NEWS RELEASE: DHHL Applicants, Lessees Encouraged To Participate In Home Build Program

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

 

DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS

KA ʻOIHANA ʻĀINA HOʻOPULAPULA HAWAIʻI

 

JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

 

KALI WATSON

DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

 

KATIE L. LAMBERT

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE

 

DHHL APPLICANTS, LESSEES ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN HOME BUILD PROGRAM

Honolulu Habitat For Humanity Accepting Applications For New Builds, Demolitions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 13, 2025

HONOLULU – The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) encourages applicants and lessees to participate in Honolulu Habitat for Humanity’s Home Build Program during the organization’s open enrollment period.

“For our ʻohana who aren’t eligible for a turnkey development, this self-help option gives them the chance to invest sweat equity into their future home,” DHHL Director Kali Watson said. “Organizations like Habitat for Humanity will continue to receive support from DHHL, as they provide families – who may have been previously bypassed – the opportunity to achieve homeownership.”

Through the Home Build Program, lessees on Oʻahu will work alongside Honolulu Habitat personnel to achieve stability and self-reliance through homeownership. Habitat homebuyers contribute to the program by building their homes alongside volunteers, attending financial education classes, and paying an affordable mortgage.

“Honolulu Habitat provides housing solutions for families earning between 30% and 80% of Honolulu County’s Area Median Income (AMI),” said Shana Petelo of Honolulu Habitat for Humanity. “We value our longstanding partnership with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the opportunity to help keep Native Hawaiian families in Hawaiʻi for generations to come.”

Honolulu Habitat for Humanity selects applicants based on four key criteria: access to land, housing need, ability to repay, and willingness to partner.

“The journey taught us a lot about ourselves, what we needed to do to accomplish this goal, our capabilities, and how to be financially stable,” said DHHL beneficiary, Duke Lenchanko-Andrade.

The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) also serves as a vital funding source for the home-building initiatives within the program.

The Honolulu Habitat Home Build Program will accept applications for its open enrollment period from March 1, 2025 to May 30, 2025.

Those interested in the Home Build Program can visit Honolulu Habitat for Humanity’s website at www.honoluluhabitat.org for more information. To request an application or to speak to someone by phone, contact 808-777-4138.

For additional pictures, click here.

###

About the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands:

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands carries out Prince Jonah Kūhiō  Kalanianaʻole’s vision of rehabilitating native Hawaiians by returning them to the land. Established by U.S. Congress in 1921 with the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the Hawaiian homesteading program run by DHHL includes the management of more than 200,000 acres of land statewide with the specific purpose of developing and delivering homesteading.

About Habitat for Humanity:

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities nationwide and in more than 70 countries worldwide. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Our vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. At Habitat, we work to achieve this by building strength, stability, and self-reliance in partnership with people and families in need of a decent and affordable home.

Media Contact:

Diamond Badajos

Information and Community Relations Officer

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Cell: 808-342-0873

Email: [email protected]