OHA approves move to phase 2 due diligence on proposed Waimanalo land transfer

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Investment and Land Management Committee voted to advance to phase 2 of due diligence on a proposed transfer of Waimanalo parcels from the State Department of Agriculture to OHA, approving the motion by a 9-0 roll-call vote.

The board approved a motion to authorize the CEO to delegate to OHA administration authority to undertake phase 2 due-diligence activities for the proposed land transfer, “execute and/or procure all necessary agreements, instruments, applications, and other appropriate documents necessary for due diligence,” and to take other reasonable actions to implement those steps. Trustee Souza moved the motion; Trustee Ulitaire seconded.

The vote moves the process into a fact-finding and engagement phase. OHA administration told the board that the phase-2 authorization is limited to further study and that "this is by no means the board taking any action on this," adding that subsequent steps would include community and stakeholder engagement. Trustee Uhuna said, "I'll be voting yes to continue this conversation," and the roll call later showed nine trustees in favor.

Public testimony during the item was extensive and sharply focused on two themes: calls that OHA include living heirs, lineal descendants and residents in any discussions about the land, and claims grounded in historical instruments and titles that testifiers described as "royal patents" and rights stemming from the Mahele and older Hawaiian governance documents. Multiple speakers asked OHA to ensure that beneficiaries who live on those parcels are informed and directly involved as OHA proceeds.

Craig Rodenhurst, who identified himself as representing living heirs, told trustees, "The heirs need to be involved," urging the board to recognize lineal descendants in the process. Several speakers, including those who identified with the Nation of Hawaii and the Pu'uhonua in Waimanalo, described long-term residence, community programs on the land, and fears about eviction if authority passes to entities they see as less protective of residents.

Other testifiers referenced historical and international legal claims, including the Mahele, royal patents, the 1840 Constitution and the 1839 Declaration of Rights, and argued that international rules (testifiers named the "rules of land warfare") impose obligations about confiscation and relocation. Speakers framed those references as reasons OHA must include living heirs and native claimants in all steps of the process.

Trustees and administration identified several procedural guardrails. Administration said the phase-2 work would include community and stakeholder engagement, and trustees asked for regular updates, workshops and involvement from state agencies, citing the need to understand liabilities, title issues and the practical stewardship responsibilities OHA would take on. Trustee Akaka requested briefings with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Governor; the administration reported that the existing file shows the current lease is held by a nonprofit associated with Nation of Hawaii and that different agencies have different legal and programmatic responsibilities for the property.

Formal action: the committee recorded a roll-call vote with nine yes votes and no recorded no votes. The vote authorizes OHA to proceed to phase 2 due diligence; it does not transfer title or complete any conveyance. Administration and trustees repeatedly described future steps — community meetings, stakeholder engagement, legal review and interagency coordination — as part of subsequent phases.

Next steps: OHA will proceed with the phase-2 due diligence authorized by the motion and (per the administration's statement) will schedule and conduct the required community and stakeholder engagement. Trustees asked for ongoing briefings to the board and suggested workshops to track the due-diligence progression. No deadline for phase 2 was specified in the meeting record.

The motion text, public testimony and the roll-call vote are on the meeting record; trustees and testifiers emphasized that inclusion of living heirs and clarity about historical titles will be central topics for the engagement phase.