OHA Budget & Finance Committee approves five event sponsorships, defers Prince Lot Hula funding

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Budget & Finance Committee on a hybrid meeting approved sponsorship awards for multiple community events and deferred action on one longstanding legacy sponsorship. Trustees amended three recommendations before voting and heard brief testimony from event representatives.

Why it matters: The committee’s decisions allocate OHA discretionary sponsorship funds for cultural, community health and youth programs across the islands during the coming months. Several awards were increased from staff recommendations after trustees asked for additional justification or assurance of OHA visibility and engagement.

Action at a glance

- BF25-39 (Prince Lot Hula Festival, Moanalua Gardens Foundation): Deferred. Staff recommended $11,250 based on the scoring rubric; trustees discussed the festival’s long-standing legacy status and a trustee motion to award $15,000 was withdrawn and replaced by a motion to defer so scorers can re-evaluate the application. The committee voted to defer the item.

- BF25-40 (Young at Heart Workshop / Ho‘eau Mana, DBA Young of Heart Workshop): Approved $11,250 (amended from staff recommendation $7,500). Applicant Emma Broderick described Young of Heart as a 52-year-old program that provides free community arts activities; trustees asked the organization to include an OHA information table to improve the scoring category for “OHA public recognition.” Kehau (staff) said the score will be updated to reflect that commitment.

- BF25-41 (Big Island Substance Abuse Council — Summer Jam): Approved $11,250 (amended from $7,500). Testifier Dr. Hannah Preston Pita, CEO, said the free event typically draws about 1,000–1,500 attendees and provides health resources including naloxone distribution. Trustees asked staff to adjust the score sheet to reflect event branding and outreach commitments.

- BF25-42 (HIKI OLA — two-day weaving workshop): Approved as recommended, $4,100. Presenter Kelly Kanoe described an Aug. 29–30 hands-on workshop for 20 haumana focused on weaving and upland forest stewardship; trustees praised the cultural and youth-development aspects.

- BF25-43 (Onipa‘a Celebration, Foundation for Onipa‘a/Hawaiian History Month programming): Approved $15,000 as requested. Sue Lee Stroud detailed plans for a month of Hawaiian History Month events, student documentary screenings and a Sept. 1 Onipa‘a celebration; trustees confirmed the budgeted expenses were eligible.

Votes and procedure: For items where trustees amended the recommended award (BF25-40 and BF25-41), board counsel confirmed amendments were procedurally acceptable and trustees voted by roll call. Several applicants participated virtually and trustees asked applicants to commit to specific OHA recognition steps (for example, tabling or explicit branding) so staff can update scoring before the full board.

What trustees emphasized: Trustees repeatedly asked staff and applicants to document concrete opportunities for OHA public recognition (booth/tabling, stage acknowledgement, logo placement on print/digital materials). One trustee argued for maintaining historical precedent for legacy grantees; others urged adherence to the scoring rubric or updating the rubric when trustees decide to exercise discretion.

Next steps: Deferred items will be returned to a future Budget & Finance meeting or to the full board once staff update score sheets and provide the additional justification requested by trustees. Approved sponsorships will move forward to standard award/contract processes and OHA staff said they will circulate updated score sheets and recognition commitments to trustees.

Ending: The committee completed the sponsorship agenda items and then heard a presentation and Q&A on the AHAO (Access to Homeownership) deposit-backed mortgage pilot program before adjourning.