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…