Kalei Akaka
O’ahu OHA Trustee
Trustee, collaborator, Mother, and Native Hawaiian. Kalei cares deeply about Hawai’i and it’s people. Developing new paths of communication through teamwork and understanding.
OHA Oʻahu Trustee Kaleihikina “Kalei” Akaka was elected to represent the island of Oʻahu as an OHA Trustee in 2018. She has served as Chair of the OHA Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment from 2020-2024 and Vice Chair of the OHA BAE Committee from 2018-2020, and 2024-present.
OHA Oʻahu Trustee Akaka was born and raised in an ʻohana dedicated to the arts, culture, education and service to the people. Her grandfather, Daniel Kahikina Akaka, a longtime U.S. Congressman and first Native Hawaiian U.S. Senator of Hawaiʻi. Her father, a cultural practitioner, spiritual guide, historian and Hawaiʻi living treasure Daniel Kahikina Akaka Jr. She is also grandniece of Reverend Abraham Akaka, Kahu of Kawaiahaʻo Church who named Hawaiʻi the Aloha State upon statehood.
Her legislative background includes working at the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in both the House and Senate, researching, budget planning and advising, along with her work on the State Senate Committee on Higher Education and the State Senate Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations. She applies her legislative work experience in both the State House and State Senate and serving as the Chair and Vice Chair of the OHA Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment. She advocates as a strong voice for our Hawaiian community by empowering and connecting Beneficiaries to our Local, State, and Federal law makers.
Her upbringing and work experience have prepared her in the initiatives and work she takes on at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and its mission to improve the conditions and wellbeing of Native Hawaiians through advocacy, research, community engagement, land management and the funding of community programs. Going forward with values of Aloha and working together, collaborating and partnering for our people to be the voice representing all generations; from keiki to kūpuna.
Kalei Akaka
Highlights of Advocacy, Initiatives and Accomplishments in Service to OHA’s Beneficiaries, Mission and Strategic Plan
- Served as Chair of the OHA Beneficiary Advocacy & Empowerment Committee from 2020-2024
- Served as Vice Chair of the OHA Beneficiary Advocacy & Empowerment Committee from 2018-2020, and 2024-present.
- As Chair of the OHA Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment Committee, increased OHA’s annual Public Land Trust funding from $15.1 million to $21.5 million and one-time payment of $64 million to OHA.
- In 2022, the Legislature passed Act 226 which increased the payment amount for OHAʻs pro rata share of the Public Land Trust revenue and proceeds of Hawaiian Kingdom Crown and Government Lands. Specifically, the measure:
- Increased OHA’s interim annual pro rata from $15.1 million to $21.5 million, which, while an improvement, is far less than OHA’s due revenues request for $78.9 million annually.
- Allocated a one-time payment of $64 million to OHA, which reflected the difference between $21.5 million and the prior allocation of $15.1 million over a period of 10 years.
- Established an OHA-led working group to account for all Hawaiian Kingdom Crown and Government Lands also known as the ceded lands of the Public Land Trust inventory and for all income and proceeds from PLT, in order to determine the actual 20% pro rata share. The working group is comprised of three members appointed by the governor and three members appointed by OHA trustees. The working group continues to meet as of September of 2023.
https://kawaiola.news/oha/trustees/ohas-ocean-policy-meetings-and-2022-year-end-review/
- Created a weekly BAE Leadership meeting to have better communication with all members and Administration for OHA to have a unified voice at the Legislature and in Advocacy on all levels of government, and better internal to external communications having established committee leadership meetings alongside administration.
- Advocated and played an integral role in OHA receiving $55 million from the State Legislature 2026 to address federal cuts to Native Hawaiian programs.
- Advocated for the revival of ʻAha ʻŌpio o OHA (as well as ʻAha Kūpuna) and Daniel K. Akaka Congressional Fellowship.
- Established OHA O‘ahu Island Community Meetings in Native Hawaiian Communities and Site Visits on Oʻahu so OHA can stay on the pulse of each respective area and strengthen OHA’s connection to our beneficiaries.
https://kawaiola.news/oha/trustees/oha-oahu-island-board-of-trustees-meetings-and-site visits/
- Annually monitored County, State and Federal Legislation to advocate for the Native Hawaiian Community and the rights and protection on ʻāina and wai and furthering OHA’s Mission and Strategic Plan.
https://kawaiola.news/oha/trustees/i-mua-kakou-apau-i-keia-makahiki-hou-o-2024/
- Annually reviewed thousands of Bills during the Legislative Sessions to advocate for the Native Hawaiian Community and the rights and protection on ʻāina and wai and furthering OHA’s Mission and Strategic Plan.
- Annually recommended positions and language for testimony from County, State to Federal Legislation and the rights and protection on ʻāina and wai and furthering OHA’s Mission and Strategic Plan.
- As Chair of the OHA Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment Committee, managed appointments of Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund Board Members and Island Burial Council Members.
- Oversaw meetings regarding OHA’s position on the Mauna Kea Working Group.
- Strong advocate for Missing and Murdered Native Hawaiian and Hawaiʻi Community Women and Children and those trafficked in Hawaiʻi and Internationally with focus on Indigenous and Hawaiʻi Communities.
- Attended the January 2023 round table discussion hosted by U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono at OHA focusing on Native Hawaiian survivors of gender-based violence and resources to further address and prevent under the Violence Against Women Act. The meeting included OHA leadership, and local advocacy groups supporting Native Hawaiian women. Organizations included were the Hawaiʻi State Commission on Status of Women (HSCSW), Partners in Development Foundation, and Hale Kipa.
https://kawaiola.news/oha/trustees/native-hawaiian-gender-based-violence/
- As Chair of the OHA Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment Committee, advocated for a Resolution Supporting Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area Designations and Rules at Miloli‘i, Hawai‘i and Action Item in BAE Committee of a Resolution Supporting Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area Designations and Rules, Kīpahulu, Maui, Hawai‘i
- Advocated and collaborated on relief from the 2023 Maui wildfires and supported via vote to authorize the distribution of $5 million in emergency disaster relief funds to kōkua Maui beneficiaries affected by the wildfires.
Governor George Ariyoshi and First Lady Jean Ariyoshi with Trustee Kalei Akaka
“The Ariyoshi family and Akaka family enjoyed a close ‘ohana relationship for decades. We are proud of Kalei for carrying on the Akaka legacy.”