In an assertive move towards mitigating the housing crunch for Native Hawaiian families, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) has announced plans to award more than 2,600 leases by the end of 2025. According to a recent statement, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is proactively looking to slash its extensive waitlist and is offering a diverse array of homesteading options throughout the state.
Projects underway include project leases, turnkey homes, rent-with-option-to-purchase units, and agricultural and scattered lots. In total, there are 29 developments being actively worked on by the DHHL, including communities in both West Oʻahu and West Hawaiʻi. April witnessed 91 homestead awards as part of Puʻuhona Phase II, coupled with 390 project leases for Laʻi ʻŌpua and Kailapa in West Hawaiʻi, delivering significant opportunities for families waiting for a place to call their own.
Hawaiʻi's Governor Josh Green shared his approval of DHHL's strides, stating, "The department is making remarkable progress in reducing its long-standing waitlist and improving the lives of our Native Hawaiian families across our state." Green continued by affirming his administration's commitment to supporting DHHL's initiatives towards community building and self-sufficiency.
Project leases have come to the forefront as a key tool in DHHL's arsenal, allowing approved applicants to secure leases before a development's completion, and granting the right, providing a homestead opportunity to a qualified successor with a minimum blood quantum requirement of 25%.
Under the guidance of DHHL Director Kali Watson, the department is focused on implementing sustainable housing options. "This is a pivotal moment for DHHL as we deliver on long-awaited housing opportunities for thousands of beneficiaries and their ʻohana," Watson conveyed in an official DHHL announcement. The success of these housing efforts has been significantly bolstered by Act 279, which earmarked a whopping $600 million in 2022 directly for the development of DHHL communities. This investment is set to fund the construction of 1,509 homes in the coming year alone, with 737 more to follow in 2026.
