The event marked the department’s first agricultural lease awards since the early 2000s. Waiehu Mauka covers about 240 acres and consists of half-acre lots. Honokōwai spans approximately 45 acres and will include 1- to 2-acre lots.

“Our beneficiaries want to be on the land and agricultural project leases expedite that opportunity for them,” DHHL Director Kali Watson said. “This model not only provides our beneficiaries with the land base to construct homes but also offers them a chance to cultivate a dependable food source. This represents cultural revitalization.”

Both project areas are funded by Act 279; the legislature’s historic allocation of $600 million to the DHHL in 2022 which allows the department to acquire lands closer to existing infrastructure and initiates the installation of essential utilities like water, sewer, power, drainage and roadway infrastructure prior to the construction of homes.

“We need to focus on the mission of making sure the paper leases awarded become actual land leases,” said Sen. Troy Hashimoto. “We need to get the land ready to move in; the $600 million is not enough.”

Work in Waiehu Mauka will begin in 2027 and should be completed by 2033. Construction at Honokōwai is scheduled to begin in 2029 with anticipated completion in 2031.

The awarding of agricultural project leases before the completion of subdivisions provides beneficiaries with an undivided interest in a specific parcel of their interest. Furthermore, those holding agricultural project leases have the added benefit of transferring their leases to a qualified successor who meets the 25% blood quantum requirement.

Project leases are the department’s new approach to moving beneficiaries off the waitlist. This initiative aims to create various avenues to homeownership while safeguarding the legacy of an ʻohana’s lease.

DHHL is set to award more than 230 project leases on Maui next year in the following areas: Pūlehunui (100), Honokōwai (40), and Hāna (96).

The department will deploy a new approach when awarding Hāna leases: a pilina-based priority waitlist to identify applicants who are a former or current area residents, lineal descendants, or an applicant with a relative who is a current resident of the area. DHHL’s strategy to developing homestead communities in rural areas will prioritize a pilina-based priority waitlist. This process will uphold the cultural values and customary Hawaiian traditions that are critical to the community’s wellbeing.

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“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,” said Gov. Josh Green, M.D.

“My office will continue to work alongside DHHL to ensure the resources the department needs are available to fully execute on its mission.”

Leslie Gohier was one in the crowd of more than 600 Native Hawaiians who attended the lot selection at Honouliuli Middle School.

“I know the struggle of not getting a lot,” said Leslie Gohier, 76, a Māʻili resident who applied in 1988 to the Oʻahu residential waitlist. She previously participated in five lot selections but never received an offer. In March 2025, Gohier received a project lease, DHHL’s new, expedited approach to addressing its long-standing waitlist.

“DHHL will continue seeking innovative strategies to accelerate housing options for our families,” DHHL Director Kali Watson said. “Innovation encompasses various aspects such as awarding project leases, the way we build — developing large-scale communities, the locations we build — actively seeking valuable land across the state, the financing avenues we explore — such as low-income housing tax credits, and our commitment to collaborating with the aliʻi trusts, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and organizations like the Hawaiian Council.”

The houses, built by Gentry Homes, range in size from two- to five-bedrooms and cost between $498,000 – $691,000. All prospective applicants were required to pre-qualify for financing before selecting a lot. This process allows the developer to align the construction of Kaʻuluokahaʻi with the financial capabilities of its future homeowners. This new initiative aims to ensure those on the waitlist are not bypassed due to income limitations.

For more than 100 families the Native American Housing Assistance and Self- Determination Act (NAHASDA) made homeownership more attainable through the awarding of more than $65 million in loans.

After nearly three hours of waiting, Gohier’s name was called; selectee number 58. Overcome with emotion, Gohier selected the home for which she had waited for 37 years. “I’m at a loss for words, but the reality of being called is the greatest gift I could ever receive. For me, to have this opportunity to share with my family is a blessing,” Gohier said.

“The department is excited to work closely with Governor Green and the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in the upcoming session to fully fund the remaining increments of Kaʻuluokahaʻi,” Watson added. “In addition, DHHL will be requesting further appropriations to ensure it can continue reducing the waitlist [and] provide housing for Native Hawaiians.”

A mixed-residential community, the entirety of Kaʻuluokahaʻi will be built by Gentry Homes in multiple phases: 118 units, slated for completion in the summer 2027; 133 units, slated for completion in the summer 2028; and 151 units, slated for completion in summer 2029.

DHHL broke ground on the 121.5-acre parcel in August of 2023. Kaʻuluokahaʻi will cost $152 million to develop.

