On a typical sunny day in South Kohala, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) handed out nearly 400 project lease awards in West Hawaiʻi, with attendees at the Hilton Waikoloa Village buzzing with excitement last Saturday, April 12. The DHHL's recent distribution is aimed at reducing the long-standing waitlist of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries eagerly seeking homeownership opportunities. This move signifies a push to address the housing needs within the community, ushering in hope and stability for many.
According to the DHHL's announcement, beneficiaries had the option to choose between the Laʻi ʻŌpua in Kealakehe, with 368 leases, and Kailapa in Kawaihae, offering 22 leases. This settlement represented a leap toward generational stability for Native Hawaiians, some of whom were waiting since the first application taken in 1963. Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke emphasized the importance of homesteads in reinstating hope within communities, affirming the state's commitment to investing in these initiatives.
The DHHL's director, Kali Watson, stated, "The success of our homesteading program relies on our ability to pivot towards the needs of our beneficiaries and project leases are one example of that." The director highlighted the comprehensive expedited process to provide 1,200 units on Hawaiʻi Island over the next few years. Beneficiaries, by this innovative approach, receive their homestead lease prior to the completion of development, allowing them appropriate preparation for the financial and program requirements, as reported by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
Remarkable funding efforts include Act 279, a $600 million general fund allocation from the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 2022, which supported Laʻi ʻŌpua's infrastructure costs of $32.9 million. Kanani Takata, accepting a lease for her grandfather who had been on the waitlist since 1963, told the DHHL, "It is my prayer, my hope, that this would be able to bless generations now or future generations." Meanwhile, Charmaine Davis, another beneficiary, plans to continue her family's legacy through Hawaiian homes, citing the importance of providing for "generations now."
The West Hawaiʻi project lease awards are part of a larger effort by the DHHL to issue more than 6,000 project leases statewide over the coming two years. Additional forthcoming housing developments announced by the department include Honokaʻa with 296 units, Kaumana with 168 units, Palamanui with 132 units, Panaʻewa with 600 units, and Laʻi ʻŌpua Village 4 with 150 units. Each lease represents more than a property agreement; they serve as starting points for generational change, being built to accommodate accessibility, quality, and sustainability standards. With initiatives like turnkey homes and rent-to-own programs, these project leases offer critical pathways to homeownership for Native Hawaiian families.
