Office of Hawaiian Affairs acquires KITV

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) decided against purchasing KITV Island News and KIKU TV, both owned by Allen Media Group. The board of trustees voted 4-5 to reject moving forward with the acquisition process, which had included a budgetary request of up to $172,500 for conducting due diligence on the $30 million deal.

The acquisition proposal, disclosed during an executive session, aimed at acquiring certain assets and properties associated with the broadcast entities. However, this notion was halted before initiating a detailed valuation or operational review. This decision echoes a previous occurrence in 2006, where OHA opted out of acquiring another Honolulu television station, KGMB.

The rationale behind OHA's interest extended beyond mere asset acquisition. According to OHA Chairperson Kaiali‘i Kahele, the board saw a strategic opportunity to elevate Native Hawaiian narratives and influence within the media sector, potentially transforming public perception. This opportunity was also seen as a pathway to enhance community representation and diversify financial resources, augmenting jobs and positively portraying Native Hawaiian stories.

Despite these potential advantages, concerns about operational scale, complexity, alignment with OHA's priorities, and adherence to fiduciary responsibilities surfaced as barriers. Public concerns were also reflected in testimonies that highlighted staffing, FCC licensing, and technical challenges such as implementing ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi subtitles.

Going forward, the board signaled a continued interest in exploring avenues that further Native Hawaiian engagement and representation in economic and communication spheres, despite this vote against the acquisition. The outcome suggests that while the current proposal was tabled, discussions on strategic investments into media ownership remain a priority for the institution's long-term vision of community empowerment.