUPPORT HB410 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 Contact Information] 


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