The recent discussion surrounding the potential acquisition of KITV Island News and KIKU TV by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has generated significant public interest. Some have asked why OHA would even consider purchasing television stations. Others have questioned whether media ownership falls within OHA’s mission.
Those are fair questions. They deserve thoughtful answers.
At its core, it is about whether Native Hawaiians are willing to lead boldly in the spaces that shape public understanding and public discourse. It is about whether we remain consumers of narratives written about us or become participants in shaping how those narratives are formed.
For generations, Native Hawaiians have too often been the subject of stories rather than the authors of them.
Our history, culture, and aspirations have frequently been filtered through the perspectives of others. While many journalists strive for fairness, ownership still matters because it determines priorities, investment, and which voices are consistently amplified.
This idea is not new. More than 150 years ago, Native Hawaiian leaders understood the power of media. In the decades surrounding the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Hawaiian-language newspapers were central to civic life.
Leaders such as Joseph and Emma Nāwahī used publications like Ke Aloha Aina to inform the public, defend Hawaiian governance, and advocate for the rights of our people. They understood that political struggle was also a struggle over information and ideas.
Dozens of Hawaiian-language newspapers produced in the 19th century and early 20th century now stand as one of the richest archives of Native Hawaiian thought and civic engagement. The lesson is clear: controlling our narrative has always been central to protecting our future.
The opportunity presented by KITV and KIKU is not simply about broadcasting. It is about building Native Hawaiian capacity in journalism, production, communications, and digital media. It is about creating pathways for our people to become storytellers, editors, engineers, and executives. It is about ensuring that Native Hawaiian children see themselves reflected across every level of media, both in front of and behind the camera.
Media shapes how societies understand themselves. It influences civic participation, cultural awareness, and public priorities. In today’s environment of increasing media consolidation, Hawaiʻi must consider the value of locally rooted institutions that are accountable to the communities they serve.
This conversation is also grounded in global Indigenous experience. Māori Television in Aotearoa demonstrates how Indigenous media ownership can strengthen language revitalization, cultural identity, and civic engagement while serving broad audiences. It is one example of what becomes possible when Indigenous communities control platforms of storytelling.
For OHA, this is mission alignment. Economic development, education, cultural preservation, and language revitalization are interconnected. Greater visibility of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and Kānaka perspectives in mainstream media strengthens both our community and Hawaiʻi as a whole.
Any acquisition of this scale requires rigorous due diligence. Fiduciary responsibility remains paramount. Financial viability, operational capacity, and transparency must guide every decision. Concerns raised by trustees are welcome and taken seriously.
As chairperson of the Board of Trustees, I have challenged OHA to think differently about what Native Hawaiian leadership looks like in modern institutions and how we shape Hawaiʻi’s future beyond reactive positions. As I have said, this was never just about a television station. It was about whether Native Hawaiians are willing to lead boldly in the spaces that shape public understanding and public conversation.
Greater investment in storytelling has the power to transform how the world sees us – and how we see ourselves. The future of our lāhui requires institutions willing to build enduring pathways for Native Hawaiian success and self-determination.
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