OHA budget committee approves $68,700 in event sponsorships for Native Hawaiian community programs

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Budget & Finance Committee voted unanimously to approve 10 event sponsorships totaling $68,700 during its March 5, 2025, meeting.

The approvals cover cultural celebrations, education conferences and community workshops that OHA said support Native Hawaiian cultural perpetuation and community engagement. The committee’s actions included funding for Panina Makahiki at Turtle Bay, a Queen Emma Ball scholarship fundraiser, a hula and mele conference in Nanakuli, STEM and restorative-justice events, and several homestead and community festivals across Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi island.

Why it matters: Many of the grants are for small nonprofits that said the sponsorships cover registration, travel for neighbor-island students, event programming and community access. Committee members noted the awards are relatively modest for OHA’s budget but meaningful to the organizations and participants receiving them.

Key approvals (amount, event, date, location or note): - $5,000 to Nurture Cultivate Inc. for Panina Makahiki, March 8, 2025, West End Lawn at the Ritz-Carlton, Turtle Bay (North Shore, Oʻahu). Founder Mahealani Keo described the event as “celebrating, promoting, preserving, and perpetuating our Hawaiian culture” and said it will include practitioners’ booths, games and hula. - $5,000 to Saint Andrew Schools for the Queen Emma Ball fundraiser, March 13, 2025 (luau on the Square). Ruth Fletcher, head of school, said about 32% of students are Native Hawaiian and that the school uses the ball to raise roughly $400,000 annually for scholarships. - $13,500 to Hoʻolu ʻIke Center for Hula and Mele for the Aina Hoʻopuka Mele and Hula Conference, March 15, 2025, Kalani Hoʻokaha Community Learning Center (Nānākuli). Executive Director Kalani Chiapo said the free conference is intended to remove financial barriers and strengthen cultural education in homestead communities. - $5,000 to Pohahaikalani (Kaʻelehua event), March 15, 2025, Tea House (Waipiʻo). Testifier Kulia described ongoing community performances and ʻāina stewardship by participating hālau. - $10,000 to Hui ʻo Kūpua for the Keaupuli Pāpālama professional development workshop, March 17, 2025 (location in packet). The organization described the workshop as practitioner-focused professional development. - $15,000 to Kuwana ʻIke for SpiritFest 2025, March 21, 2025, Hyatt Regency Waikīkī (program with Hawaiian and international speakers). Organizer Ryan Souza said the festival supports film, podcast and cross-cultural programming to “bring aloha to the world.” - $5,000 to Maui Economic Development Board (STEMWorks) for the 16th annual Hawaiʻi STEM Conference, March 24, 2025 (convention center); Chloe Yap said the sponsorship would help bring additional Molokaʻi students and educators. - $3,700 to Hawaiʻi Friends of Restorative Justice for the 16th annual parole-completion celebration, March 27, 2025, at the Hawaiʻi State Supreme Court rotunda. Lauren Walker described the event as a talking circle and award ceremony that uplifts people completing parole; Ian Trab, a program participant, described the circle as “life changing.” - $3,000 to Hana Laulima Lahui O Kaʻu Inc. for a Prince Kūhiō celebration event, March 29, 2025, Nāʻālehu Baseball Park (Kaʻu). Terry Lee Shibuya said the event showcases a mini model of a Kaʻu Hawaiian Cultural Center. - $3,500 to Oma Kūʻu Ke Kahua (Mokuʻū Farmers Market) for Mokuʻūkui Fest, March 29, 2025 (Puna). The organization said the event will culminate a year-long paʻa-kalo (taro-growing) program and serve about 80 participating ʻohana.

Committee discussion and staff clarifications: Trustee Monui Aquino asked why sponsors with March events were applying late. Office staff said OHA only recently posted the sponsorship webpages, narrowed deadlines for March events, and will work with fiscal to expedite payments (staff warned some payments might be processed after events). Staff said deadlines for the remainder of FY25 will be at least 30 days before events and that FY26 sponsorships will be handled quarterly with 4–6 months lead time for applications and processing.

Votes: Each sponsorship motion passed on roll call with seven yes votes; Trustee Kahele and Chair Alapa were recorded as excused. The committee announced each motion passes after the roll calls.

What’s next: Several organizers asked that OHA include event promotion (social posts and logo placement) and, where possible, expedited payment. Staff said approved sponsorships will be routed to the Board of Trustees for ratification where required and to fiscal for processing.

Approved totals: The committee approved $68,700 in sponsorships across ten community events on March 5, 2025.