HONOLULU — A day after the 2023 Hawaii State Legislature concluded without action on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ proposed Hakuone development proposal and provided no funding for repair of a wharf transferred to the department’s control, OHA board chair Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey called the session “one of the most dysfunctional” in recent history and accused the House of Representatives and House Speaker Scott Saiki of ignoring the will of the people and undermining democracy.

Lindsey made the remarks Friday at a news conference held outside OHA headquarters at Na Lama Kukui.

OHA has been seeking approval to build three residential high rises on its parcels in Kakaako Makai, collectively called Hakuone. The proposed called for raising the building-height limit, increasing the maximum floor area ratio for residential development in the area and allowingexemptions to certain other requirements. The bill passed second reading in the Senate but died in committee. Its companion bill in the House did not receive a hearing.

“The arbitrary killing of OHA’s proposal in the House without even being afforded a hearing after garnering substantial support signals a highwater mark of disrespect by the House speaker and his committee chairs for the will of the people and for OHA’s Hawaiian beneficiaries,” Lindsey said. “Through actions such as this, we at OHA believe democracy is being seriously undermined, and that all voters should sit up and take notice of it.”

OHA had also requested but did not receive funding for wharf repairs to the former Fisherman’s Wharf property that was part of 25 acres of land the state transferred to OHA in 2012 in a $200 million settlement over past payments for ceded lands.

“We expected that funding for the needed repairs to the defective bulkhead and revetment — which is the state’s responsibility — would come through,” Lindsey said. “The money allocated for this expenditure was not a gift to OHA but was intended to remedy the state’s longstanding neglect of basic maintenance on the harbor lands transferred to OHA in settlement of the state’s monetary debt to OHA.”

Saiki blamed the situation on OHA leaders for failing to provide adequate information on the Hakuone project and breaking off discussions.

"During this legislative session, my colleagues and I kept an open door to OHA and hoped we would have productive discussions,” Saiki said in a statement Friday. “However, OHA has not provided specific development plans or explained why it is in the public's interest to repeal the residential restrictions at Kakaako Makai that were in place when OHA accepted the land.”

Last month, Saiki offered OHA $65 million for wharf repairs, $100 million in cash and an increase to the annual ceded lands trust proceeds in exchange if OHA agreed to an easement to maintain open space by preserving the residential ban at Kakaako Makai. "OHA rejected this offer and has not returned to the table to continue discussions," he said. "However, I am still willing to discuss this important issue with them."

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.