Working Group Begins Ceded Land Revenue Review
An 11-member panel has started work to determine how much ceded land revenue the state owes the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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A new 11-member working group has begun work to determine the ceded land revenue owed to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. A prior six-member Public Land Trust Working Group, established in 2022, failed to make acceptable progress.
Why it matters
State leaders and OHA have never agreed on how much revenue is derived from the public land trust, which covers roughly 1.4 million acres. The dispute carries long-running financial stakes for Hawaii's Native Hawaiian trust funding.
State law sets OHA's share of ceded land revenue at 20%, but OHA claims $78.9 million annually against a 2022 payment of $21.5 million, up from $15.1 million. The total revenue base remains disputed, and the new panel's findings are not expected until a preliminary draft is due by June 1, 2028.
The players
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
The state agency that administers programs for Native Hawaiians and is the recipient of ceded land revenue under state law.
The details
The new panel adds four members appointed by legislative leaders who cannot vote on panel decisions, along with one nongovernmental community member chosen by the other 10 members. The original six-member panel had an even split between governor's administration and OHA representatives, a structure that contributed to its inability to make progress.
Timeline
1893: Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii led to ceded lands transferred to the U.S.
1959: Admission Act set public land trust income purposes at statehood.
1978: Constitutional amendment created ceded land revenue obligation for OHA.
1980: Legislature set OHA's 20% share in law.
2012: State and OHA settled overdue payments with 31 acres of land in Kakaako Makai.
Historical Context
The current working group follows the 2012 settlement in which the state gave OHA 31 acres of Kakaako Makai land, valued at $200 million, to resolve overdue payments. That earlier resolution did not settle the underlying dispute over how much revenue the public land trust generates.
The outcome determines how much state revenue flows to OHA each year, affecting programs and services for Native Hawaiians. Residents may see budget decisions tied to the panel's eventual recommendations on the public land trust.
The takeaway
The dispute shows that a dedicated working group does not guarantee agreement when the revenue base itself is contested. Tracking the June 2028 draft will reveal whether the new structure, with its nonvoting legislative members, produces a workable number.
What happens next
A preliminary draft of findings and recommendations is due by June 1, 2028, and a final report with proposed legislation is due by October 1, 2028.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore more in Legislative Policy on Hawaii state governance.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Honolulu Star Advertiser.
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