OHA board approves $25,000 sponsorship for 2025 Merrie Monarch Festival after waiver of committee review

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees voted to approve $25,000 in sponsorship funding for the 2025 Merrie Monarch Festival after first voting to waive committee consideration.

The board approved the waiver 9-0 and then approved the sponsorship motion by roll call 9-0. The sponsorship covers the festival scheduled April 20–26, 2025, and was presented as a time-sensitive request to support event costs and beneficiary participation.

The board first voted to waive the usual Budget and Finance Committee review under the board bylaws cited by trustees as "Article 8, section m," saying the item needed expedited consideration. Trustee Akaka said she "will vote yes" but reiterated a preference that such items go through committee review under normal circumstances, adding "I would prefer that we not have it where we're rushed like this." Chair Kahele confirmed the board needed six votes to approve the waiver and announced the 9 yes votes once the roll call was complete.

After the waiver, a trustee identified as Chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance moved to "approve and authorize FY 25 sponsorship funding for the Merrie Monarch Festival ... in the amount of $25,000." Trustees called for public testimony before the vote.

Two beneficiaries joined remotely to speak about how the funds would be used. Luana Covelu (identified in testimony as "auntie Luana") described volunteer costs for pa'u units and parade participation and noted the expense of flowers and horse rentals: "the Pa'u people have to organize. They meet for months ahead of time... I give the individual units $500. That is really manini... just the flowers alone is so expensive... to rent a horse is $900 per horse." Kathy Covelu also spoke with trustees in support of the sponsorship.

Several trustees emphasized the festival's statewide cultural importance and interest in OHA having a visible presence. Trustee Lindsay (identified in the meeting as Chair Emerita Lindsay) thanked the testifiers: "this is the biggest event statewide every year, and we respect all the work that you folks do with the kumu hula, with the parade, with the vendors." Trustee Akaka said she supported prioritizing attendance for the trustees at events OHA sponsors.

The board completed a roll-call vote and Chair Kahele announced: "You have 9 yes votes for the waiver" and later, "You have 9 yes votes" for the sponsorship motion. The motion passed.

Trustees and staff said they will coordinate logistics and attendance; the board did not specify further terms for the sponsorship beyond the $25,000 allocation.

The board took the sponsorship vote during its regular meeting after beneficiary testimony and a brief trustees' discussion of process and urgency.