Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

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The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) was created by the Hawaii State Legislature in 1960 for the purposes of administering the Hawaiian home lands program and managing the Hawaiian home lands trust. Currently, DHHL is one of 18 principal agencies of the Executive Branch of the State of Hawaii.

The mission statement of DHHL is:

“To manage the Hawaiian Home Lands trust effectively and to develop and deliver land to native Hawaiians. We will partner with others towards developing self-sufficient and healthy communities.”

The Hawaiian Home Lands program and the Hawaiian Home Lands trust was created out of legislation pushed through Congress by Prince Kuhio in 1921 and was turned over to the State of Hawaii in 1959. Its mission is to place eligible Hawaiians on 203,500 acres of land. These acres of Hawaii's public lands were dedicated to a homesteading program for native Hawaiians via the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920. The source of these lands was the 1.8 million acres of crown and government lands ceded to the United States when Hawaii was annexed as a territory in 1898.

Over the years, Hawaiian Home Lands have been used by the State and Federal governments illegitimately. In the early 1980's there was a recognition by the state government that restitution was in order. In 1984, 27 gubernatorial orders and proclamations that had transferred land out of the Hawaiian Home Lands trust for state and county uses were cancelled. 28,000 acres were returned to the trust with this action. In 1992 the state legislature paid the trust $12 million for the uncompensated state use of some trust lands. With the passage of Hawai‘i State Act 14 in 1995, $600 million was to be paid to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in $30 million annual installments for 20 years and rights the accounting between the state and the trust for the 1959 to 1988 period.

The 1995 Hawaiian Home Lands Recovery Act authored by Sen. Daniel Akaka and signed into law by President Clinton resolves all claims involving federal misuse of Lualualei lands on Oahu by the US Navy by a negotiated settlement with the DHHL for $80 million in surplus federal land. The federal government according to the Recovery Act would continue to retain the Lualualei land it was already using and conveying land of equal value, 950 acres, to the department in replacement. Federal properties at Manana Housing (20 acres), Omega Haiku (167 acres), Upolu Point (38 acres) and at Barbers Point (586 acres) have been transferred. Other properties transferred or in the process of being transferred are the Lawai Laundry (3 acres), Ewa Drum (56 acres), Waipahu FCC Monitoring Site (47 acres), BPNAS Raceway Expansion (16 acres) and Lualualei Buffer (27 acres).

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, making good use of its new source of revenue, has agreed to pay the state $2.2 million annually over 15 years to acquire four properties totaling 1,800 acres of livable property on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island from the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii. Three of the properties have long been slated for state affordable-housing developments, but the projects were stalled by legal issues and lack of funds. Those properties include portions of the Villages of Laiopua in Kona (2,700 homes), the Villages of Leialii near Lahaina (304 homes) and Village 8 in Kapolei (326 homes). In addition, DHHL will take over management of existing residential and agricultural leases on 750 acres in Waiahole Valley on Oahu.

Kaupe`a (Village 8)

In December 2004, DHHL "broke ground today on the largest development in department history—a 326 lot, 53.3 acre project named Kaupe`a, also recognized as Village 8 of the Villages of Kapolei." [1] In November 2005, 76 people were awarded a Hawaiian Homes house lot in the Kaupe'a subdivision in Kapolei. Kaupe'a is a "turnkey" project, meaning a contractor will build houses on the lots. Lessees get a choice of five models. [2]

In July 2006, DHHL awarded 250 lots in Phase 2 and Phase 3 of in their Kaupe'a project in Kapolei. To qualify, applicants must have at least 50 percent Hawaiian blood and be pre-approved to afford one of the five Kaupe'a models, which range between $238,600 and $296,100 in lots averaging 5,000 square feet. The lease rent for the land under their homes is $1 per year. [3]

The first phase of the Kaupe'a project is expected to be completed by the end of 2006, while Phase 2 and Phase 3 should be done in the first and second quarters of 2007, according to the department. [4]

