History of Kakaʻako Ma Kai & OHA
In 2012, OHA accepted 29 acres in Kaka‘ako Ma Kai, valued at $200 million dollars, to settle a debt the State owed the Native Hawaiian community for unpaid public land trust revenue. OHA is a semi-autonomous state agency established by the Hawaiʻi Constitution and charged with advancing the well-being of the Native Hawaiian community. Like any landowner operating within the law, OHA has both the authority and the responsibility to determine how its lands can best fulfill their purpose. OHA carries a fiduciary obligation to steward these lands responsibly and productively for its beneficiaries and for Hawaiʻi as a whole.
Nearly two decades ago, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature imposed a residential moratorium in Kakaʻako Ma Kai at a time when proposals centered on luxury condominiums aimed largely at out-of-state buyers rather than housing for local families. That moratorium prohibited all residential opportunities in the area.
Today, almost 20 years later, OHA’s nine parcels remain largely underutilized. The moratorium is still in place even as Hawaiʻi faces a severe housing shortage while public infrastructure already built to support this area sits underleveraged. OHA and its beneficiaries continue to call for revitalization that reflects both cultural stewardship and meaningful public return.
Latest News & Updates
View OHA & environmental expertsʻ efforts to assess and address environmental concerns, revitalize properties, and explore opportunities for housing and sustainable development…