In a significant development for Native Hawaiian families, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) has awarded 115 turnkey homes as part of the Kaʻuluokahaʻi community in East Kapolei. The handover marks an advance in the state's efforts to reduce the homestead waitlist that has left many hopefuls in limbo for decades. At a recent lot selection event at Honouliuli Middle School, Governor Josh Green announced, "This administration is delivering on the promise to build homesteads for our Native Hawaiian families and we see progress in motion when homes are awarded and more families are taken off the waitlist," as reported by DHHL.
The award ceremony was a culmination of years of waiting for many, including 76-year-old Leslie Gohier who had been on the Oʻahu residential waitlist since 1988. Despite participating in five lot selections without success, Gohier never lost sight of the dream, and in March 2025, her steadfast patience was rewarded with a project lease, a faster method that DHHL has employed to address its lengthy waitlist. In a heartening moment, a project leaseholder since the late '80s, Gohier was the 58th selectee at the event. "I'm at a loss for words, but the reality of being called is the greatest gift I could ever receive," Gohier told DHHL.
Constructed by Gentry Homes, these residences vary from two to five bedrooms and are priced between $498,000 and $691,000. Applicants were pre-qualified for financing, enabling the alignment of construction with the financial capabilities of the homeowners. The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) significantly augmented affordability, facilitating more than $65 million in loans to assist over 100 families in the process of becoming homeowners.
With the ground-breaking taking place in August 2023, the 121.5-acre parcel development of Kaʻuluokahaʻi is set to continue well into the future. Increment II-C is projected to be completed in early 2026, and further phases are planned through 2029. "It’s a true privilege to build houses for DHHL’s beneficiaries and Gentry Homes remains dedicated to delivering on a product families can call ‘home’ for generations to come," said Quentin Machida, president and chief executive officer of Gentry Homes, as mentioned on the department website. The DHHL expects close cooperation with government bodies to secure funding for the remaining phases, as stated by DHHL Director Kali Watson, aiming to further reduce the waitlist in alignment with the legacy of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole.
In total, the buildout of the Kaʻuluokahaʻi community will see a $152 million investment into the development of a mixed-residential space, with subsequent increments planned for completion in summer 2027, 2028, and 2029, respectively, bringing more hope to those yearning for a place to call their own.
