Office of Hawaiian Affairs

The Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority wants $1 million for community planning sessions and an infrastructure assessment of Kakaʻako Makai. That includes evaluating residential, hotel and manufacturing development in the area.

State senators nixed a controversial measure that would have allowed the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to build high-rise housing along the waterfront area of Kakaʻako, also called Kakaʻako Makai.

A bill aiming to lift a state law banning residential development at the waterfront area of Kakaʻako on Oʻahu cleared its first hurdle in the state Legislature. This is part of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ effort to develop its Kakaʻako Makai Project.

One measure would increase the state’s 10.25% transient accommodations tax levied on hotels by 1%, which would go into the Hawaiian Home General Loan Fund.

HPR talked to OHA Board Chair Kai Kahele about the department's top priority of getting the green light to develop its lands on the makai side of Ala Moana. The former U.S. representative was recently elected as OHA's Hawaiʻi Island trustee.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs board chair Kai Kahele discusses the agency's legislative priorities; Castle High School teacher Maya Sullivan and student Hali’a Tom-Jardine share their experience on a star-studded panel tasked with naming a new quasi-moon

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is asking the state Legislature for more than $2 million to fund 13 full-time positions over the next two years.

Kahele replaced longtime trustee Carmen Hulu Lindsey, who's served as chair since 2020.

It’s unclear when the final results will be published as the local elections office is still counting ballots on Wednesday. But most likely name recognition will play a key role for the incumbents defending their seats from challengers, including a political veteran.

Proposals that sought to exempt the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from the Hawaiʻi open meetings law and adjust how OHA's salary commission is appointed failed in a final vote by the Board of Trustees on Thursday.