OHA trustees approve three funding reallocations, unanimously vote to ratify committee recommendations
September 28, 2025 | Task Force Created by Act 170, Executive , Hawaii
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The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on Sept. 27 ratified three committee-recommended funding reallocations, approving support for local programs, a documentary project and a cultural-arts screening.
Trustee Alapa, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, presented the three action items brought forward for board approval. The first, BF25-73, reallocates strategy and implementation contract funds to support the Ahupua'a Mokolelo program, including leadership awards listed at $15,000 (FY2026 and FY2027) and funding for the Ola Kai event listed at $20,000 for FY2026 and $10,000 for FY2027. The board voted 6–0 to adopt the motion.
The second item, BF25-75, sought board approval to fund an Aina Aupuni Hawaii documentary. The agenda line read an amount of $135,000; trustees approved the motion on a 6–0 roll-call vote. The transcript contains an unclear trailing figure after the $135,000 line that could not be verified from the recording.
The third motion, BF25-76, approved reallocation of FY2026 personnel and fringe funds to provide $5,000 to the International Cultural Arts Network (ICANN) for a screening at the Hawaii Theatre. That motion also passed on a 6–0 roll-call vote.
Chair Kai Kahele conducted roll-call votes for each item; the record shows six "aye" responses on each tally. No formal amendments or recorded dissent were entered during the votes.
Why it matters: The approved reallocations direct modest, targeted resources toward cultural, educational and community events on behalf of OHA beneficiaries. Trustees and staff said the items had been vetted at committee level and were intended to support outreach and program activity on islands including Lanai.
What happens next: The board did not attach implementation timelines in the meeting record. Trustees directed staff to coordinate with program leads on next steps; staff sign-ups and follow-up communication were offered to community members during the meeting.
Trustee Alapa, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, presented the three action items brought forward for board approval. The first, BF25-73, reallocates strategy and implementation contract funds to support the Ahupua'a Mokolelo program, including leadership awards listed at $15,000 (FY2026 and FY2027) and funding for the Ola Kai event listed at $20,000 for FY2026 and $10,000 for FY2027. The board voted 6–0 to adopt the motion.
The second item, BF25-75, sought board approval to fund an Aina Aupuni Hawaii documentary. The agenda line read an amount of $135,000; trustees approved the motion on a 6–0 roll-call vote. The transcript contains an unclear trailing figure after the $135,000 line that could not be verified from the recording.
The third motion, BF25-76, approved reallocation of FY2026 personnel and fringe funds to provide $5,000 to the International Cultural Arts Network (ICANN) for a screening at the Hawaii Theatre. That motion also passed on a 6–0 roll-call vote.
Chair Kai Kahele conducted roll-call votes for each item; the record shows six "aye" responses on each tally. No formal amendments or recorded dissent were entered during the votes.
Why it matters: The approved reallocations direct modest, targeted resources toward cultural, educational and community events on behalf of OHA beneficiaries. Trustees and staff said the items had been vetted at committee level and were intended to support outreach and program activity on islands including Lanai.
What happens next: The board did not attach implementation timelines in the meeting record. Trustees directed staff to coordinate with program leads on next steps; staff sign-ups and follow-up communication were offered to community members during the meeting.
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