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Established under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA), the NHHBG exclusively provides funding to DHHL to address the unique housing challenges faced by Native Hawaiians by offering affordable housing options for low-income Native Hawaiian families.

“The ongoing allocation of these federal funds allows us to continue offering affordable housing options that ensure our beneficiaries’ success and stability for generations to come,” said DHHL Director Kali Watson. “The unwavering dedication of our congressional delegation deserves recognition in this award as they are the true advocates behind this source of funding for the department.”

As the designated recipient for the NHHBG administered by the HUD Office of Native American Programs (ONAP), DHHL received $9.6 million in funding in 2002 to advance housing initiations for eligible Native Hawaiian families. Over the last 20 years, the department has consistently received more than two times its original allocation, averaging $22.3 million annually.

“With NAHASDA, families who have frequently been excluded from the homebuying process can finally achieve their dreams of homeownership. By providing safe housing opportunities at prices families can afford, our ʻohana are able to stay in Hawaiʻi – the place they call home,” Watson said.

During this past fiscal year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) DHHL allocated nearly $40 million, surpassing its previous highest recorded expenditure in 2017 by more than double. In the 23 years since its inaugural award, DHHL has made significant progress in the allocation of funding to its beneficiaries resulting in the:

• Expenditure of $194 million in NHHBG program funds (90% of all NHHBG funds awarded);
• Building, acquisition, or rehabilitation of 769 affordable homes using NHHBG funds;
• Improvement of approximately 693 lots with infrastructure development to support construction of new homeownership housing units;
• Rehabilitation of three community centers to provide housing services to affordable housing residents; while
• Providing housing services, such as pre- and post-home purchase education, financial literacy training, self-help home repair training and rental assistance for 5,237 families.

Enacted in 1996, NAHASDA has transformed the way Native American and Alaska Natives provide affordable housing on rural Indian reservations and Alaska Native villages. The act facilitated enhanced partnerships with financial institutions and established a block grant program, empowering Native American and Alaska Natives to decide how to effectively utilize federal funds to tackle affordable housing challenges.

Four years later, Congress amended NAHASDA by adding Title VIII, authorizing comparable funding for eligible Native Hawaiian families living on Hawaiian homelands whose total household income is at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI) for their specific counties.

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On Dec. 19, 2024, an estimated 2,300 lbs of debris were collected and airlifted out of the area to be recycled at Resource Recovery Solutions in Līhuʻe.

Discovered in 2022 by a DHHL lessee exploring the region, the debris was in an area used for grazing by a herd of feral goats. The debris field was examined by the Kauaʻi Police Department and Navy Security and Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures personnel who determined it did not pose a threat to the environment. Further investigation by unexploded ordnance crews found no explosives in the area and deemed it acceptable to keep the debris in place.

For Thomas Nizo removing the debris wasn’t just a task, it was his kuleana, regardless of the findings. “If can, can; if no can, how can? Getting to a ‘yes’ response is the goal,” said Nizo.

Nizo, an Anahola residential lessee, serves as Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands’ (PMRF) deputy of public works and stewardship officer and is the first Native Hawaiian to hold the position. His unwavering dedication to the cleanup is firmly rooted in his love for the land.

“E pane mai ka nonoi o Nohili,” (answering the requests of Nohili) is PMRF’s slogan. This reflects the staff’s awareness of the importance of Native Hawaiian cultural values. Nohili refers to the high sand dunes at Nohili Point, the famous “Barking Sands” of Kauaʻi.

Operation Regulus, conducted by the PMRF from 1956 to 1964, was an operation used for missile launch and guidance training. Flight-test vehicles and training missiles were never armed and contained retractable landing gear, making them reusable.

DHHL commends Nizo and his team for their outstanding efforts in Kekaha and the Mānā Plain, as their actions align with the mission of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole and benefit the broader community. Their removal of the missile debris allows for effective land use.

DHHL manages more than 14,500 acres of land in Waimea; two-thirds of the area can be described as steep mountainous terrain and isolated valleys. DHHL’s Kauaʻi Island Plan (KIP) calls for development in Waimea to be centered around residential and subsistence agricultural homesteads – a self-sustaining community where residents can cultivate produce for both personal use and sale. Surrounding parcels may include community-use spaces, a puʻuhonua or retreat, areas for conservation, and opportunities for kalo cultivation.

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In a landmark occasion, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) broke ground on its first high-rise rental apartment Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. The event marks the start of a two-year development process to build the state’s only affordable housing project exclusively serving DHHL beneficiaries.

