Kahele back in nation’s capital advocating for Hawaiian people, discussing impact of Trump policies, orders

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chairperson Kaialiʻi “Kai” Kahele, who is from the Big Island and a former U.S. congressman, is back in Washington this week advocating for the Hawaiian people during discussions with several federal officials and members of Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation.

“I’ll be discussing the impact of the new administration’s policies and executive orders on the Native Hawaiian community and programs,” said Kahele. “This is a critical time to meet with leaders in Washington and advocate for our people.”

He also will attend President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress today at the U.S. Capitol.

Kahele has meetings scheduled with U.S. Department of Defense officials at the Pentagon to discuss military leases in Hawaiʻi, including those covering Pōhakuloa Training Area on Hawaiʻi Island and Mākua Valley on Oʻahu.

The state leased the lands at Pōhakuloa and Mākua Valley nearly 65 years ago in 1964 to the U.S. Army.

“Now, at the precipice of these leases expiring, there is a critical lack of leadership from the Army and the state’s administration on the future of these lands,” wrote Kahele in a trustee message published Dec. 1, 2024, in Ka Wai Ola o OHA, a free, monthly newspaper of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. “The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is ready to fill this vacuum of leadership.”

He said the Army’s use of the leased lands has since been “steeped in historic trauma” for Native Hawaiians.

Pōhakuloa, as an example, doesn’t just host critical habitat for a variety of species that are protected and endemic only to Hawaiʻi. The lands have sacred, historic and cultural resources including burial caves and ceremonial sites for traditional and customary practices still happening to this day.

“Native Hawaiian values are rooted in kinship and stewardship of our lands,” Kahele wrote. “The historic control of our lands by the Army has been antithetical to these values.”

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees chairperson said the U.S. Army has continually put natural and cultural resources at risk at Pōhakuloa.

Kahele says in its environmental impact statement, the Army disclosed it has been responsible for nearly 900 fires since 1975. Army training also severely limits how Native Hawaiians and cultural practitioners are able to engage in traditions and customs as well as exercising their beliefs.

He added that the state administration needs to lead with political courage on the contentious issue of military leases on these lands and must play a critical part to prevent unilateral actions by the U.S. Army and Trump Administration.

Furthermore, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs should be engaged in the future of these leased lands given the agency’s constitutionally mandated interest to ensure the lands are protected for the benefit of the public trust and Native Hawaiians.

Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement Chief Executive Officer Kūhiō Lewis and Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement Chief of Staff Nick Carroll are traveling with Kahele.

He is scheduled to return Wednesday to the islands.