Hawai‘i has always been and will remain one of the most diverse and unique communities on earth. And at the very core of our Hawaii’s identity are our indigenous peoples, the Native Hawaiians.
It is my special kuleana (responsibility), together with my Hawai‘i congressional colleagues, to represent some 322,000 residents of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander ancestry throughout our Hawai‘i. Together with their ‘ohana throughout our country, there are approximately 694,000 people of Native Hawaiian ancestry in the United States.
I work with other colleagues in Congress who share this kuleana to ensure that our federal government respects, protects and promotes the language, knowledge, resources, cultural practices and traditions of our Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities. Addressing these concerns is not only important to Hawai‘i but also to Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders wherever they live as well as to other indigenous peoples and communities throughout our country who have similar priorities.
Advancing the Progress We've Made
For well over a century now, Congress has consistently acknowledged or recognized Native Hawaiians as the indigenous peoples of Hawai‘i through the enactment of over 150 Federal statutes. In coordination with my colleagues, I remain committed to safeguarding and improving many of the laws that protect and promote the rights of Native Hawaiians, such as the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act, the Native Hawaiian Education Act and the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act.
I also work closely with the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations at the Department of Interior, which helps preserve and promote the federal government’s unique political and trust relationship with Native Hawaiians. This office administers federal grant programs, provides technical support services and works with federal agencies to ensure meaningful engagement with Native Hawaiians on policies and programs that could impact their lands, rights and resources. For more about this office and its role in representing the interests of the Native Hawaiian community, visit its website at https://www.doi.gov/hawaiian.
Funding Native Hawaiian-Serving Programs and Services
I worked to secure millions in federal funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 funding bill, which Congress passed and the President signed into law in March 2024, for various programs and initiatives that will directly benefit the Native Hawaiian Community. View my press release for more information.
Unfortunately, Congress could not agree on a regular FY 2025 funding bill, so we passed a continuing resolution that set funding at the FY 2024 level. You can learn more about the bill here: https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/fact-sheets/republican-full-year-continuing-resolution. As my Appropriations Committee works on our FY 2026 funding bill, I will continue to advocate for the highest funding level possible for programs that benefit the Native Hawaiian Community.
Parity for the Native Hawaiian Community
I am also focused on ensuring parity for Native Hawaiians, where appropriate, in federal programs and policies benefitting Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Through my membership in the Native American Caucus I work with members who represent large groups of Native Americans and Alaska Natives to ensure that they are aware of the unique circumstances surrounding Native Hawaiians and that they are included in relevant policy proposals.
A few examples of my work, view my testimony from a September 2022 committee hearing advocating for full inclusion of the Native Hawaiian community in federal proposals to advance management of public lands and improve protection of sacred and cultural sites (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4TU9pCmq2c). You can also view my testimony from an Appropriations Committee hearing in July 2024 advocating for restoring funds for Native Hawaiian Housing that were left out of the bill despite continued support of Native Housing overall (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX-xS-9nwok).
Hawai‘i has always been and will remain one of the most diverse and unique communities on earth. And at the very core of our Hawaii’s identity are our indigenous peoples, the Native Hawaiians.
