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Office of Hawaiian Affairs outlines 2026 legislative package, invites neighborhood collaboration
Summary
An OHA representative described six legislative priorities including island burial‑council appointments, historic‑preservation expertise, adding water expertise to the Land Use Commission, reef‑fish protections, a constitutional amendment to restrict live‑fire military training on leased sacred sites, and rent stabilization; OHA offered quarterly outreach and announced Hawaiian Language Month events.
Hailama Farden, senior director of Hawaiian Cultural Affairs at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, presented OHA’s high‑level 2026 legislative priorities to Neighborhood Board No. 12 on Jan. 20 and offered to meet with the board quarterly.
Farden said the office’s package includes measures to help island burial councils maintain quorum by appointing replacements when needed, to expand historic‑preservation recommendations, and to ensure the Land Use Commission includes water expertise. She said OHA supports protecting native reef fish by restricting commercial aquarium collection for subsistence and cultural uses and is proposing a constitutional amendment to limit live‑fire military training on leased sacred sites. OHA also listed rent stabilization among its interests.
Farden described OHA’s outreach plans for Hawaiian Language Month and invited board members to an event on Feb. 14. She also left printed materials and annual reports for board distribution.
Board members did not object to regular engagement; the OHA representative said more detailed bill text and coalition partners would be shared as the session progresses.
