The Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (Section 10-3) declares that one of the important reasons the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) exists is to “better the conditions of Native Hawaiians and Hawaiians.” In short, the law of the land states that OHA’s kuleana is to better the conditions of all Hawaiians.
In many ways, this is a broad and daunting task. So how do we know whether OHA is fulfilling this responsibility? That was my question when I became a trustee in 2016. And at my first budget vote, I expressed concern that there was no easy way to see whether OHA’s spending was actually bettering the conditions of Hawaiians.
I’m happy to report that back in 2019 my fellow trustees and I, OHA staff, and the community began to develop our 15-year strategic plan, Mana i Mauli Ola (Strength to Wellbeing), which has since become central to OHA’s operations. This plan includes goals for housing, education, health, and economic outcomes for the Hawaiian people. It outlines the baseline of current conditions, sets specific goals for improvement – detailing the desired outcomes and timelines – and presents the action plans to achieve them.
Here are some examples of how the strategic plan works.
One of OHA’s priorities is tackling homelessness, a critical issue that disproportionately affects Native Hawaiians, who consistently make up approximately 40% of the homeless population on Oʻahu. OHA’s strategic plan aims to reduce the proportion of Native Hawaiians in Oʻahu’s homeless population from 39.3% (our baseline) to 18.8% (our goal) by 2035. To address this disparity, OHA is committed to providing solutions ranging from immediate housing to homeownership opportunities for Kānaka families to build intergenerational wealth.
OHA is also dedicated to supporting education for Hawaiians to be lifelong learners. In 2023, the college-going rate for Native Hawaiian public-school graduates was 35%, compared to 51% statewide. OHA’s strategic plan includes action plans to raise this rate to 59% by 2035, envisioning a future where the majority of Native Hawaiian public-school graduates achieve greater educational attainment.
Additionally, OHA prioritizes Hawaiian health and wellbeing. Since 2018, Native Hawaiians have been over-represented in Hawaiʻi’s correctional facilities, comprising a staggering 36% of the incarcerated population. OHA’s strategic plan seeks to reduce Native Hawaiians’ share of Hawaiʻi’s correctional population to 21.8% by 2035, creating a pathway to lower incarceration rates and promote overall wellbeing for the Hawaiian community.
OHA strives to create opportunities for ʻohana to pursue multiple pathways towards economic stability. Currently, the Native Hawaiian unemployment rate in Hawaiʻi is 4.8%, slightly higher than the statewide rate of 3.6%. OHA’s strategic plan aims to reduce this rate to 1.6% by 2035. By focusing on reducing unemployment, OHA seeks to empower Hawaiian families and guide them toward a more secure future.
OHA’s strategic plan, Mana i Mauli Ola, outlines an intentional pathway to improve the lives of Hawaiians in areas like housing, education, wellbeing, and economic resilience. With baseline data ensuring accountability and transparency, the plan serves as a blueprint that aligns each budget decision with strategic outcomes and demonstrates how they contribute to the broader mission. I am confident that OHA’s strategic plan will empower Hawaiians to thrive in the next decade!
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