The Office of Native Hawaiian Relations was authorized by Congress in Public Law 108-199 on January 23, 2004, and in Public Law 104-42 on November 2, 1995. The Office discharges the Secretary's responsibilities for matters related to Native Hawaiians and serves as a conduit for the Department’s field activities in Hawaiʻi.
The mission of the Office is to serve as a liaison with the Native Hawaiian Community and work with the Department and its bureaus on issues affecting Hawaiʻi.