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OHA Board Announces Withdrawal of Two Mauna Kea Lawsuits, Seeks Native-Led Stewardship
Summary
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees said it will withdraw two long‑standing lawsuits over Mauna Kea and work with Gov. Josh Green and Mauna Kea Stewardship Authority leadership to prioritize Native Hawaiian‑led stewardship after news that the 30‑meter telescope would not receive National Science Foundation funding.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees announced the withdrawal of two long‑standing lawsuits related to Mauna Kea and said it will shift from litigation to a stewardship model led by Native Hawaiians.
In remarks at the meeting, the board tied the decision to recent news that the 30‑meter telescope will no longer receive National Science Foundation funding and described the move as a strategic recommitment grounded in Pilina, Kuleana and Aloha'aina.
"This is not a retreat," the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees said, adding that the decision reflects a change in how the organization will advocate for protection of the mountain. The board said it is working directly with Governor Josh Green and Mauna Kea Stewardship Authority leadership "to support a model of stewardship that is led by native Hawaiians and shaped by community voices."
Board remarks framed the withdrawal as a shift from years of litigation with limited progress to what it described as focused advocacy and community‑led stewardship. The board emphasized cultural responsibility to kupuna and used the Hawaiian terms Pilina (relationships), Kuleana (responsibility) and Aloha'aina (love of the land) to describe the approach.
The board referenced the National Science Foundation's decision regarding funding for the 30‑meter telescope as a factor in the change of strategy but did not provide a timeline or procedural details for the lawsuit withdrawals. The transcript did not specify the names of the lawsuits, whether the withdrawals were unilateral filings or part of negotiated dismissals, or whether the board took a formal, recorded vote to approve the withdrawals.
The board described next steps as working with the state executive branch and the Mauna Kea Stewardship Authority leadership to support Native Hawaiian leadership in stewardship planning. No schedule, statutory citations, or implementation milestones were provided in the remarks.
The board closed the statement with a reaffirmation of commitment: "It is a recommitment to the Mauna through unity, cultural integrity, and focused advocacy. We carry the responsibility of our kupuna."
