The Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Nov. 6 moved to formalize and reaffirm its statutory obligation to support Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani (the College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo), consistent with Acts referenced in the 1997 and 2001 session laws. The board voted to authorize an agreement that formalizes OHA’s recommitment to supporting the college’s mission of Hawaiian language and culture renewal.

Presentation and context: Kaiu Kimura (interim director) delivered an extended presentation outlining the history of Hawaiian language suppression and the subsequent revitalization movement. The presentation traced milestones from the 1978 constitutional recognition of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi through Pūnana Leo and Papa Kaiapuni programs, the creation of the Hale Kūamoʻo curriculum center, and OHA’s historical funding role (including an early multimillion‑dollar support to acquire and establish a model campus referenced as Kekula o Nāwahī o Kalaniopuʻu). Presenters highlighted current needs: roughly 33 Kula Kaiapuni and 12 Pūnana Leo sites statewide, over 75 teacher vacancies in Hawaiian medium programs, a growing lexicon project (more than 10,000 new words; the lexicon committee reported adding 800 new words in one weekend), and plans for a new dedicated facility (laboratory school capacity ~80 keiki) with construction planning underway.

Trustee discussion: Trustees asked how OHA funding has produced measurable results. Kimura and other presenters cited direct support for a master’s program, land and facility purchases (OHA purchase of the laboratory school site and transfer to Ahapuna Nāleo), scholarship and grant support for teacher preparation, and ongoing operational support in the current biennial budget. The board noted a FY biennium allocation that provides approximately $620,000 over the biennium for teacher certification, Hale Kūamoʻo support, lexicon and digital archive work and other programmatic needs.

Board action: Trustee John Aquino moved to authorize an agreement between the college and OHA to reaffirm and strengthen OHA’s statutory commitments; the motion passed by roll call (recorded result: six yes votes). The agreement formalizes OHA’s obligations under the cited session laws and aims to stabilize multi‑year support for teacher education, lexicon development, archives and related educational pathways from pre‑K through advanced degrees.

Why it matters: OHA’s agreement signals a legally reinforced support role for Hawaiian language revitalization and expands a formal pathway for OHA to provide ongoing and programmatic support to teacher training, curriculum resources and the college’s lexicon and digital resource work.

Provenance: The college presentation appears at 00:14:38–00:43:00 and the board action item and vote are on the board agenda and transcript (transcript evidence: 00:14:38–00:30:26 for presentation; 02:07:05–02:27:56 for action and vote).