“Innovative projects like Hale Mōʻiliʻili ensure our Native Hawaiian families have a place to call home,” said Gov. Josh Green, M.D. “This opportunity has the potential to empower beneficiaries and create meaningful change. My administration will continue to encourage our leadership to seek bold strategies in the creation of affordable housing options and a project like this deserves our community’s support.”

Hale Mōʻiliʻili includes a 23-story high-rise tower with 271 units comprising 23 studios, 23 one-bedroom units, 203 two-bedroom units and 22 three-bedroom units. The project includes a two-story townhouse with seven three-bedroom units overlooking Old Stadium Park and a 290-stall parking structure.

DHHL beneficiaries opting to rent a unit will retain their position on the waitlist while they await a lease award. Tenant income thresholds will range from 30-100% of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual median income (AMI) requirements with rents ranging from $657 to $3,460.

“We’re delivering on our promise to provide affordable rental housing to beneficiaries on our waitlist,” Kali Watson, DHHL director said. “This housing model will serve as a pilot for future developments.”

Individuals on the waitlist will be notified of the chance to apply for housing approximately six months before the project’s completion. The Oʻahu residential waitlist currently stands at more than 11,400, representing the largest need for beneficiary housing of any county in the state.

The project will cost $155 million to develop.

The Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) Board of Directors assisted the development through the approval of $41.5 million in low-interest loans (through the Rental Housing Revolving Fund), approximately $4.7 million in annual federal and state low-income tax credits (through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit or LIHTC program) and $80 million in tax-exempt private activity bonds.

The Stadium Bowl-O-Drome bowling alley opened its doors in 1955, closed in 2004, and has sat idle since. Originally acquired from the Department of Land and Natural Resources in 1995, the nearly 2-acre parcel borders Old Stadium Park, an area that has raised growing concerns for neighboring residents.

“We strive to build more than just homes, it’s our goal to cultivate communities,” said Stanford Carr, project developer. “Hale Mōʻiliʻili will empower its residents to take pride in their neighborhood, forge connections, and serve as a catalyst for positive change.”

In addition to providing housing, Hale Mōʻiliʻili will offer social services like financial literacy courses and keiki programs, and spaces for small businesses to serve the community. All enhancements to the site are designed to rejuvenate the area while honoring the historical significance of the Stadium Bowl-O-Drome.

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This grant, along with a $17 million grant DHHL received from NTIA earlier this year, provides a total of $89 million to expand broadband internet access to thousands of underserved households on Hawaiian home lands by funding new telecommunications infrastructure, workforce development programs and digital equity initiatives for DHHL lessees.

“This new federal funding will mean communities on Hawaiian home lands will have better, more reliable high-speed internet at home, helping more people access education, health care, and employment resources online,” said Hawai‘i’s Sen. Brian Schatz, who serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and helped secure funding for the grant.

The TBCP grant will help bring fast fiber optic internet connections to thousands of DHHL lessees throughout the state. The grant will fund telecommunications infrastructure on Hawaiian home lands in areas that have limited access to broadband service, and will be used to establish connections at planned housing developments.

“Access to the Internet is just the starting point for today’s award,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson. “With this Internet for All grant, Native Hawaiians will have new high-speed Internet connections – and new opportunities through device purchases, workforce training, and digital education to make the most of those connections.”

The grant was announced last month at a media event in Honolulu in the offices of Hawaiʻi Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, leader of Connect Kākou, Hawaiʻi’s high-speed internet initiative.

“For too long, many communities on Hawaiian home lands have lacked equitable access to the digital tools citizens need to participate fully in our modern economy,” said Luke. “This grant empowers people with the resources they need to succeed and will strengthen the bonds of our communities.”

Grant funds will be dispersed over a four-year period, with projects rolling out through 2028.

“The TBCP grant will enable DHHL to bring high-speed internet, digital education programs, and new community centers to our homesteads across the pae ʻāina,” said DHHL Director Kali Watson. “It’s more than just connectivity; it’s about opening doors to opportunity, through education, employment, and access to healthcare and other essential services. Mahalo to our federal partners at NTIA for supporting this vision.”

In addition to infrastructure projects, the TBCP grant will also support:

• Workforce Development Programs: training and skills development to support digital jobs and career opportunities.
• Digital Equity and Education Initiatives: resources and programs aimed at increasing digital literacy and ensuring that DHHL lessees have the skills necessary to bridge the digital divide.
• Community Centers: establishing centers on Hawaiian home lands where residents can access digital education resources and public internet.

