Throughout the 2026 legislative session, Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) staff reviewed hundreds of bills to identify measures that would meaningfully advance the interests of the agency and its beneficiaries, while also working diligently to oppose legislation that could weaken longstanding protections for Native Hawaiian rights.
While several important measures advanced this session, only one of the six OHA package bills introduced to directly benefit the Native Hawaiian community was ultimately transmitted to the governor for signature. Moreover, none of the 16 nominees to the Island Burial Councils (IBCs) submitted to the governor by OHA were advanced to the senate for confirmation.
These outcomes underscore the continued importance of sustained community engagement at the capitol and the year-round advocacy and relationship-building carried out by OHA staff, beneficiaries and community partners.
Progress
SB903 marked a historic and hard-fought victory for Native Hawaiians, passing its final reading with celebratory remarks from legislators on both sides of the aisle. This bill will release $55 million from the state’s holding account for public land trust (PLT) revenues previously identified as part of the 20% share owed to OHA. Its passage reflects decades of unwavering advocacy by beneficiaries, community leaders, and supporters committed to ensuring that the state fulfills its constitutional trust obligations to Native Hawaiians.
At a time when many federal programs serving Hawaiians face uncertainty, the Legislature’s decision to honor these commitments represents a powerful reaffirmation of support for Hawaiian-serving programs, institutions, and communities. OHA extends its sincere mahalo to the Legislature for this significant action.
In another important victory for community-driven stewardship, HB2218 advanced under the leadership of KUA (see the February issue of Ka Wai Ola), creating a pathway for ʻāina-based nonprofits to enter into co-management agreements with the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Native Hawaiian communities in Hāʻena, Kīpahulu, and Miloliʻi have already demonstrated the success and value of empowering communities to mālama and steward public lands.
HB2104, an OHA package measure aimed at reducing procedural barriers that prevent IBCs from meeting, was also transmitted to the governor. The IBCs remain one of the most important forums ensuring that Native Hawaiian lineal and cultural descendants have a meaningful voice in decisions regarding iwi kūpuna threatened by ground-disturbing activities.
Together, these measures reflect encouraging progress toward greater recognition of Native Hawaiian ʻike, leadership, and place-based decision-making in shaping Hawaiʻi’s future.
As in prior years, the urgent need for affordable housing was frequently cited to justify non-affordable development proposals and deregulation efforts that risk undermining critical environmental protections and safeguards for iwi kūpuna. Against this backdrop, SB2552 emerged as a welcome and thoughtful alternative.
The measure would allow individuals to save up to $20,000 annually toward a down payment without incurring state tax liability, with a lifetime contribution cap of $100,000. By directly supporting local families seeking to remain rooted in Hawaiʻi, the bill reflects OHA’s longstanding position that meaningful housing solutions must prioritize local residents and long-term stability, rather than relying solely on accelerated development.
Unfinished work
Several measures with broad community and stakeholder support ultimately stalled near the finish line.
HB2049, which would dedicate a portion of conveyance tax revenues from high-value property transactions to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, stalled in the senate. However, the momentum behind this measure in the house reflects the growing recognition that the state’s obligations to Native Hawaiians require reliable and sustainable funding sources.
Other measures addressing health care workforce shortages, housing affordability, out-of-state incarceration, and compassionate release also failed to advance, despite widespread support.
Collectively, these outcomes highlight ongoing questions about whether Hawaiʻi is prepared to invest more fully in systems rooted in prevention, community stability, restorative approaches, and long-term wellbeing, rather than maintaining longstanding status quo systems.
OHA’s advocacy team looks forward to continuing conversations with OHA beneficiaries and community members in the months ahead as work begins on developing OHA’s 2027 legislative package. We deeply appreciate the continued engagement and support of our beneficiaries and partners throughout this session.
This article is reprinted with permission from OHA's Ka Wai Ola newspaper: "Legislative Outcomes Underscore the Need for Continued Advocacy" by Leināʻala Ley, Deja Ostrowski, and McKenna Woodward, in its June 2026 issue, Vol. 43 No. 6. Read more at kawaiola.news. Ley, Ostrowski, and Woodward are part of OHA’s Public Policy Team. If you have feedback or thoughts you would like to share regarding this year’s legislative session, please contact OHA at publicpolicy@oha.org.
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