Spotlight Now: State leaders outline Hurricane Lala recovery efforts, land lease battles

News admin August 26, 2026 0 Comments

Spotlight Now: State leaders outline Hurricane Lala recovery efforts, land lease battles

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – State and Native Hawaiian leaders are mobilizing a massive, multi-agency response to address severe infrastructure damage and cultural disruptions on the Big Island following Hurricane Lala.

Appearing on “Spotlight Now,” Gov. Josh Green and Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chair Kai Kahele detailed the immediate recovery efforts, the sensitive handling of unearthed ancestral remains, and the strategic leverage points in upcoming military land-lease negotiations.

Green announces pending presidential disaster declaration following Hurricane Lala

Gov. Green announced Tuesday that a federal presidential emergency declaration is expected to be finalized within hours, paving the way for millions of dollars in federal recovery aid following the devastation of Hurricane Lala.

Green said he spoke with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen to finalize the declaration. The federal assistance will support emergency services, including specialized mortuary support for a disrupted cemetery, and infrastructure repairs.

“The recovery is super robust, and I’m incredibly proud of the resilient people of the Big Island because, boy, they went through a lot,” Green said.

Coordinated disaster relief for Kaʻū

Both leaders reported that the Kaʻū district suffered unprecedented devastation from the category one storm, which struck the state 10 days ago.

Green stated that current assessments show at least $81 million in damage qualifying for FEMA public assistance, with approximately 790 households and properties severely affected. To assist displaced residents, the state has authorized 100 hotel rooms indefinitely at a rate of $109 per night.

While utility recovery has reached 98% statewide, the Big Island lags at 93% with 4,330 properties still without power. For the first time in state history, Green secured military C-17 transport jets to fly heavy utility vehicles to the Big Island under “Operation Trek 808” to assist Hawaiian Electric crews.

To complement state efforts, OHA approved a $500,000 emergency appropriation within 48 hours of Lala’s landfall. Kahele said OHA crews immediately deployed helicopters to drop emergency food, water, and medical supplies to landlocked families in isolated communities above Pāhala and Nāʻālehu on Kaʻalaiki Road.

Cultural protocols for disturbed ancestral graves

The storm’s heavy rains caused severe flooding that disrupted a local cemetery in Nāʻālehu, unearthing approximately 69 graves. Green announced that the state Department of Health, cultural leaders, and county officials are hosting a public-private meeting to support the affected families.

Kahele emphasized that OHA is actively partnering with the governor’s office, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA), the Department of Health, and Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda to manage the recovery with strict cultural sensitivity. To protect the integrity of the remains, crews immediately halted the use of heavy excavator equipment near the burial sites.

“When our kupuna and their final resting sites are disturbed, as they were in this manner, that is an unspeakable tragedy to the families that live there,” Kahele said, noting that some remains have yet to be recovered.

Strategic battles over expiring military leases

The two leaders also addressed upcoming negotiations for military land-leases expiring between 2028 and 2031. Green and Kahele both expressed firm opposition to any attempt by the federal government to use eminent domain or condemnation to seize the lands.

Green, whose administration is leading the formal negotiations, said he aims to secure a 65-year lease guaranteeing the state $100 million annually while returning stewardship of key parcels, including Makua Valley, to the state. He warned that if negotiations fail and enter litigation, the military could condemn the land, leaving the state with nothing.

Kahele countered that any final agreement must include OHA as a direct signatory. He noted that all affected leases sit on former crown and government lands of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, which are held in the public land trust, entitling OHA to 20% of all generated revenues.

OHA has established a 15-member technical advisory group and successfully lobbied the U.S. Senate to require the U.S. Army to redo its Environmental Impact Statement, he said.

Green calls for power grid reform, harbor expansion

Looking beyond immediate storm recovery, Green issued a direct call for a strategic partnership between Hawaiian Electric and JERA, a Japanese energy developer, to bring much-needed capital and technical expertise to the state’s utility grid.

To secure Hawaiʻi’s supply chain against future direct hurricane hits, the governor also proposed building a second deep-water harbor and emergency recovery hub on the Big Island, identifying Kawaihae Harbor as the primary option.

Funding for these long-term resilience projects will be bolstered by the state’s newly passed climate impact fee on tourist accommodations, which is projected to generate $129 million annually, Green said.

OHA advances broadcast bid, housing plans

Kahele shared that OHA is moving forward with its due diligence to potentially purchase television stations KITV and KIKU. The agency completed phase one of its assessment and will present the findings to the board on Sept. 9 and 10, with a final acquisition decision expected by the end of the year.

Kahele said the purchase would create media career pathways for Native Hawaiians and expand indigenous programming, including news in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

In Kakaʻako Makai, OHA is partnering with the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) to develop residential housing for waitlisters. Kahele noted that OHA is committed to a 200-foot height limit to ensure the development remains mindful of the surrounding landscape.

Board unity and legal disputes

Addressing an ongoing retaliation lawsuit filed against OHA by CEO Stacy Ferreira, Kahele acknowledged the frustration of OHA beneficiaries over public disagreements among trustees. While a judge recently dismissed Ferreira’s claims against individual trustees, the lawsuit against the agency itself is moving forward.

Kahele apologized to beneficiaries for the public division but pointed to the unanimous 9-0 vote to approve the Kaʻū emergency relief as proof of the board’s ability to unite.