Ratification of Hawaii's First Tribunal

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
Ratification of the Hawai‘i Kupuna Humanitarian Tribunal
Effective: November 18, 2025
The Hawai‘i Kupuna Council (HKC), in collaborative alignment with the Office of Hawaiian Subjects (OHS), is proud to announce the official ratification and activation of the Hawai‘i Kupuna Humanitarian Tribunal, effective November 18, 2025.

This milestone marks a transformational leap forward for our communities, creating a centralized, kupuna-led humanitarian review body designed to safeguard the rights, dignity, and cultural integrity of Hawaiian Subjects across the islands. The Tribunal stands as a strategic, future-focused mechanism that elevates Native governance capacity while embracing global human-rights standards.

 
What This Means for Hawai‘i
This ratification delivers a decisive new framework that:

Empowers Kupuna leadership to guide, assess, and uphold cultural and humanitarian matters with clarity and authority
Enhances subject protections under international humanitarian norms, including Geneva IV and indigenous rights standards
Builds organizational resilience through disciplined case review, transparent findings, and forward-looking recommendations
Strengthens inter-agency coordination with OHS and other Kingdom entities to drive operational alignment
Amplifies community voice in matters involving identity, welfare, and the lived experience of occupation
This Tribunal elevates our shared commitment to accountability, compassion, and continuity— pillars that have anchored Hawaiian governance for generations.

 
Purpose of the Hawai‘i Kupuna Humanitarian Tribunal
The Tribunal will operate as a humanitarian, cultural, and Indigenous rights review body, tasked with:

Hearing testimony from Hawaiian Subjects and their ‘ohana
Documenting cultural, humanitarian, and systemic harms
Issuing kupuna-grounded findings and recommendations
Recognizing Protected Person status where applicable
Providing actionable insights to the OHS Legal Division and other governing bodies
Producing reports suitable for international filing and human-rights channels
The Tribunal does not replace any court; rather, it enhances community-driven oversight and strengthens lawful documentation for future remedy pathways.

 
Why Now?
Our communities have made it clear:
They want structure, they want leadership, and they want a kupuna-led forum that advances truth with dignity and precision.

This Tribunal is a response born out of necessity, foresight, and deep cultural kuleana. It positions our people to navigate a complex environment with more clarity, more accountability, and more tools to protect their families, lands, culture, and rights.

This is the moment to scale our systems, align our collective strategy, and build a governance architecture that honors both tradition and innovation.

 
What’s Next
The HKC will roll out:

Public information sessions
Educational resources & outreach initiatives
Guides for submitting cases or testimony
Opportunities for community collaboration and kupuna engagement
As this Tribunal moves into operational mode, our priority remains steadfast:
protecting our people and advancing a humanitarian-centered governance model grounded in pono.

 
Closing Message
This ratification is more than a procedural win—
it is a generational investment, a strategic uplift, and a testament to the unity and resilience of our people.

Together, we are building forward.
Together, we are restoring integrity, strengthening accountability, and empowering the next chapter of Hawaiian leadership.

For more information, updates, or participation opportunities, the Hawai‘i Kupuna Council and Office of Hawaiian Subjects will be releasing additional communications across all media platforms.

Me ke aloha,
Hawai‘i Kupuna Council & Office of Hawaiian Subjects