East Kapolei I

In August 2006, ground was broken "on the largest residential development in the department’s history – the 403-unit East Kapolei I project." [5]

"East Kapolei I is a 97-acre parcel with lot size expected to average 5,000 square feet. On-site improvements, including construction of roadways, drainage, sewer, water and electrical systems are estimated to cost $31.7 million. Offsite improvements including the Kapolei Parkway extension, a 4.0 million gallon water reservoir, water transmission, water mains and sewer trunk lines are estimated to cost another $20 million for the development." [6]

Lalamilo Residential Lots

In December 2004, DHHL announced, that "construction had begun for Phase One of the Lalamilo Residential Lots on the Big Island, the beginning of more than 400 homes in Waimea for people of at least 50-percent Hawaiian descent. The initial phase will include 30 single-family, developer-built homes and six self-help built homes."

The Waimea housing area near Lalamilo has turnkey, single-family homes, with lot sizes averaging more than 10,000 square feet. [7]

Homes cost between $87,500 for a three-bedroom, two-bath "self-help" model and $167,000 for a four-bedroom, two-bath developer-built home. [8]

Waiehu Kou 3, Maui

"The Waiehu Kou 3 subdivision will encompass a total of 115 affordable two-, three- and four-bedroom homes. Of these, 79 will be developer-built and 36 are set for owner-builder construction. The average size of each lot is 8,000 square feet with homes ranging in cost from $99,850 to $169,850." [9]

In January 2005, the first of 115 affordable homes was turned over to its new owners at Waiehu Kou 3 subdivision on Maui. [10]

Waiehu Kou 4, Maui

In August 2006, a groundbreaking ceremony for Maui’s fourth Waiehu Kou subdivision was held.

"The Waiehu Kou 4 subdivision encompasses a total of 98 affordable homes. Of these, 86 are developer-built and 12 are set for self-help construction with assistance from Maui Habitat for Humanity. The developer-built units are comprised of four different designs with expansion options that increase model choice to eight. Lot selection is scheduled for October 28 and there are currently 300 pre-qualified applicants. Dowling Company has partnered with Home Street Bank to assist Waiehu Kou 4 families in applying for and attaining home loans." [11]

On October 28, 2006, "The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and Dowling Company held a lot selection meeting today and awarded 86 homestead lots as a part of the fourth Waiehu Kou subdivision on the island of Maui." [12]

Villages of Leiali`i. Maui

"located in Lahaina, (Villages of Leiali`i) will be DHHL’s first ever development in west Maui and will consist of 104 turnkey units. [...] Phase 1 of Leiali`i will offer two-, three- and four bedrooms homes in six models for applicants to choose from. The average lot size is 7,500 square feet in costs ranging from $127,000 to $242,000. Construction will begin in November (2005), with families slated to move in starting in June 2006 and project completion targeted for March 2007.

On April 13, 2007, "The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and Maui developer Dowling Co. dedicated the first Hawaiian Homes project in West Maui today at the Villages of Leiali‘i in Lahaina, a 104-unit single-family affordable housing development." [13]

Waiohuli residential subdivision and 66-farm-lot subdivision in Keokea

In August 2006, "DHHL broke ground simultaneously today on the largest Hawaiian Homes residential project in Maui’s history, as well as a 66-farm-lot subdivision.." [14]

"The 320-unit Waiohuli residential subdivision in the upcountry area is a result of DHHL repositioning a waterline and road for the 66-farm-lot subdivision in Keokea. The repositioning allowed the department to effectively open lands for the Waiohuli subdivision. The first phase of 98 homes is expected to be built in late 2007." [15]

"The 320 leases were awarded in June 2005 in an emotional ceremony that saw some native Hawaiians who have been on the waiting list for more than 25 years finally receive an award." [16]

Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai, Kaua'i

The Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai subdivision is approximately 71 acres. Although the subdivision has 181 lots with a minimum size of 10,000 square feet, 21 lots are part of previously undeveloped awards including the 1985-86 Acceleration of Awards program. The infrastructure improvements for the 80 lots (68 new awards) in Phase 1 is scheduled to begin in the Third Quarter 2006. The 55 lots (51 new awards) in Phase 2 is slated for the First Quarter 2007. The 46 lots (41 new awards) in Phase 3 have a First Quarter 2008 start date. [17]

In August 2006, DHHL "broke ground today on the 181-unit Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai residential project in Anahola, Kaua‘i. The project will be developed in three phases over the next five years under the department’s new Undivided Interest Awards program. The leases were awarded in April 2006 when hundreds of people attended the awards meeting at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Lihu‘e. [18]

Kekaha, Kaua'i

In October 2005, DHHL awarded 49 homestead leases at Kekaha, Kauai. Most of the awardees are from the island of Niihau. The 49-lot subdivision is being developed on 20 acres of Hawaiian home lands. Site contractor for the infrastructure improvements is the Goodfellow Bros., Inc. Menehune Development Co. will coordinate the construction of 29 turnkey units and the Self-Help Housing Corporation of Hawaii will be providing technical assistance for the 20 self-help units.[19]

DHHL waiting list

The number of leases that have been awarded in the DHHL's entire history totals only 7,200. The waiting list of homestead applicants is 20,000, including 12,000 residential applicants. About half of the total of applicants on the homestead waiting list are from Oahu.

In 2000, federal legislation authorized $200 million in federal funds for DHHL over five years for housing programs for Hawaiians most in need. In June 2004, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued new rules allowing lessees who are at least 25 percent Hawaiian to qualify for Federal Housing Administration insured mortgages. Lessees previously had to prove at least 50 percent Hawaiian ancestry to obtain FHA insured mortgages.

Hawaiian Homes Commission

DHHL is governed by a nine-member Hawaiian Homes Commission headed by the Chairman, who also serves as the executive officer of DHHL. The Governor of the State of Hawaii appoints each commissioner and Chairman to a four-year term.

Hawaiian Homes Commission members:

Micah Kane, Chairman
Stuart Hanchett, Kauai
Colin Kaalele, Oahu
Trish Morikawa, Oahu
Quentin Kawananakoa, Oahu
Milton Pa, Molokai
Mahina Martin, Maui
Billie Baclig, East Hawaii
Malia Kamaka, West Hawaii

External Links

Department ofHawaiian Home Lands (State of Hawaii)
The Hawaiian Home Lands by Stacey Dinstell Range, October 2000.
REPORT ON THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NATIVE HAWAIIANS US Department of Interior and Department of Justice, OCTOBER 23, 2000.
Awakening the Giant -- After decades of stagnation, DHHL is transforming itself into a major player Hawaii Business, November 2004.
White, John Michael. Combined effort needed to honor a forgotten promise to Hawaiians Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 12, 2006.
Conrow, Joan. Hawaiian Homeland Improvement -- Micah Kane presides over the biggest housing push in Hawaiian Homes history Honolulu Weekly, August 30, 2006.
Park, Gene. Home Lands agency to celebrate in Kapolei -- Kuhio Day will see the dedication of the state department's new headquarters Honolulu Star-Bulletin", March 23, 2008.

This page was last modified 09:50, 22 April 2008 by dKosopedia user Jbet777. Based on work by dKosopedia user(s) Allamakee Democrat. Content is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Contents

Kaupe`a (Village 8)

East Kapolei I

Lalamilo Residential Lots

Waiehu Kou 3, Maui

Waiehu Kou 4, Maui

Villages of Leiali`i. Maui

Waiohuli residential subdivision and 66-farm-lot subdivision in Keokea

Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai, Kaua'i

Kekaha, Kaua'i

DHHL waiting list

Hawaiian Homes Commission

External Links

Kahawaiolaa suit

Homelands cable project

Audit

Land Transfers

Federal funds

Oahu

Maui

Molokai

Big Island