Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Director Kali Watson has signed the program’s first in-house building permit for the Yorktown transitional housing project on September 30, 2024. This marks a significant step for DHHL, aimed at accelerating housing construction and reducing waitlists.
“Monday’s permit signing not only accelerates our ability to construct houses but significantly changes the pace at which we can get our beneficiaries off our waitlists and into homes,” said Watson. “This is an exciting time for the program, and we remain committed to finding innovative solutions to move the department forward.”
The new approach is designed to streamline the building permit process, allowing DHHL to advance more than 20 homestead projects across Hawaii. Timothy Hiu, a DHHL program specialist, explained that this pilot will mirror county processes while enabling DHHL to handle permits independently. “By granting the department with the ability to process these permits independently, we relieve the counties of this burden, fast-tracking DHHL’s ability to expedite services to its beneficiaries,” Hiu said.
The Yorktown project is situated on DHHL landholdings in Kalaeloa and includes 18 studio units along with shared amenities like a laundry room and office space. The initiative aims to provide safe and affordable housing for houseless individuals on DHHL’s residential waitlist who meet specific income requirements under NAHASDA.
“This is a way in which we can help our beneficiaries, mainstream them, and get them into better living situations through the utilization of funds from the federal government,” stated Cynthia Rezentes, assistant manager of DHHL’s NAHASDA Government Relations Program.
Previously used as quarters for visiting U.S. Navy officers, the property had been largely unoccupied for many years before its conversion began. Renovations are expected to be completed within six months, followed by additional improvements including parking lot upgrades and photovoltaic system installation over three months. The total project cost is approximately $6.3 million with move-ins projected for late-2025.
Click here to download visuals and soundbites:
B-roll (1:21)
Soundbites:
Kali Watson (32 seconds): “Weʻre rehabing some assets that weʻve gotten in Kalaeloa…”
(20 seconds): “This is one means by allowing people…”
Cynthia Rezentes (37 seconds): “In looking at the Point In Time count…”
Timothy Hiu (27 seconds): “The permits that were signed today…”
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