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Beneficiaries press OHA for ceded-lands revenue transparency and stronger outreach; trustees announce House Bill 2584 hearing
Summary
Community speakers at the Feb. 12 OHA meeting urged clearer accounting for ceded lands revenue, better beneficiary outreach and engagement. Trustees announced a 2 p.m. hearing on House Bill 2584 (public land trust) and an informational briefing on a proposed health-care merger.
At the Office of Hawaiian Affairs meeting on Feb. 12, multiple community members urged trustees to improve transparency around ceded-lands revenues, boost outreach to beneficiaries and better coordinate grassroots advocates.
A speaker identified on the record as "Pikachu," testifying from the Waianae coast, presented rough calculations he said supported the case that OHA was receiving less than its share of ceded lands revenue. "The estimated income is $394,000,000," he said, adding "20% of that is 78.9" (figures presented orally and described by the speaker as approximate). He urged OHA to enhance digital engagement, coordinate grassroots advocates, develop a digital advocacy hub, and track participation metrics so community testimony and support are measurable and actionable.
Earlier in the meeting, Jermaine Myers raised governance and transparency concerns and recounted historical context; Myers urged trustees to protect whistleblowers and to honor founding leaders like Frenchie de Soto as part of OHA’s accountability to beneficiaries.
Trustee Sherry Bridal Lindsay used the announcements portion to publicize a hearing on House Bill 2584, described at the meeting as "our public land trust bill," scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Room 325 and encouraged trustees to attend and testify. The chair also announced an informational briefing on Feb. 19 about a proposed merger between Hawaii Pacific Health and HMSA and said OHA would invite health-care leaders and native Hawaiian doctors to discuss potential impacts on beneficiaries, particularly in rural communities.
Raymond Sin offered cultural testimony celebrating Native Hawaiian Language Month and local events, while other trustees reported community outreach events and commemorations of Waitangi Day.
The public testimony and announcements combined policy concerns (ceded lands revenue and forthcoming House Bill 2584) with calls for greater beneficiary engagement and accountability from OHA. Several speakers requested follow-up from staff, including improved coordination with grassroots advocates and clearer public accounting of ceded-lands revenue.
