OHA trustees adopt Real Estate Strategic Plan after public comment on missing legacy land

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on May 1 adopted the OHA Hawaii Real Estate Strategic Plan, a policy framework for the agency’s ownership, management and decision-making over investment and noninvestment real estate, in a 7-0 vote at the board’s meeting in the Nalama Kukui building.

The plan passed on its second reading and final adoption after a public commenter raised concerns that a Legacy Land site, Waimea Falls, was missing from a table in the plan and that due-diligence materials for recent land prospects lacked financial histories.

Doreen Myers, who identified herself as an OHA beneficiary and an Inanakuli Hawaiian homestead lessee, told trustees she reviewed the plan’s attachment and asked, “Where is Waimea Falls? The Legacy Land Waimea Falls is missing from that chart.” Myers also questioned the documentation provided during earlier acquisition reviews, saying, “Why was the financials missing? Because those properties or those, acquisitions, those land donations are coming from the state.”

Myers said the plan distinguishes between “investment lands,” managed primarily to generate financial returns, and “legacy lands,” managed for cultural, environmental and programmatic outcomes. She urged trustees to ensure that the plan’s stated process—defining desired outcomes (“ends”) before identifying ways and means—is followed when staff present due diligence on proposed acquisitions. Myers cited recent prospect discussions that referenced Kahana Valley, Waimanalo and a “Nation of Hawaii” parcel and asked that the board clarify the intended ends for each property before proceeding.

The motion to approve the plan was moved by the chair of the Committee on Investment and Land Management and seconded by Trustee Lindsay, identified in the meeting as Chair Emerita Lindsay. The board recorded seven yes votes: Trustees Akaka, Akina, Alapa, Galluteria, Lindsay, Souza and Chair Kahele. Trustees Ahuna and Waheae were excused. The meeting record identifies staff member Paul Quintiliani as present for the item.

Trustee discussion was not recorded on the transcript for this item beyond the roll call and the public comment. The plan was on second reading, which the board’s agenda described as final passage and adoption.

Trustees did not provide a recorded response on the record to Myers’s specific requests about correcting Table 1 or supplementing earlier due-diligence materials with historical expense data. The transcript does not indicate follow-up direction to staff during the vote.

The adopted plan sets out a dual approach distinguishing OHA’s investment lands—held primarily for financial return to support spending needs—and legacy lands—managed for cultural and programmatic outcomes aligned with the adopted business plan. The transcript indicates the adoption was presented as the board’s final action on the item.

Staff and trustees will handle implementation and any subsequent clarifications about how particular parcels are classified or how historical financials are made available in follow-up materials or future committee reports.