OHA proposes specialty court, restorative justice and health initiatives with combined $1.75M ask

Office of Hawaiian Affairs staff presented a package of safety-and-innovation (S&I) proposals that included a Kauiki Native Hawaiian Specialty Court pilot, a Pu'uhonua Restorative Justice program, Native Hawaiian healthcare practitioner supports, and a Kealopono trafficking curriculum development request.

For the Kauiki Native Hawaiian Specialty Court pilot, staff requested up to $600,000 across the proposed budget years, describing the initiative as culturally informed legal advocacy and diversion services intended to guide beneficiaries toward healing and accountability instead of incarceration. Staff said the court pilot’s estimated direct reach is about 150 Native Hawaiian individuals, with potential ripple effects impacting 600–1,000 community members. Budget details included roughly $185,000 for programs over two fiscal years and $415,000 for contracts (presentation noted 04/15000 in breakdown but also offered reallocation options if court staff funding proved unnecessary and could instead support community engagement).

Pu'uhonua Restorative Justice was presented as a companion program to create physical and cultural infrastructure to receive and restore participants diverted from the justice system. Staff asked for $425,000 across two years for Pu'uhonua (presenter listed program and contract line items and emphasized the need for trust and cultural practitioners to operate the program).

Health-related proposals included funding to cultivate a Native Hawaiian healthcare practitioner pipeline. Staff estimated program reach could affect thousands over several years and requested specific program funding (example: $40,000 in programs plus contract support in the budget lines shown).

Staff also presented Kealopono trafficking curriculum development in response to recommendations in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) report Part 1 and said a curriculum would train law enforcement, community responders and other stakeholders; staff provided reach estimates (direct beneficiaries 1,400–3,000 over early years) and a contract allocation of about $115,000 for curriculum development and community engagement.

Presenters framed these programs as systemic interventions with claimed net present value benefits if invested; trustees asked questions about program design and partner responsibilities and were told staff would follow up with detailed materials. Several trustees urged coordination with the Attorney General’s office and other partners.