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Trustees increase Na Kamehameha parade sponsorship for Maui event to $11,250 after organizers cite rising police and traffic costs
Summary
OHA trustees amended a sponsorship recommendation for the Na Kamehameha commemorative procession and hoʻolauleʻa on Maui from $7,500 to $11,250 after organizers described tripled traffic-control costs following route changes. The board debated scoring and process before approving the increase.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Budget & Finance Committee on April 30 amended a sponsorship award for the Na Kamehameha commemorative pāʻū parade and hoʻolauleʻa on Maui, approving $11,250 for Festivals of Aloha to support the June 21 event.
The award was amended up from the administration recommendation of $7,500 after the parade coordinator described dramatically higher traffic-control and off-duty police costs tied to a relocation of the parade route following the 2023 fires in Lahaina. Organizers said higher officer and traffic detail fees caused a substantial increase in budgeted costs.
"This year's event is set for Saturday, June 21 ... [recent increases in] off-duty police fees have caused our expenses to triple, compared to what we've paid in the past," said Daryl Fujiwara, who testified as event coordinator. Fujiwara said the parade route was moved to Kahumanua Avenue in Central Maui and that the organizers are returning to a historic route; he also described the parade and hoʻolauleʻa as important community gatherings after the island fires.
Trustee Kahele moved to amend the item to increase the award to 75% of the request, which the committee calculated as $11,250, adding one point to the application score to align its scoring with a similar Molokaʻi Kamehameha celebration earlier on the agenda. Trustee Lindsey seconded the amendment. Trustees discussed whether the revised award would be sufficient to cover the large traffic-control line item in the organizer's budget (Fujiwara had listed $10,500 for traffic control and police permit costs). Kehau Puʻu, OHA COO, and administration staff said there were funds available in the program budget if the trustees chose to increase the award.
Supporters of the increase said the parade helps reunify communities after the fires and provides cultural and vendor opportunities for local small businesses. Trustee Souza said the parade is "a large event" that benefits youth and the community and voiced support for funding beyond the administration recommendation.
The amendment passed; when the committee reconvened the full vote on the amended amount, the chair declared the motion passed unanimously.
Ending: Staff will document the amended award and include OHA acknowledgment in event materials; administration said it would adjust the grants budget and contracting steps accordingly.