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The workday marks the one-year anniversary of a wildfire that threatened nearby neighborhoods when fast-moving flames prompted the precautionary evacuations of area homes. Investigators classified the 12-acre blaze as arson. Sixty-eight abandoned vehicles were scorched that day.

The initiative, dubbed “Heavy Impact” by local nonprofit and event organizer ‘Āina Alliance, provided students with the opportunity to engage with heavy machinery and gain insight from skilled operators while participating in the removal of junked cars.

“The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands values its partnership with ‘Āina Alliance and its steadfast commitment to safeguarding our trust lands and the surrounding communities from wildfires,” said DHHL Director Kali Watson. “Organizations like ʻĀina Alliance are the backbone of our communities and the actions demonstrated today will have lasting impacts on the future of Anahola.”

Jeremie Makepa, an Anahola homesteader and Kauaʻi County fire captain, leads ʻĀina Alliance’s efforts as its board president.

“This is our first venture into getting kids involved with the heavy equipment work needed to do fire mitigation and flammable fuel removal,” Makepa said. “In essence, we’ve been left a gift to where this generation will start cleaning up the area, and that will develop their love and passion for community and wildfire prevention.”

In February 2022, the Hawaiian Homes Commission approved a right-of-entry permit to the nonprofit. The permit encourages the stewardship, maintenance and management of approximately 432 acres of Hawaiian homelands along the Anahola coastline on Kauaʻi’s eastern end.

Prior to the issuance of a permit, the area was prone to illegal dumping and other criminal activity. More than 300 abandoned vehicles are scattered throughout the land parcel and more than 100 fires have been reported in recent years.

“It’s about preservation and there’s nothing better than having our own children caring for the ‘āina,” Hawaiian Homes Kauaʻi Commissioner Dennis Neves said. “We’re here today because we understand how important it is to take care of our own ‘āina all while getting our ʻōpio to surround our community with their love and skills to help us move forward.”

The event was conducted in conjunction with North Shore Give Week, a series of charitable events hosted by North Shore Give, the dba for the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Kauaʻi North Shore Community Foundation. The foundation works to improve the lives of residents from Anahola to Hāʻena through collaborative solutions for community challenges.

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The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is dedicated to more than just the construction of homes for its beneficiaries on Maui; it strives to lay the groundwork for resilient and sustainable communities.

“When it comes to our housing initiatives we’ve cast a wide net across the entire state but Maui is a priority,” said DHHL Director Kali Watson. “Our ʻohana here have endured more than most can imagine and the August 8 wildfires have only magnified an already existing housing crisis on the Valley Isle. It is our kuleana to provide safe and affordable housing options for those we serve and there’s no greater time than now to build.”

Over 1,300 homes will be developed across six projects islandwide:

• Puʻuhona Homestead, Waikapū
• Villages of Leialiʻi 1B, Lahaina
• Wailuku Single Family Residential, Waikapū
• Waiʻehu Mauka, Wailuku
• Kamalani Homesteads, Kīhei
• Honokōwai Subsistence Agriculture Phase I, Kaʻanapali

Nearly $200 million in Act 279 funds have been committed across the six projects. Act 279, known as the Waitlist Reduction Act, appropriated $600 million in general funds to the department in 2022 to address the needs of beneficiaries on the DHHL waitlist.

More than 3,900 applicants are currently on Maui’s residential waitlist.

Puʻuhona will consist of 137 turnkey and 24 vacant improved lots. This community will span roughly 47 acres. Fifty-two leases were awarded in June with phase one home construction to commence this summer.

The second phase of the Villages of Leialiʻi will include 181 single-family homes and will be located west of the existing Leialiʻi neighborhood in Lahaina.

The Wailuku single-family residential community in Waikapū will consist of 176 single-family homes and 31 vacant owner-builder lots. This project encompasses 77 acres.

A total of 311 single-family homes will be developed across approximately 116 acres as part of the Waiʻehu Mauka project.

Kamalani Homesteads will be built in two phases: 150 single-family homes in phase one and 250 single-family homes in phase two. Phase two is subject to legislature funding. The Kamalani development is about 81 acres and sits at the entrance to Kīhei as a continuation of the existing Kamalani neighborhood.

Phase one of the Honokōwai subsistence agricultural lots will allow for 50 lots. Additional lots may be developed as part of phase two should additional funding become available.

