More than 1,200 beneficiaries and their families gathered at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in ʻEwa Beach as the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) announced the recipients of 665 project leases in West Oʻahu. This marks the first such awards in over two decades. These leases are significant for many who have awaited this opportunity for decades, with some waiting since before statehood.
Governor Josh Green, M.D. emphasized the impact of this allocation by stating, “This is more than just awarding land; it’s about delivering on the promise of Prince Kūhiō and ensuring Native Hawaiian families have a permanent place to call home,” Adding that housing plays a critical role in healthcare: "When people have stable, secure housing, their overall well-being improves."
The projects, consisting of 605 leases in Kaʻuluokahaʻi and 60 in Kaupeʻa, are part of DHHL’s strategy to address its extensive waitlist and provide homesteading opportunities. DHHL Director Kali Watson said, “These lease awards represent hope and progress,” adding the importance of building homes and fostering communities to create a legacy for future generations of Native Hawaiians.
West Oʻahu project lease awardee Roberta Akana shared her excitement: "All my years living I’ve never experienced something like this, and I think this is the best.”
Representative Darius Kila also noted the importance of the awards: “When we house Hawaiians, we house Hawaiʻi." Kila’s grandmother, on the waitlist since 1988, received a lease during the event.
The initiative has been supported by Act 279, a $600 million fund allocated by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 2022 for necessary infrastructure development.
The awards ceremony held on March 22, 2025, is the first of three major lease distributions scheduled for this year. DHHL plans to issue an additional 400 leases in West Hawaiʻi in April and nearly a thousand on Maui in the fall, aiming to distribute over 6,000 project leases across the state over the next two years.
Eighty-year-old Lani Sanborn Ahuna, on the Oʻahu waitlist for 22 years, expressed his overwhelming emotions: “I cried. Uē, uē,” adding his desire to connect with the land: “I want to put my feet on the ʻāina no matter how old I am.”
Watson called for the awarding of an extra 125 alternate leases to clear the West Oʻahu project lease waitlist. He praised the initiative: “A house is more than four walls — it’s the foundation for health, education, and economic stability. Mahalo to Governor Green, our lawmakers, and our partners for making today possible.”
Representative Diamond Garcia commemorated Prince Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Day, mentioning the transformative effect of project lease awards: “We honor [Prince Kūhiō] by doing the work.”
The project leases offer a pathway to homeownership, providing options such as turnkey homes, owner-builder lots, and rent-to-own opportunities. Developers Gentry Homes and Mark Development, Inc. are working with DHHL to ensure affordable, quality housing is accessible to beneficiaries.
For more details about DHHL’s lease awards and upcoming projects, visit dhhl.hawaii.gov.