The Maui News

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has outlined how it plans to use the historic $600 million allocated to it by the state Legislature earlier this year, with most of the funds set to go toward homestead lot development.

Signed into law by then-Gov. David Ige on July 11, Act 279 set aside $600 million toward addressing the needs of Native Hawaiians on the DHHL waiting list. The act required DHHL to submit a strategic plan, including findings, recommendations and any proposed legislation, to the Legislature by Dec. 10.

“We have set forth a plan for what is possible to accomplish given all the information we have on creating new homestead lots and leveraging other resources to work alongside this funding,” Hawaiian Homes Commission Chairperson William J. Aila Jr. said in a news release Tuesday. “The plan is rooted in reality and flexible enough for the next administration to make adjustments as needed and seek innovative solutions to meet the needs of the beneficiary community.”

Aila established a committee on May 16 to work on a final strategic plan. The committee held five meetings, and a strategic approach with comments from the whole Hawaiian Homes Commission was included in a final plan that DHHL presented to the commission at its November regular meeting. 

The strategy is guided by three fundamental policy considerations: 

• The majority of resources should go to homeownership rather than rental activities. 

• Resources provided for homeownership should prioritize new homestead lot development. 

• Prioritization of homestead lot development projects should be based upon timing/position in the DHHL “production pipeline,” priority areas for new homestead development identified in DHHL island plans and waitlist demand on each island by applicants. 

Most of the funding will go toward new homestead lot development; the department expects to develop more than 2,700 homestead lots statewide, including 572 in Maui County, according to the plan. However, roughly 10 percent of the funding will go toward new and innovative programs to help waitlist applicants address barriers to homeownership.

Funds could also go toward the acquisition of new land, new potable water resources and individual assistance programs, including down payment assistance for new lessees, and rental assistance, according to the news release.  

Applicants on the DHHL waiting list will be informed about upcoming lot offerings and available services through U.S. Postal Service mail. Beneficiaries are encouraged to contact DHHL to confirm their correct and most recent mailing addresses are on file.

To view the full plan, visit dhhl.hawaii.gov/act279.