It is DHHL’s commitment to move these six projects forward by issuing homestead leases upfront and starting actual construction in the coming years. To achieve this goal DHHL has implemented a multifaceted strategy: the acquisition of better lands; execution of developer agreements with motivated partners; the creation of housing opportunities through large scale development; leveraging of financing; and turnkey, self-help and rent-with-option-to-purchase homeownership programs.

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“The awarding of these homes to these families today is a fantastic step forward for our state,” said Gov. Josh Green. “Housing is such a critical need for our residents in general, and Native Hawaiian beneficiaries on the waiting list have been acutely aware of that need for a very long time. That these homes are going to beneficiaries on Maui seems especially appropriate, and a great sign of hope that more progress is coming soon.”

The department acquired the roughly 47-acre Waikapū parcel through a land transfer with the Dowling Company, Inc., in exchange for affordable housing credits from the county of Maui.

“The department will persistently seek out lands in areas we can establish secure and resilient communities for those we serve,” said Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Director Kali Watson. “The people of Maui have faced numerous challenges since the wildfires. We hope these homes will inspire and uplift a community recovering from a devastating tragedy.”

Puʻuhona is the name of the first of four puʻu, or hills, that travel up to Hanaʻula, Waikapū’s highest peak. Likely named in reference to the native tree, hona, that was highly valued for the fibers found in its inner bark used to craft rope and cordage for fishnets. The creation and intertwining of these materials represent the unity and growth of a community as individual strands come together to form a stronger bond.

Puʻuhona will be awarded in three separate offerings and will comprise 137 turnkey homes and 24 improved vacant lots. Groundwork on the project began in May 2023 with phase one home construction to commence in the summer of 2024.

Of the 52 homes offered in phase one, three- to five-bedroom homes were made available. Homes range in price from $509,800 to $699,000.

“It has been an honor and privilege to work collaboratively with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands,” said Dowling Company president and developer, Everett Dowling. “We hold DHHL and its beneficiaries in high-esteem and are committed to providing quality homes that will anchor them in a community where they can thrive and build lasting legacies for generations to come.”

To learn more about Puʻuhona visit https://dhhl.hawaii.gov/current-projects/.

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Active burrows discovered on DHHL lands for first time in more than six-decades.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) has completed installation of a cat-proof fence enclosure on Mauna Kea, to safeguard and enhance an existing nesting area for ʻuaʻu, an endangered native seabird. The enclosure was completed and celebrated on a parcel of DHHL land March 22, 2024.

The ceremony, Hoʻi Nā Manu I Kaupakuhale (the birds return to the highest perches of , Mauna Kea), was conducted in partnership with researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

“ʻUaʻu were once an abundant cultural resource of Mauna Kea and an important part of the ecosystem therefore the purpose of our ceremony is to call the ʻuaʻu home where they will be protected,” said Kualiʻi Camara, DHHL ʻĀina Mauna Resource Manager. “Once ʻuaʻu were rediscovered on Mauna Kea we moved quickly and collaboratively to protect this vulnerable population; we’re working to envision and manifest the health and abundance of ʻuaʻu on Mauna Kea once again.”

In May 2021, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo researchers observed ʻuaʻu, or the Hawaiian petrel, flying above Puʻu Kaiwiiwi and actively nesting on DHHL lands. ʻUaʻu have not been recorded in the area since 1954. The university through theCenter for Maunakea Stewardship (CMS) initially contributed $265,000 to fund the survey of Native Hawaiian birds and bats within UH managed lands and adjacent areas on Mauna Kea.

“UH is deeply committed to environmental stewardship and conservation, and this installation not only protects a delicate nesting area, it also showcases the strength of collaborative efforts in caring for our ʻāina,” said Greg Chun, executive director of CMS. “We extend our gratitude to DHHL for this opportunity to work collaboratively to preserve these precious ʻuaʻu, who have returned to this wahi pana.”

Since the discovery of their nesting area efforts have been made to survey for moreʻuaʻu activity and to protect burrowing birds. The primary focus has been on trapping predators, particularly feral cats, to minimize threats to the nesting ʻua’u.

“As stewards of ʻāina we’re dedicated to protecting and revitalizing our lands from mauka to makai,” said Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Director Kali Watson. “Preserving our natural resources not only protects the land but also upholds our cultural traditions and identity as Kanaka for the benefit of generations to come.”

Work on the more than 8, 200-foot fence began in January 2022. The fence surrounds 93-acres of DHHL land situated approximately 9,000 feet above sea level near Puʻu Kahinahina. The fence is six feet tall and includes a three-foot cat-proof extension and a two-foot buried skirt to deter feral cats from accessing the enclosure.

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