Hawaii
Gov. Green responds to lawsuit challenging Hawaiian Homes program | Maui Now
Gov. Josh Green today issued a statement regarding a federal lawsuit challenging the eligibility requirements within the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was established to address the historic dispossession of Native Hawaiians and reflects a longstanding commitment to them by both the federal government and the state of Hawaiʻi,” said Green.
“This lawsuit threatens that commitment. I have directed the Department of the Attorney General to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program. We will fight this lawsuit with everything we have,” he said.
The lawsuit was filed by Eric Ryan, an Oʻahu resident who is not Native Hawaiian and tried to apply for a lease, but was denied due to the 50% Native Hawaiian blood quantum requirement, according to Hawaiʻi News Now and court documents published at Courthouse News Service.
The Class Action Complaint argues that the “explicitly ancestry-based requirement” establishes a “permanent government mandate for state officials to engage in outright racial discrimination, perpetuates stereotypes, and limits housing opportunities for most Hawai‘i residents. The blood-quantum requirement thus violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the complaint alleges.
Green said the administration “stands firmly with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the thousands of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who rely on this program and its promise for future generations.”
Attorney General Anne Lopez also issued a statement saying the state of Hawaiʻi has both a legal and moral obligation to uphold the commitments embodied in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“This lawsuit seeks to dismantle a program that has provided opportunities, stability and hope to generations of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries,” said Lopez.
Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes, who has extensive experience handling complex constitutional litigation on behalf of the state, will lead the legal team in defending the state against the challenge.
“We are prepared to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program and the promises it represents,” said Lopez.
Under the Green administration, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has accelerated the delivery of homestead opportunities and expanded pathways to homeownership for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.
In 2025 alone, DHHL offered more than 2,500 lease awards and continues to advance major housing projects, including Hale Mōʻiliʻili on Oʻahu, which will provide 278 affordable rental units for beneficiaries.
“These efforts reflect the administration’s commitment to reducing wait times, strengthening Native Hawaiian communities and fulfilling the promise of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act,” according to the governor’s announcement.
June 23, 2026, 6:00 PM HST
Maui musician Logan Kalawaia will headline the next installment of the Hawaiian Music Series from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the lawn of Waiola Church in Lahaina, according to concert series organizer Lahaina Restoration Foundation.
Parking is available onsite for the free concert, with additional spaces provided by the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission next to the Waiola Church lot. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, mats or low-back beach chairs for seating on the lawn.
Kalawaia was born and raised on Maui and comes from a family with deep roots in Hawaiian music, drawing inspiration from his father and uncles. He has performed professionally since a young age and is known in Maui’s music community for a contemporary sound grounded in the traditions and storytelling of Hawaiian mele.
Music has long played a role in bringing the Lahaina community together, and the organization, in partnership with Waiola Church, is continuing that tradition by providing a gathering space for residents to reconnect and celebrate Hawaiian music.
Now in its 18th year, the Hawaiian Music Series is supported by the Maui County Office of Economic Development and parking fee revenues. Waiola Church is hosting the series for 2026.
More information is available at lahainarestoration.org.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – One of Hawaii’s sweetest partnerships is returning with a larger footprint this year.
In celebration of National Pineapple Day and Dole’s 125th anniversary, residents who donate blood on Friday, June 26, will receive a free fresh Dole pineapple while supplies last.
The effort is a collaboration between Dole Food Company and Blood Bank of Hawaii aimed at boosting donations during a time of year when blood supplies traditionally decline.
According to Blood Bank of Hawaii, donations typically drop by about 15% during the summer months, even as hospitals continue to rely on a steady stream of lifesaving blood products every day. Organizers say all blood types are needed, with a particularly urgent demand for O-type blood, platelet donations, and AB plasma.
The campaign also comes during a milestone year for Dole.
The company is celebrating 125 years of pineapple history, commemorating the fruit that helped shape Hawaiʻi’s agricultural identity and introduced generations around the world to the islands’ pineapple legacy.
This year, blood donors will receive not only a pineapple, but commemorative Dole-branded anniversary gifts while supplies last.
National Pineapple Day recognizes a fruit often called the “fruit of kings.” Though pineapples originated in South and Central America, they became deeply intertwined with Hawaiʻi’s history after James Dole established commercial pineapple operations in the islands in the early 1900s. Today, Dole continues operating facilities in Wahiawā while promoting initiatives centered around nutrition and community wellness.
Unlike previous years, organizers are expanding the giveaway to every Blood Bank of Hawaii donor center and mobile drive location participating on Friday.
Donation sites include:
Young Street Donor Center
1907 Young Street, Honolulu
6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Waikele Center
94-849 Lumiaina Street, Waipahu
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Windward Mall
46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Kāneʻohe
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki
2424 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pearlridge Center
98-1005 Moanalua Road, ʻAiea
Noon to 6 p.m.
Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be made through Blood Bank of Hawaii’s website or by calling (808) 848-4770.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu welcomed the arrival of the Philippine contingent from the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2026 that will be held from 24 June to 31 July 2026.
Led by Consul General Arman R. Talbo, the Consulate, together with members of the Filipino community in Hawaii, greeted the officers and crew aboard the PH Navy’s BRP Miguel Malvar and the PH Coast Guard’s BRP Gabriela Silang as they arrive and dock in Pearl Harbor, and conveyed support for their participation in the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
In his remarks, Consul General Talbo highlighted that the deployment of both a Philippine Navy and a Philippine Coast Guard vessel to RIMPAC 2026 reflects the Philippines’ growing maritime capabilities and its commitment to advancing maritime security, interoperability, and regional cooperation alongside allies and partners to promote a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region.
The Consul General further underscored that the participation of BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Gabriela Silang is especially meaningful as the Philippines and the United States commemorate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. He noted that the presence of both vessels at RIMPAC symbolizes the strength of the Philippines-US alliance and the expanding cooperation between the two countries in defense, security, and maritime affairs.
Named after two distinguished heroes of Philippine history, BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Gabriela Silang also serve as reminders of the Philippines’ enduring legacy of courage, patriotism and unwavering dedication to national sovereignty.
The Philippine contingent will join other ships and personnel from participating nations during RIMPAC 2026 to further strengthen interoperability in multi-domain combat and contingency training. END
This article is brought to you by The Office of the Consul General of the Republic of the Philippines in Honolulu.
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