By Kali Watson, Chair, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
Remarks shared with members of the Aliʻi Trusts and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at a gathering in June 2025
It’s truly an honor and a privilege to stand before all of you – representatives of the Aliʻi Trusts, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. E nā hoa hana, nā hoa kuleana, a me nā hoa aloha, mahalo for coming together in this important moment of unity.
We share a common mission – to uplift our lāhui. To fulfill the legacies entrusted to us by our aliʻi, our kūpuna, and by those who fought before us to protect our people, our ʻāina, and our identity. While we come from distinct institutions, we are bound by shared values: aloha, kuleana, pono, and lōkahi.
Our aliʻi envisioned a thriving lāhui – healthy, educated, and grounded in culture. Whether it’s through Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole’s vision for land and self- sufficiency, Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s legacy of education, Queen Liliʻuokalani’s compassion for children and families, or Queen Emma’s enduring commitment to health and wellness – each of us carries a part of that larger vision.
But let us be clear: no single entity can carry this burden alone.
The challenges facing our people – housing, education, health, cultural preservation – are too vast for any one organization. Yet together, we are stronger. Together, we can weave a mālama ʻāina, mālama lāhui partnership that reflects the full strength of our collective legacy.
Our collaboration is not just symbolic. It is strategic. It is a recognition that coordinated action is not only possible – it is essential.
At the department, we are advancing more than housing. We are restoring identity. We are returning our people to their ancestral lands, cultivating communities where culture and commerce can thrive side by side. But to do this well, we need strong educational partners. We need strong health systems. We need trusted cultural institutions. We need you.
We envision deeper partnerships with OHA and the Aliʻi Trusts, like expanding preschool and cultural programs on homestead lands. Supporting kūpuna housing. Building community resource centers. Co-investing in renewable energy, food security, and Hawaiian businesses. These aren’t just ideas – they’re blueprints for self-determination.
Let us also embrace data sharing, joint planning, and coordinated funding. Let’s move beyond silos and toward synergy. Let’s ask not just “what can we do?” But, “what can we do together?”
As our kūpuna often said, ʻaʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia – no task is too great when we work together.
Consider this a renewed commitment – not only to the legacies we each represent – but to a collective future. One where our children and grandchildren won’t have to ask, “Why didn’t our leaders work together?” Instead, they will say, “Look what they built together.”
Mahalo nui loa, and let’s get to work.
