The Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations (SCHHA) and our entire lāhui pauses to remember, mahalo and honor Kamaki Kanahele who we lost last month. Uncle Kamaki was more than a leader. He was a visionary, a kumu, a healer and a fierce advocate for our people and our Hawaiian Homes Lands.
As one of the founders of the SCHHA in 1987, Uncle Kamaki helped establish the movement that brought homestead associations together from across our pae ʻāina to stand stronger as one voice.
I was fortunate to know Uncle Kamaki and to follow in the footsteps of leaders like him, Uncle Tony (Sang) and Robin Danner who all understood the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA) is a federal trust responsibility and a promise to our lāhui.
Uncle Kamaki understood, too, that our strength comes from our ʻāina, our ʻohana and our ability to stand together.
SCHHA continues the work and honors Uncle Kamaki not just by remembering him, but by carrying forward the work he helped begin. We continue to protect the 203,000 acres of Hawaiian Home Lands, advocate for our homesteader and waitlisted beneficiaries, strengthen our homestead associations and make sure future generations inherit more than promises: that they inherit their lands and all the possible opportunities that comes with it.
That is why I invite our homesteader and waitlisted beneficiaries, ʻohana and allies to join us for the SCHHA Conference in Honolulu, September 15-17, 2026.
Our conference is an opportunity to come together, share manaʻo, learn from one another and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Hawaiian Home Lands. It’s our chance to continue building the unity and self- determination Uncle Kamaki dedicated his life to!
Our challenges today are great. There are legal attacks, housing challenges, long waitlists, infrastructure needs and continuing questions about how we protect the intent of the HHCA. We cannot meet these challenges divided.
Uncle Kamaki helped plant the seed for our unity. It is now our kuleana to mālama that seed, nurture it and make sure it continues to grow. As we gather in Honolulu, let us remember Uncle Kamaki and the other homestead leaders who came before us. Let us honor their lives through our actions!
I hope we see you at our SCHHA Conference, September 15-17 in Honolulu at the Ala Moana Hotel. E hoʻomau kākou. Let us continue the work! No ka ʻāina. No ka lāhui. No nā hanauna e hiki mai ana. For our land! For our people! For generations yet to come!
 and our entire lāhui pauses to remember, mahalo and honor Kamaki Kanahele who we lost last month. Uncle Kamaki was more than a leader.){kind=link}