ANAHOLA — A historic amount of funding for the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands means more Native Hawaiians getting off the waitlist and into new homesteads on Kaua‘i.
The state House and Senate will vote this week on a bill providing $600 million to the DHHL, which has been systematically underfunded for decades.
One project that will receive funding from the bill is a Hanapepe development offering 75 vacant lots to beneficiaries, the second phase of a large-scale project that already includes 47 homes and could eventually feature over 500 total lots.
“You’ll definitely see the effect of those 600 million. That’s going to speed up the process for sure,” said state Rep. Dee Morikawa, whose district includes the development. “When you’re from the Westside you want to stay on the Westside as much as possible, so this will be huge for Westside residents who qualify.”
Although the final draft of the bill did not include the specific amount of money for Hanapepe, the Senate draft of the legislation specified that $20 million would go to the Hanapepe project.
“That would be going to infrastructure construction,” said DHHL Information and Community Relations Officer Cedric Duarte. “Roads, water, sewage, draining — making sure that there’s property bids and all that.”
The project has already completed its environmental assessment and its engineering design phase. The DHHL is now waiting on permitting and construction funding before breaking ground, Duarte said. Duarte estimated that the project would break ground in 2023.
Additionally, the funding will be used to continue providing mortgage and rental assistance programs, which will affect Kaua‘i residents.
The bill has support from leadership in both chambers, and is expected to pass a full vote Thursday. State Rep. Nadine Nakamura said that she supports the bill.
“DHHL will target projects in every county, including Kaua‘i, and will have the flexibility to develop lots and homes, provide mortgage and rental assistance,” said Nakamura. “We anticipate that 3,000 to 4,000 families will benefit from this historic funding.”
The DHHL was established through the federal 1920 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act in an effort spearheaded by Kaua‘i native Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole.
The act allows the department to provide those with at least 50% Hawaiian blood with 99-year homestead leases at an annual rate of $1, along with a variety of other services for Native Hawaiians.
The organization has been underfunded for years, leading to a massive waitlist for beneficiaries, some of whom have to wait decades before getting their land and many who died while awaiting leases.
A class-action lawsuit, Kalima v. State of Hawai‘i, which accused the DHHL of mismanaging public lands, was settled last week for $328 million.
Under the settlement, which still must be approved by the state Legislature, the state will pay the 2,700 plaintiffs $328 million to drop all claims.
DHHL officials are optimistic that the $600 million will make a dent in the waitlist.
Of the more than 28,000 beneficiaries still on the waitlist, about 4,000 are on Kaua‘i.
The waitlist got 51 names shorter last Saturday, as 51 lots were awarded to beneficiaries in Anahola.
“I got ‘ohana all over Anahola, and it’s nice to get back to the stomping ground,” said Keone Kaneholani, who received a lot this weekend, in a video released by the DHHL.
The lots are offered as-is, and beneficiaries are responsible for constructing their homes on the land.
Kaneholani reported that his family has already met with a lender, looked at house kits, and talked to a contractor about constructing a home on the land.
“I’ve been bouncing back and forth from the Eastside,” he said. “I’m fortunate to be one of the kanakas that get a chance to live on your own ‘aina and just have a house for my keiki. It’s a big relief and a big weight off my shoulder.”
