Aloha mai kākou,
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) continues to champion the rights of Native Hawaiians, and Senate Bill 268 represents a significant step forward in the long struggle to restore and assert ea – our sovereignty, self-determination, and ability to care for our own.
This bill is a powerful assertion of our inherent right to mālama our iwi kūpuna without interference from outside entities, including developers and landowners who have historically and until today, continue to disregard the sanctity of our ancestors.
Kanaka ʻŌiwi, “native person” or “native descendant” emphasizes our ancestral ties to the ʻāina. ʻŌiwi means “of the bone” or “of native birth,” reinforcing our deep genealogical and spiritual connection to Hawaiʻi and our ancestors.
For generations, Kānaka ʻŌiwi have fought to reclaim, repatriate and mālama our iwi kūpuna, recognizing that their remains are not mere artifacts, but beloved ancestors who continue to guide and connect us to our land and identity.
Key Provisions of SB 268:
- Reduction in Council Size: The bill proposes decreasing the number of members on each Island Burial Council from nine to seven. This change is intended to streamline operations and facilitate more efficient decision-making processes.
- Elimination of Development Interests: SB 268 seeks to remove the mandate that reserves seats for representatives of development and large landowner interests on the councils. Currently, up to three seats on the Oʻahu, Maui/Lānaʻi, Kauaʻi/Niʻihau, and Hawaiʻi councils, and one seat on the Molokaʻi council, are designated for these representatives. The bill advocates that all seats be filled by individuals with cultural expertise and ancestral ties, ensuring that decisions are guided by Native Hawaiian perspectives.
SB 268 affirms our right to determine how best to mālama our kūpuna. It ensures that Native Hawaiians, through appropriate cultural and community oversight, will be the final authority in decisions regarding our iwi. This is “ea” – our ability to govern ourselves, to uphold our traditions, and to protect what is sacred without having to seek permission from institutions that do not share our values or respect our history.
Too often, landowners and developers have prioritized profit over cultural preservation, treating our ancestors’ final resting places as obstacles to be moved rather than revered sites deserving protection.
SB 268 is one way OHA is asserting and championing ea. It is a reminder that our sovereignty is not limited to political recognition – it is lived and expressed in the choices we make, in the kuleana we carry, and in the laws we shape to reflect our values. With this bill, we take another step toward the restoration of our rights as a people.
This is not just about legislation; it is about justice. It is about righting the wrongs of the past and ensuring that the remains of our ancestors will not be disturbed or desecrated. It is about setting a precedent: that when it comes to our culture, our traditions, and our kuleana, only we, the Kānaka ʻŌiwi, have the right to decide.
Me ka haʻahaʻa,
Stacy Kealohalani Ferreira
Ka Pouhana | Chief Executive Officer
 continues to champion the rights of Native Hawaiians, and Senate Bill 268 represents a significant step forward in the long struggle to restore and assert Ea – our sovereignty, self-determination, and ability to care for our own.){kind=link}