OHA board rejects proposal to explore Hawaii TV station purchase

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) — The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will not explore the purchase of a Hawaiʻi television station, its Board of Trustees voted Thursday.

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The proposal would have approved $172,000 for confidential due diligence tied to a potential acquisition of KITV and its sister station, KIKU. Allen Media Group bought KITV in 2020 for $30 million and later acquired KIKU for $2 million.

A majority of board members voted down the measure, saying OHA has other priorities, including development projects in Kakaʻako-Makai and Iwilei.

“I don’t think personally that this is the time for OHA to embrace a new industry, one that is fairly complex, one that would be liabilities financially. Instead our plate is full,” said Keliʻi Akina, an at-large trustee.

Board chair Kaialiʻi Kahele supported the proposal, saying it was aimed at elevating Native Hawaiian voices in a changing media landscape when Hawaiian programs are under the threat of federal funding cuts. He said the board is looking at international models like Māori TV in Aotearoa.

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“We have to expand that voice and issue to a broader cross-section of our community that are not Native Hawaiian. That was the point of this and if we want to move that the needle on those issues, we need broad public support,” Kahele said.

The OHA board approved spending up to $250,000 to broadcast a congressional district one debate and up to three OHA candidate forums.

“It’s really important for our people and the voting public and those that are interested in voting here in Hawaii to know why OHA was created as well as what our mission is and how that is in alignment with our strategic plan and to hear the vision of candidates that want to share their manaʻo on that,” said Oʻahu truste Kalei Akaka.

The debate and forums would be on or around July 20 on Hawaii News Now, before primary election ballots are mailed.

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