In a notable move to help mitigate the perpetual housing waitlist plight on Maui, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) has set in motion a plan to award over 1,100 residential project leases, targeting beneficiaries anchored on the Valley Isle’s residential waitlist. As reported yesterday by the DHHL, these awards mark a significant step forward for the DHHL in their pursuit to expedite the transition from waitlists to homeownership for numerous applicants. This initiative comes on the heels of previous successful project leases on other islands.
The leases will be distributed among four upcoming developments: Leialiʻi 1B with 155 lots, Waiehu Mauka offering 343, Wailuku Single-Family projected at 204, and Kamalani, which will include 400 lots. The developments are staggered, with starting dates for construction ranging from 2026 to 2027 and completion dates between 2028 to 2030, with the overall project costs detailed from $35.1 million to $128 million. The DHHL has provided the beneficiaries with resources and information through an orientation that was held, helping to clarify the awarding process and subsequent steps. Applicants on the waitlist up until December 24, 2024, are among those eligible for this opportunity. Prospective lessees have been urged to engage with DHHL’s Housing Branch for further information on the process.
With more than 3,900 applicants on the Maui residential waitlist, the department’s project lease approach aims to give individuals a chance at securing a property even before development completion, paving the way for family legacies through the potential for lease transfers to successors who have at least 25% blood quantum according to the criteria set out by DHHL. The flexibility in the financial aspects of these leases is also underscored; they are accessible because applicants don't need to pre-qualify for financing to be eligible for a lease. This opens up a range of pathways to homeownership, including but not limited to turnkey homes, owner-builder lots, and rent-to-own programs, as detailed in the media release.
Amidst praise for the collaborative effort from Governor Green, legislators, and community and development partners, DHHL Director Kali Watson voiced the department's commitment to seeking out fresh housing solutions stating, "With the support of Governor Green, the legislature and our community and development partners, DHHL will continue to explore innovative housing solutions for our families to ensure no one is bypassed when it is their time to receive a homestead lot," a vital sentiment as the department anticipates the award of upwards of 6,000 project leases in the next two years. The first set of awards on Maui is scheduled for November 8, 2025, with a subsequent round on December 6, 2025, marking important dates for many hopeful island residents, as reported by the DHHL.
