The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Board of Trustees announced on June 26 (OHA news release) that it is withdrawing its two lawsuits concerning Maunakea, calling the decision “a pivotal shift towards collaborative stewardship and cultural preservation of the sacred mountain.”
The first lawsuit, filed in 2017, sought to hold the State of Hawaiʻi, the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and the University of Hawaiʻi accountable for what it described as decades of mismanagement, an allegation UH repeatedly challenged.
“We look forward to this new chapter of unity and shared responsibility with OHA and Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA), and we affirm our longstanding commitment to responsibly stewarding Maunakea’s natural and cultural resources,” said UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship Director Greg Chun. “We deeply appreciate the dedication of the many people who have cared for the mauna over the decades, including rangers, biologists, visitor center staff, volunteer board members, and many others who have been implicated in the lawsuit’s claims. Your service is not unnoticed.”
The second lawsuit, filed in January 2024, challenged the constitutionality of Act 255, which established the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA). Governor Josh Green commended the decision by OHA, saying it opened a new chapter of unity and shared responsibility.
