OHA Board Advances Historic Opportunity to Expand Native Hawaiian Ownership in Media

News Release from OHA, June 25, 2026

The Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) today voted to advance further evaluation and due diligence regarding a potential acquisition involving KITV and KIKU, recognizing the proposal as a rare and potentially transformational opportunity aligned with OHA’s long-term fiduciary responsibilities to Native Hawaiians and future generations.

Trustees emphasized that the action taken today does not represent the conclusion of a process, but rather the continuation of a thoughtful and deliberate evaluation of whether this opportunity can responsibly strengthen OHA’s trust assets while expanding Native Hawaiian presence, influence, and ownership in media and communications.

“At its core, the discussion is about whether Native Hawaiians are willing to lead boldly in the spaces that shape public understanding and public discourse and whether we are prepared to responsibly explore opportunities that could materially change that reality for future generations,” said OHA Board of Trustees Chairperson Kaialiʻi Kahele.

Trustees noted that stewardship of a public trust requires not only protecting existing resources, but positioning those resources to grow, diversify, and endure. A media acquisition of this scale presents multiple potential benefits that are difficult to replicate elsewhere, including:

• Diversification and long-term growth of revenue streams supporting Native Hawaiian programs and priorities;
• Expanded capacity to elevate Native Hawaiian stories, voices, and perspectives in mainstream media;
• Greater visibility and normalization of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, ʻike Hawaiʻi, and Native Hawaiian values across public platforms;
• Development of workforce and leadership pathways in journalism, communications, production, and technology; and
• Opportunities to improve the accuracy, dignity, and fairness of Native Hawaiian representation in public discourse.

Trustees further emphasized that OHA is uniquely positioned to responsibly evaluate opportunities of this scale due to its independent fiduciary obligations, quasi-autonomous governance structure, and long-term trust responsibilities.

The Board acknowledged that any proposal involving significant trust assets must be subjected to rigorous financial, operational, legal, and governance review. Trustees reaffirmed that transparency, accountability, and data-informed decision-making will remain central to the process moving forward.

“OHA’s responsibility is not simply to manage present-day challenges, but to help create future opportunities,” said OHA Investment and Land Management Committee Chair Keoni Souza. “Thoughtful exploration of transformative opportunities is entirely consistent with our kuleana as fiduciaries.”

The Board also recognized the historic significance of the broader conversation now taking place within the Native Hawaiian community about ownership, institutional capacity, economic self-determination, and representation.

“This moment reflects a larger question about who we aspire to become as a lāhui,” Chair Kahele added. “The willingness to thoughtfully evaluate bold opportunities is not recklessness — it is leadership grounded in vision, responsibility, and intergenerational stewardship. The struggle for our future has always been, in part, a struggle over information, ideas and who can tell the story. I’m happy the board believes this opportunity deserves a thorough and professional evaluation.”

Additional information regarding next steps, due diligence processes, and stakeholder engagement opportunities will be shared publicly as it becomes available.

KITV: OHA advances possible purchase of KITV and KIKU | News | kitv.com

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 OHA Won’t Pursue TV Station Purchase

(OHA toys with another shiny object as it crosses Trustees' field of vision.  Surprisingly, they decide not to be distracted.)

News Release from OHA, May 28, 2026

HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi (May 28,2026) — The Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) today voted against a proposal to fund due diligence concerning the potential purchase of local television station KITV Island News and KIKU TV.

Following today’s Board of Trustees discussion, OHA reaffirmed its commitment to thoughtfully exploring innovative and responsible opportunities that strengthen Native Hawaiian self-determination, institutional capacity, and long-term trust sustainability.

While the Board did not advance the proposal at this time, Trustees emphasized that the discussion itself reflects an important and evolving conversation about the future of Native Hawaiian ownership, influence, and participation within major economic and communications sectors.

“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,” said OHA Board of Trustee Chairperson Kaialiʻi Kahele. “Greater investment in multimedia storytelling has the power to transform how the world sees us, and, just as importantly, how we see ourselves and our future.”

Trustees had some misgivings about buying a television station at this time, but noted that the proposal generated significant interest because of its potential to create multiple, mutually reinforcing benefits for the Native Hawaiian community, including:

• Diversification and long-term growth of revenue streams;
• Expanded ability to elevate Native Hawaiian stories and perspectives in mainstream media;
• Greater visibility and normalization of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and Native Hawaiian values in public discourse;
• Development of Native Hawaiian workforce and leadership pathways in communications and technology
• sectors; and
• Opportunities to improve fairness, accuracy, and dignity in the representation of Native Hawaiians across
• media platforms.

The Board acknowledged that opportunities of this scale and complexity require careful evaluation, significant due diligence, operational readiness, and alignment with OHA’s fiduciary obligations and institutional priorities.

Trustees also emphasized that OHA’s willingness to engage in conversations of this magnitude reflects an institution continuing to evolve alongside the aspirations and possibilities of the lāhui.

“This conversation will continue,” Kahele added. “The future of our lāhui requires institutions willing to think beyond maintaining the status quo and toward building enduring pathways for Native Hawaiian success and self-determination.”

OHA further reiterated that any future consideration of major investments or acquisitions must remain grounded in transparency, accountability, data-informed analysis, and public trust.

The Board expressed appreciation for the robust public engagement and thoughtful perspectives shared throughout the discussion and reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing strategies that balance innovation, integrity, and long-term benefit to Native Hawaiians.

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HNN: OHA board rejects proposal to explore Hawaii TV station purchase | Hawaii News Now

SA: The motion failed on a 4–5 vote. Trustees Kahele, Dan Ahuna, Keoni Souza and Brickwood Galuteria voted in favor of the motion to pay for due diligence, while no votes came from John D. Waiheʻe IV, Carmen Hula Lindsay, Keliʻi Akina, Kalei Akaka, and Luana Alapa.

FLASHBACK 2020: Insider Cacao Scheme: KSBE out $4M -- but OHA Dodges Bullet