According to their website, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) mission statement is, “To manage the Hawaiian Home Lands trust effectively and to develop and deliver land to Native Hawaiians.” In addition, they promise to “partner with others towards developing self-sufficient and healthy communities.”
For some Native Hawaiians, this mission continued with a step in the right direction on Nov. 21 at Kamehameha School’s Kekuhaupi’o gymnasium. A crowd of over seven hundred gathered that day for an opportunity to be one of 76 recipients of DHHL lots in Kapolei. While only a fraction of those who attended that day were awarded homes, the DHHL already has plans for additional development in the area.
These 76 homes begin the first phase of the department’s newly-planned “Kaupe’a” subdivision in the Kapolei community. Although many of the families who attended the Nov. 21 event walked away disappointed, their dreams of being awarded a home remain a very real possibility.
The Kaupe’a development will be built in three separate phases, with the following two planned for this April and June. The second phase of the project will continue with 128 lots being awarded, and the third phase will include 122 lots. When the project is complete, a total of 326 homes will be granted to Native Hawaiian families, according to the DHHL.
The DHHL currently provides four types of residential arrangements including turnkey homes, improved vacant lots, rural lots, and undivided interest lots. The homes provided in the Kaupe’a subdivision are considered “turnkey” homes, meaning those chosen will receive a house and lot in an area that includes all necessary subdivision improvements such as water, roads, electricity, and sewer systems.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the 53.3-acre project, the largest in the department’s history, was held just about one year ago in Dec. 2004. The immense task of constructing this new Hawaiian community is set to begin in Jan. 2006. If the project continues as planned, the first residents will be able to move into their new homes by Spring 2006. Recipients will have the opportunity to choose between five models. The average lot size is approximately 5,000 square feet.
Another Step for Oahu’s “Second City”
Kapolei has been referred to as Oahu’s “Second City” because of its fast-growing development and population. In fact, studies show that Kapolei has the fastest-growing population in the state. Between 1990 and 2005, there was a 60 percent growth rate, according to a study conducted by Decision Analysts Hawaii and OmniTrak Group. In that same study, they concluded that the population is expected to grow from 84,150 to 173,170 or 106 percent from 2005 to 2025.
The addition of the Kaupe’a subdivision to the already booming area is a model for the kinds of development the DHHL hopes for in the future. In the past, smaller pocket-developments have been established throughout Hawaii, but future developments will focus on larger, master-planned developments for Hawaiian communities.
Some officials predict that the project will not only affect the Kapolei area directly, but also say that it will improve the entire housing market in Hawaii. “This is a much needed project because it directly addresses the affordable housing by taking people out of the affordable rental market and putting them directly into homeownership,” said executive director of Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH), Stephanie Aveiro, in a press release statement.
Giving Back to the Hawaiian Community
The Honolulu Board of Realtors reports the latest median price of a home in the Ewa Plains area has risen to a staggering $512,000. With the price for a home in the Kaupe’a subdivision at $200,000 for two bedrooms and about $266,000 for four bedrooms, these new homes will provide a welcome relief for many frustrated homebuyers. More specifically, it will be a breath of fresh air for many Native Hawaiians who have been waiting to receive housing assistance.
With the price of living in Hawaii on a steady rise, the Kaupe’a project comes at a time when it is much needed in a market that continues to become too expensive for many local residents. “When these properties were transferred, we envisioned it would have a tremendous impact on affordable housing, provide homes for people who normally would not have that opportunity, fulfill our commitment to Native Hawaiians and build communities that would impact the lives for generations to come,” said Gov. Linda Lingle in a statement.
In addition to outlining the benefits for the Native Hawaiian community, the mayor also recognized the magnitude of this project, commending the various organizations that worked to bring this plan to life. Partners include the DHHL, Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the City and County of Honolulu, and the federal government.
“This is a great project because it involved many agencies working together and it was done for the right reason—putting Native Hawaiians on the land,” Lingle stated.
In 1921, the Hawaiian Homes Act granted land for use by Native Hawaiians (those persons who have at least 50 percent Hawaiian ancestry). According to some, the Native Hawaiians have been treated unfairly in prior land distributions. This act was intended to make amends for any wrongdoings.
Today, there are more than 18,000 people on the waiting list for Hawaiian Home Lands. The strategic plan for the DHHL states that by 2008, they would like to “provide every qualified Native Hawaiian beneficiary on the waiting list an opportunity to home ownership or land stewardship on homestead lands.” Additionally, they plan to “deliver homestead awards to the current statewide applicants on the waiting list through the development of various award programs.”
Today, the DHHL owns more than 200,000 acres of land throughout the state, including prime parcels on the four major islands. With these resources in hand, and a vision to promote improved livelihood for the people of Hawaii, the future is looking brighter for Hawaiians everywhere.
