HONOLULU (HI Now) - The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is carrying out Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole’s vision of rehabilitating native Hawaiians by returning them to the land. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1921 through the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, DHHL manages more than 200,000 acres of land statewide with the specific purpose of developing and delivering homesteading opportunities to native Hawaiian beneficiaries.
In 2025, the department awarded more than 2,500 leases — the most in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act’s 105-year history. The introduction of project leases has been a key driver of that milestone, allowing DHHL to award more leases faster while ensuring no one on its waitlists is bypassed.
Momentum on the Big Island has been especially strong. In November 2024, the department awarded nearly 70 agricultural lots in East Hawaiʻi on the Hilo side, followed by nearly 400 leases in West Hawaiʻi on the Kona side in April 2025. That momentum carries into 2026, with more than 50 beneficiaries recently awarded agricultural lots in Honomū. Later this year, DHHL plans to award 400 project leases for a subdivision in Panaʻewa, with additional lots planned for Honokāʻa, Kaumāna and Palamanui.
DHHL representatives will be present at this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival to answer questions and share information about upcoming awards and applications.
Visit dhhl.hawaii.gov for more information!
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