Office of Hawaiian Affairs commits $33.4M to beneficiary grants and community programs

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) held a community meeting on April 30, 2025, to discuss the preliminary biennium budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The meeting focused on the allocation of funds for beneficiary grants and services, which represent the second largest expense category for OHA.

The discussion began with an overview of the beneficiary grants and services, which account for approximately 36% of OHA's total budget, amounting to nearly $33.5 million. This funding is primarily directed towards supporting Native Hawaiian individuals, organizations, and communities through various programs, including open grants, board-directed grants, and loan programs.

The budget breakdown revealed three main categories of funding: direct beneficiary aid, organizational impact funding, and system strengthening investments. Direct beneficiary aid is allocated about $4 million, which includes emergency financial assistance, a new homeownership program, and a scholarship program for graduate students. Organizational impact funding, totaling approximately $16.4 million, will support community grants in areas such as housing, education, and economic resilience. System strengthening investments, amounting to $12.2 million, will focus on supporting Hawaiian-focused charter schools and legal training.

The meeting also highlighted new initiatives aimed at improving educational pathways, health outcomes, quality housing, and economic stability, with dedicated funding for each area. The OHA plans to revive its AHA OPO program as part of its educational initiatives.

Overall, the meeting underscored OHA's commitment to investing in the well-being of Native Hawaiian communities through targeted funding and strategic programs. The next steps will involve finalizing the budget and implementing the discussed initiatives to achieve the desired outcomes for beneficiaries.