OHA committee adopts staff positions across nine legislative matrices, amends stances on several bills

Honolulu — The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment met on Feb. 11 and voted to adopt staff recommendations across nine legislative matrices covering housing, natural resources, public lands, health and education.

The committee considered nine matrices and recorded formal roll‑call votes on each. Committee staff presented status updates on several bills, including a constitutional amendment vehicle that the presenter said "died because it did not get a triple referral on Monday," leaving the Senate as the only remaining vehicle; an aquarium‑related measure (SB2996) that drew substantial beneficiary support and some industry opposition; and several land‑use and historic‑preservation bills moving on the House side.

Why it matters: OHA’s matrix votes direct the agency’s testimony to the Legislature and indicate whether OHA will support, oppose, monitor or submit comments on bills that affect Native Hawaiian communities, ceded lands and programs that OHA oversees or monitors.

What the committee did

- Matrix 1 (OHA 2026 state legislative package): Chair put a motion to approve or amend Matrix 1; members approved the package in roll call (motion announced as passing with vote total recorded).

- Matrix 3 (public land trust): Staff emphasized the importance of beneficiary input for dispositions of ceded lands such as Banyan Drive and recommended positions that reflect that need. The motion to adopt Matrix 3 passed unanimously (9 yes votes).

- Matrix 4 (natural resources and Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices): Staff recommended changing item 5 from 'support' to 'comment' to capture both pros and cons, and flagged item 6 (a Mauna Kea–related bill) for closer review. After court counsel asked that the changes be placed on the record, the committee moved to reconsider and then approved the matrix with the amendments (roll calls recorded; motions passed).

- Matrix 5 (Native Hawaiian housing): Staff proposed moving one item from 'comment' to 'oppose' because changes to the 99‑year leasehold program risked broadening scope to crown and government lands and weakening owner‑occupancy intent; the trustees approved the matrix positions by roll call.

- Matrix 6 (Native Hawaiian health), Matrix 7 (education), Matrix 8 (economic stability) and Matrix 9 (HRS Chapter 6E / iwi kupuna and historic preservation): staff reported no substantive changes on some matrices and proposed targeted comments on others (notably gaming bills). Each matrix was brought to a motion and approved by roll call; multiple votes were unanimous.

Notable policy notes and staff guidance

- Mauna Kea and special‑legislation concerns: Trustees and staff discussed that portions of one bill would transfer certain conservation district use permits (CDUPs) and that beneficiary testimony strongly opposed a 10‑year lease extension. Staff noted agency and attorney‑general comments cautioning about potential 'special legislation' issues.

- Public‑lands disposition (Banyan Drive): Trustees urged that OHA and beneficiary voices be included in nominations or board makeup if a redevelopment vehicle (HCDA or another authority) is created; staff recommended comment language emphasizing beneficiary participation.

- Housing and 99‑year leaseholds: Staff recommended opposing a bill that would alter owner‑occupancy definitions and expand 99‑year leasehold tinkers because the changes could permit subleasing while still treating units as 'owner‑occupied.' Trustees debated whether 'comment' vs 'oppose' was appropriate and ultimately approved the positions as presented.

Votes at a glance (selected matrices):
- Matrix 1: Approved (recorded roll call; motion passed). Provenance: matrix presentation and vote (SEG 072–176; SEG 223–254).
- Matrix 3 (public land trust): Approved, unanimous (SEG 256–334; SEG 334–524).
- Matrix 4 (natural resources): Amended (item 5 changed to 'comment'; item 6 changed to 'oppose'); motion to reconsider and adopt amendments passed (SEG 528–841; SEG 836–956).
- Matrix 5 (native Hawaiian housing): Approved (SEG 961–1197; SEG 1199–1270).
- Matrices 6–9: Approved as presented or with staff‑recommended comments/monitoring positions (see timeline for details).

What’s next: Staff will file the agency's testimony according to the matrices and follow up on bills that were deferred or moved to different vehicles; trustees requested clearer coordination on rapid‑response testimony so that Bay approvals can be ratified promptly by the Board.

Direct quotes (selected):
"Matrix 1 is our package," said advocacy staff during the presentation, summarizing the items staff flagged for committee consideration. "Court counsel just flagged that we should put in the record the changing, item 5 from support to comment and item 6 from monitor to oppose," staff later noted when the committee formally recorded amended positions.

The committee adjourned at 10:18 a.m. with a reminder that the full Board will convene the next day at 11:30 a.m. for a meeting that includes an executive session.