"The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence regardless of their chosen field of endeavor." --- Vincent Lombardi, Coach, Green Bay Packers

1. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is a public agency with a high degree of autonomy. OHA is
responsible for improving the well-being of Native Hawaiians. OHA is governed by a Board of
Trustees made up of nine members who are elected statewide to serve four-year terms setting
policy for the agency. OHA is administered by a Chief Executive Officer (Ka Pouhana) who is
appointed by the Board of Trustees to oversee a staff of about 170 people.
History
OHA grew out of organized efforts in the 1970s to right past wrongs suffered by Native
Hawaiians for over 100 years. Hawaiians’ newfound activism brought their plight to the
consciousness of the general public, leading grassroots leaders to propose, at the time, that
income from land taken from the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom be used to
benefit Hawaiians. After voters of all backgrounds agreed, OHA was born in 1978.
A New Direction
By providing resources, advocating for Native Hawaiians, and facilitating collaboration, OHA is
fulfilling its vision to raise a beloved nation.
Strategic Plan & Focus
Our 2010 – 2018 Strategic Plan
Our Hawaiian ancestors understood that the well-being of our community rested upon the
inter-relationship of how we conduct ourselves, steward the islands we call home, and fulfill the
responsibility of caring for our families, all within the physical and spiritual realms. They also
understood that successfully maintaining lōkahi meant careful observation, knowledge
gathering, and informed decision making to achieve pono. OHA is striving to embrace this time-
tested wisdom through our new Strategic Plan.

2. EXAMINING THE IDEA OF NATIONHOOD FOR THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN PEOPLE
Legislative Reference Bureau - State Capitol Honolulu, Hawaii. Report No.6, 1994
Source: http://lrbhawaii.info/lrbrpts/94/94hination.pdf
“This study on how to identify a sovereign nation was undertaken in response to Senate
Resolution No. 209, S.D. 1, adopted during the 1994 legislative session.
[T]he Bureau examines the conceptual underpinnings of sovereignty to explain to the
legislature the reasoning which preceded the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. As earlier
stated it is not a question of whether or not sovereignty should or shall occur. By the adoption
of Act 200 in 1994 (giving the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council authority to oversee a
plebiscite in 1995), Act 356 in 1993 (acknowledging the unique status of the native Hawaiians
and establishing the Sovereignty Advisory Council in the Office of State Planning), and Act 301
in 1991 (creating the Sovereignty Advisory Council in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs1
), the
Legislature indicated that sovereignty is an ongoing accepted fact. A plebiscite2
in 1995 to be
overseen by the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council will more specifically determine the
timing, status, and structure of the new nation. [Emphasis Supplied]
According to MacKenzie3
, "OHA's [Office of Hawaiian Affairs] position is that given the
appropriate federal legislation [Akaka Bill], as well as amendments to the state constitution, it
would be possible for OHA to evolve into the self-governing entity. OHA recognizes that
legislation would have to be drafted to separate OHA from the state and give it [OHA] federal
recognition. In that way, it would be protected from the vagaries of state politics4
and would
be able to deal with the state and federal governments at arm’s length. [Clarification Supplied]
1
Page 1. http://www.oha.org/?s=Sovereignty+Advisory+Council+
Page 2. http://www.oha.org/page/2/?s=Sovereignty+Advisory+Council+
2
Plebiscite is a direct vote by eligible voters to decide an important public question, such as a change to
the constitution, secession, or a similar issue of national or regional importance.
3
Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie, Esq. https://www.law.hawaii.edu/personnel/mackenzie/melody
4
“[O]ne crucial difference on which many opponents of federal recognition for Native Hawaiians rely is
that “American Indians remained in political organizations, but Native Hawaiians did not.” Source:
Justin L. Pybas, Esq. "Native Hawaiians: The Issue of Federal Recognition." American Indian Law Review.
Vol. 187 No. 1 (2005/2006). Page 187. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20070751

3. As of July 10, 1994 [Question: 1994 – 2015?] the Elections Council has not received the
$1,800,000 funding appropriated to continue its work because the $900,000 from the Office
of Hawaiian Affairs to match legislative appropriations has not been approved by the Office
of Hawaiian Affairs. [Emphasis Supplied]
Question: Is it reasonable, even plausible, that the State of Hawaii would consider separating
the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from the State?
Title of Report:
OHA Share of Eligible Revenue
Department of Transportation Airports Division (DOTA)
Report as of: 10/14/2014
Gross Receipt Amount Not Transferred to OHA
$62,871,137.00 $62,871,137.00
100% of land within the Airport Boundary is reportable ceded lands thus all applicable revenue
included. No cost benefit results from identifying individual properties.
100% of applicable revenue included as done and accepted by OHA auditors
Landing Fee Revenue allocated based on Ceded to Total Runway lengths [100% of land within
the Airport Boundary is reportable ceded lands]
On October 27, 1997 President Clinton signed H.R. 2169 which prohibited the use of airport
revenues for claims related to ceded lands, resulting in a $0 Amount Transferred to OHA.
[Emphasis and Clarification Supplied]
Source: State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Airports Division.
http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/LD15-A18-Act178-DOT-Airports.pdf
H.R. 2169
Title: Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998
Sponsor: Representative Frank R. Wolf [VA-10] (introduced 7/16/1997) Cosponsors (None)
Public Law No: 105-66

4. (Sec. 340) Declares that monies paid by diversion from airport revenues for claims related to
ceded lands owned by native Americans, native Hawaiians, or Alaskan natives shall not be
subject to repayment. Prohibits further payment of such claims from airport revenues.
[Emphasis Supplied]
Source: Library of Congress http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d105:HR02169:@@@D&summ2=m&
ACTION ITEM: If Congress can Take, Congress can Restore
Senator Maize Hirono
Washington D.C. Office Hawaii Office
330 Hart Senate Office Bldg. 300 Ala Moana Blvd. Rm. 3-106
Washington, DC 20510 Honolulu, HI 96850
Phone: (202) 224-6361 Phone: (808) 522-8970
Fax: (202) 224-2126 Fax: (808) 545-4683
Send me a message Send me a message
Senator Brian Schatz
Washington D.C. Office Hawaii Office
722 Hart Senate Building 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 7-212
Washington, DC 20510 Honolulu, HI, 96850
Phone: (202) 224-3934 Phone: (808) 523-2061
Fax: (202) 228-1153 Fax: (808) 523-206
Send me a message: http://www.schatz.senate.gov/contact
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard
Washington D.C. Office Hawaii Office
1609 Longworth House Office Building 300 Ala Moana Blvd
Washington, DC 20515 5-104 Prince Kuhio Bldg.
Phone: (202) 225-4906 Honolulu, HI 96850
Fax: (202) 225-4987 Phone: (808) 541-1986
Email Tulsi: http://gabbard.house.gov/ Fax: (808) 538-0233
Congressman Mark Takai
Washington D.C. Office
422 Cannon House Office Building 300 Ala Moana Blvd, Rm. 4-104
Washington, DC 20515 Honolulu, HI 96850
Phone: (202) 225-2726 Phone: (808) 541-2570
Fax: (202) 225-0688 Fax: (808) 533-0133
Email Mark: https://takai.house.gov/contact