In a significant move, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has announced the withdrawal of two longstanding lawsuits concerning Mauna Kea. This decision marks a strategic pivot in the organization's approach to advocating for the protection of the sacred mountain.

OHA's board of trustees emphasized that after years of litigation yielding limited results, coupled with the recent news that the Thirty Meter Telescope will not receive funding from the National Science Foundation, it is time to embrace a new path. This path is rooted in the principles of Pilina (connection), Kuleana (responsibility), and Aloha ʻĀina (love of the land).

Moving forward, OHA is collaborating directly with Governor Josh Green and the leadership of the Mauna Kea Stewardship Authority. The goal is to establish a stewardship model that prioritizes native Hawaiian leadership and incorporates community voices.

"This is not a retreat," OHA stated. "It is a recommitment to the Mauna through unity, cultural integrity, and focused advocacy." The organization recognizes its responsibility to honor the legacy of its ancestors, or kupuna, as it seeks to protect this vital cultural and environmental landmark.