OHA Budget and Finance committee approves $9,000 sponsorship for Waianae Coast Prince Jonah Kūhiō festival

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Budget and Finance Committee voted unanimously on a sponsorship request, approving $9,000 for the Waianae Coast Community Foundation’s sixth annual Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Festival in Nanakuli.

The motion to “approve and authorize fiscal year 2025 sponsorship funding” for the festival, identified on the agenda as BF‑25‑07, was moved by Trustee Raheem and passed by roll call at the committee’s meeting that began at 11:20 a.m. Committee members voting yes included Trustees Akaka, Akina, Galuteria, Kahele, Lindsay, Souza and Waheae, and the presiding chair.

The committee’s approval followed brief discussion by OHA staff, who said the original recommendation had been $10,000 but was reduced to $9,000 after a final budget review identified disallowed costs. OHA administration told the committee that certain items in the festival budget were excluded under Hawaii Revised Statutes §24‑17 and therefore had to be removed before funding could be authorized. “There were some disallowed costs included in the budget request, thus the reduction from $10,000 to $9,000,” an OHA staff member said during the committee discussion.

Patty Kahanamoku Teruya, a lessee from Nanakuli Homestead and a representative of the Waianae Coast Community Foundation, testified in support of the sponsorship. She thanked trustees and staff for making the foundation’s first grant application process easier and said the funding would support the festival’s cultural and economic activities on Hawaiian homestead trust land. “This grant process was a lot easier. It was a lot more friendly and easy to apply,” Teruya said.

Committee members noted that multiple written testimonies in favor of the item were submitted and entered into the record. Administration confirmed the applicant was informed of the budget changes prior to the committee vote.

Votes at a glance - BF‑25‑07 — Approve and authorize FY2025 sponsorship funding for the Waianae Coast Community Foundation’s sixth annual Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Festival in the amount of $9,000: Passed (unanimous roll call). Recorded yes votes: Trustees Akaka, Akina, Galuteria, Kahele, Lindsay, Souza, Waheae, and the committee chair. - Approval of committee minutes (01/08/2025): Passed (roll call). Specific mover/second not specified in the transcript; correction to a trustee name spelling was noted and will be updated in the minutes. - Motion to adjourn: Passed (roll call).

The committee’s discussion was limited and procedural: staff reviewed the applicant’s budget and its alignment with statutory granting authority, a community representative offered oral testimony in support, and trustees proceeded to a roll‑call vote. The item moves forward with the authorized sponsorship amount and the applicant may proceed with the event using the approved funds. The committee noted there will be further meetings later the same day.