In 1893, pro-American elements in Hawaii
overthrew the
monarchy and formed the
Republic of Hawaii, which the U.S.
annexed in 1898. In 1921, in order to make amends for injustices associated with the overthrow and annexation, the US created the
Hawaiian Homes Commissions Act which set aside 200,000 acres of land for the use of
homelands for Native Hawaiians of 50%
blood quantum or more. It was meant to create some compensation for forced colonization of the indigenous peoples, but in 1959 Hawaii was officially adopted as the fiftieth state of the US, with the Statehood Admissions Act defining "Native Hawaiian" as any person descended from the aboriginal people of Hawaii, living there prior to 1778. to manage that portion of the ceded lands allotted to Hawaiian Homelands, advance the lifestyle of Native Hawaiians, preserve Hawaiian culture and protect Native Hawaiian rights. It was established during the 1978 state constitutional convention. Government funding has created programs, schools, scholarships and teaching curriculums through OHA. Many of these organizations, agencies and trusts like OHA, have had a good deal of legal issues over the years. In the US Supreme court case
Rice v. Cayetano, OHA was accused of violating the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the United States constitution with voting provisions that were race-based. The court found for the plaintiff that OHA had violated the fifteenth amendment. OHA has also been questioned for programs and services to Hawaiians of less than the fifty percent, required blood quantum (The minimum requirement to qualify for Hawaiian Homelands). ==Board of trustees==