Advocacy

Act 203: Kānāwai Kaiāulu i Mea e Hoʻomalu ai Ko Kākou ʻĀina Kūpuna A New Legal Pathway Authorizing Community Co-management Agreements

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Honoring the time-tested Native Hawaiian practices of mālama ʻāina and ahupuaʻa-based management and acknowledging that the state alone cannot sustainably manage all the public trust lands and waters within its purview, Act 203 creates explicit legal authority for the state’s Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) to enter into long-term community co-management agreements with community-based organizations.

KUA Advocacy at the Hawaiʻi State Legislature 2025

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As we prepare for the 2026 Legislative Session, we reflect on some of last year’s efforts including championing certain bills, of which two became law: Act 71 establishing ʻōpaeʻula as state shrimp, and Act 96 creating a “green fee” for environmental stewardship. We also celebrated Opening Day with some of our network members, and helped organize Pilina Kanaloa Ocean Day at the Capitol.