Sovereignty Conference to be Held in June

The Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations (SCHHA) is hosting the Hawaiian Home Lands Sovereignty Conference, June 2-4, 2025, at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu.

Our annual conference is dedicated to the 203,000 acres of tribal lands in Hawaiʻi, the tens of thousands of enrolled Hawaiians defined in the 1920 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA), our self-governing Homestead Associations and our larger lāhui and allies.

Over a century ago, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, championed self-determination and the return of our kānaka to our ʻāina. We continue to honor his powerful voice and work today.

Our homestead leaders are excited to welcome many wonderful presenters including Gov. Josh Green who will share his vision for the administration of the Hawaiian Home Land Trust, solutions, innovations and reaching the full potential of our trust lands and people.

Sen. Samantha DeCorte (Hawaiian), Rep. Diamond Garcia and Rep. Darius Kila (Hawaiian) will share a panel conversation about bi-partisan policy making on the issues of Hawaiian Home Lands; Tasha Kama (native Hawaiian), a Maui County council member and one of the early leaders of SCHHA will share her manaʻo on the building of SCHHA, policymaking and civic engagement; and DHHL Director Kali Watson (Hawaiian), will share the department’s vision for building greater engagement with homestead associations focused on achieving greater self-determination on our trust lands.

Sheri Daniels (Hawaiian), CEO at Papa Ola Lōkahi and homestead partner will address meaningful collaboration in advancing homestead capacity and wellbeing of our homestead and kānaka ʻohana. Hawaiian Lending & Investments (HLI) Executive Director Rolina Faagai (Hawaiian) will deliver the HLI annual report and organize a breakout session with mortgage lenders experienced in making home loans on homesteads (Accessing Capital for Home Mortgages). Lilia Kapuniai (Hawaiian), CEO at Papakōlea Community Development Corporation (PCDC) and SCHHA Policy will share the work of Kupaʻa Hawaiʻi – a homestead association national enrollment database – using technology to uplift the voices and solutions of Native Hawaiians.

Janie Hipp (Chickasaw Nation) former USDA general counsel and founding CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund, the country’s largest philanthropy organization focused on Native food and agriculture systems, will address Food Sovereignty Resilience. Derek Valdo (Pueblo of Acoma), CEO of the Amerind Corporation will share the inspirational story of exercising sovereignty in establishing this national tribally owned insurance company serving tribal homes on tribal lands. Lanelle Smith (Navajo) with Blacksheep Insight & Consulting will host a breakout session on the “Trauma of Money,” an exploration and discovery creating financial safety and wellbeing. Jackie Pata (Tlingit) tribal member from the Tlingit Haida Central Tribal Council will share the journey of exercising sovereignty to deliver community development.

Following traditions of the SCHHA since 1987, this conference will be action-packed featuring local and national policymakers, leaders and practitioners. If you’d like to join in on the learning and sharing, email conference@hawaiianhomesteads.org or call 808-312-1001.

Founded in 1987, the Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations (SCHHA) is the oldest and largest governing homestead association registered with the Department of Interior, exercising sovereignty on the trust lands established under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920. For information contact policy@hawaiianhomesteads.org.