Release No.: 062502-1
Date: June 25, 2002
Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Two bills affecting OHA signed into law; grants, retirement benefits successes in ’02 session

HONOLULU — Projects and programs that benefit Hawaiians received a major boost today with the signing into law of SB 2477, providing granting authority to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Also signed into law today was SB 2478, providing OHA trustees with retirement benefits much like those enjoyed by similarly elected officials in Hawai`i.

“Today’s signing by Governor (Benjamin) Cayetano puts into law a clear authority of OHA trustees to get resources to programs and projects that benefit our people,” said Clyde W. Namu`o, OHA Administrator. “For years, OHA has granted funding to many programs, but this process was delayed in recent months as it was determined last year that statutes did not clearly provide that authority. Our Legislature, behind the efforts of Senators J. Kalani English (District 6, East Maui) and Jonathan Chun (District 7, Kaua`i), passed the bill, signed today by our governor, that clears the way for trustees to again ensure our beneficiaries are supported through our Grants program. This is an extremely positive step forward.”

SB 2477 amends Chapter 10, which established OHA in 1980, as well as amends Chapter 103, which defines the method that state agencies must use to procure goods and services. The amendments to Chapter 10 establish the language required to legally define OHA grants and the amendments to Chapter 103 exempts OHA from being bound to the State’s procurement process when making grants to the Hawaiian community.

Also signed into law today by Governor Cayetano was SB2478, a measure to allow the trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to participate in and receive the same benefits as other elected salaried officials of the State. “As trustees, we are delighted that this new law allows us to share some of the same benefits as other elected, salaried representatives of the people of Hawai`i,” said OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona. “While our most important legislation, to restore the lawfully mandated ceded land revenue to Hawaiians, did not see passage this year, our successes with today’s new laws give us hope for the next legislative session. We will work hard with both the Hawai`i Legislature and our new governor to ensure legislation that benefits Hawaiians is authored and signed into law.”

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