[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6633224,"mediaKeyId","2665869-206236f0d75be6c984192a47a9dadda2","parentId",2665869,"title","Votes at a glance: Commission approves housing plan, water subsidy, permits and property actions; defers Puʻukapu commencement","audioSeconds",8957,"startMs",2211000,"endMs",11168000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665869-206236f0d75be6c984192a47a9dadda2&start=2211&end=11168","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665869-206236f0d75be6c984192a47a9dadda2/thumbnail_2211000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6633224/Hawaii/Votes-at-a-glance-Commission-approves-housing-plan-water-subsidy-permits-and-property-actions-defers-Puʻukapu-commencement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633224-f0b640c92c8c19f95706def5637aba45/orig.mp4?Expires=1771210694&Signature=VI2h1H1eLCnUjPO1KOB0Pu2~CfjUyKiP-~jCnHY-4luxRW~gxH1MNSjnHiE3ppUaAUKY2LE5QplkjvkdCowzTfTK6El-SsbryEDBq-ZgPDtk2IZCHOYMSAFzTrVCjvK0xwHM4-1ddZzVd7c6k9q-YIIm1VlLMOCxOdvE2b8BKnZF9WhR~qRTihozh2aQtBxCAVagwRxuK9K73vnC5y5wsfAEf2uCkHv~p--8KXjMrSw2Y3-n0WwhtTmNmxOPtV~edgsqKX1DjzDvLn3JYeRbcDhVD-2Fx7LtTnPyDHCmU6jVY5oTCJKOd0Uba8mPOKHKH-qQObtQomWN2K0ENM1rXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hawaii - Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), Department of","date","2025-03-18T01:04:00.547Z","article","The Hawaiian Homes Commission took a series of formal votes during its March 17, 2025 meeting in Kamuela. Below is a concise record of the principal motions, outcomes and key details.

Votes at a glance

- C1 — Accept 2025–26 Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant annual plan: Approved (voice vote). Staff to submit the plan to HUD and to provide follow‑up reporting and expanded kupuna outreach. (See related article on the annual plan.)

- G1 — Temporary water bill subsidy for Kailapa homestead lessees: Approved. Commission waived the bimonthly base meter fee for residential lessees and directed staff to stabilize tiers 1–2 usage rates while pursuing cost‑of‑service studies and rule updates. (See related article on Kailapa subsidy.)

- D12 — Approval to amend lease commencement date for Puʻukapu pastoral lots (1990 awards): Deferred. Commission directed DHHL to conduct beneficiary consultations and coordinate with county departments on road maintenance, addressing and firefighting/resilience measures before returning with a plan.

- F1 — Amend Land Management Division FY2025 budget to acquire 787 Eisenberg Street (Oʻahu): Approved. Commission authorized the budget amendment so DHHL may complete acquisition and plan for development/leasing options.

- F2 — Issue revocable permit to Apollo Corporation for Lot 3, Chapter Flats industrial subdivision (Moanalua, Oʻahu): Approved.

- F3 — Issue right‑of‑entry permit to Kula No Na Poʻe Hawaiʻi for Puʻawaina (Papakōlea, Oʻahu) — Kupuna supportive living project: Approved; applicant presented project background and commissioners voted in favor.

- F4 — Issue three revocable permits in Shafter Factory Industrial Subdivision (Oʻahu) to CenterScale Automation, HBR Builders Corp., and Marihi LLC dba Hawaii State Construction: Approved; staff noted they are subleases under an existing lessee and recommended retention under current rent terms.

- G2 — Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for North Kona Wells Project (Kiaunalua/Wai‘a property, North Kona, Island of Hawaiʻi): Approved. Staff will proceed with property acquisition (scheduled to close in June) and next steps for test well and design work.

- H1 — Transfer of Hawaiian Home Receipts Fund balance to Hawaiian Home General Loan Fund (routine quarterly transfer): Approved.

Context and procedural notes: Several of the votes were unanimous voice votes; commissioners present earlier in the meeting established a quorum of six. The Puʻukapu item generated extended public testimony and substantive discussion; commissioners deferred the item to allow a structured beneficiary consultation and for staff to provide a concrete plan addressing short‑term safety fixes and funding options.

Where to get more information: Staff indicated they will circulate minutes, revised submittals (where applicable) and implementation timelines. DHHL also scheduled a community meeting this evening at the Kailapa Community Association Center (61‑4016 Kaiʻōpai Place) to discuss Kailapa water matters.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hawaiian Homes Commission Regular Meeting - March 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 17 meeting in Kamuela, the Hawaiian Homes Commission approved the 2025–26 NAHASDA plan, a temporary water subsidy for Kailapa lessees, several land management dispositions and a North Kona wells FONSI; it deferred action on Puʻukapu lease commencement.","taxTitle","Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), Department of, Executive , Hawaii","taxId",26070,"location","Hawaii","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6633227,"Commission accepts 2025–26 Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant annual plan amid calls for more homeowner funding and safety investments",5666,6095000,11761000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665869-206236f0d75be6c984192a47a9dadda2&start=6095&end=11761","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665869-206236f0d75be6c984192a47a9dadda2/thumbnail_6095000.jpg","/articles/6633227/Hawaii/Commission-accepts-202526-Native-Hawaiian-Housing-Block-Grant-annual-plan-amid-calls-for-more-homeowner-funding-and-safety-investments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633227-30a591bd02b4b89e28fbc5800fa79416/orig.mp4?Expires=1771210694&Signature=T93kEqY4aZRAHlofjM-QrzzA-gTyIDrDr9VGVuf-teR8y-vGQjoI0zrEO~X6ob5rZyN5PiC4ViXiYPCufYuQFeSnyFBZtqkikAGwPCQhvFTHA7omoL-fDmoyUiCq-sXt8jWgkFTNwwtw4UWJz3QpvVT1~ym5TrOS8vu55m0bQkP5L42PYZqjVIZX1AmVxyMUMknratMmdYEm21WxiZb7kNYthRSvHXfi9Lo1nSdcJXxBxkID7sZnzjb-Nkt5lcOv1BBZCEu69rvCZUgMaMkPH8w2sC6dLzlvIRMnL6WU5Qw8QKfwkWjv5xlpIveBfYIC-jN8iJuNuk2JuVDNgvmuxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hawaiian Homes Commission accepted on Monday the department’s 2025–26 Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NAHASDA) annual housing plan, which outlines proposed allocations for homeowner financing, developer‑leveraged projects, home‑repair programs and special initiatives for kupuna and COVID response.

The plan covers the federally funded NAHASDA program for the period July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 and sets priorities for leveraging federal dollars to produce new housing and preserve existing homesteads. \"Before you today is item C‑1. The recommended motion is that the Hawaiian Homes Commission accept the 2025–2026 Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant annual housing plan,\" Leihuakini Laukanu Nahas, DHHL government relations program manager, told the commission.

Public commenters and homestead leaders urged several changes and increased transparency: many asked that a larger share of NAHASDA funds be reserved for homeowner financing and down‑payment assistance rather than developer financing; others pressed DHHL to expand the Kupuna Home Assistance Program and to provide more in‑person support to help kupuna upload documents and apply. Several Oʻahu testifiers pressed DHHL to allocate additional NAHASDA funds for neighborhood safety, citing ghost‑gun incidents and armed robberies in several homestead communities.

Staff response: DHHL said the plan proposals aim to leverage federal funds with tax credit financing and developer capital to produce more units and that some projects now in the pipeline (for example, LIHTC awards approved in 2023–24) already leverage NAHASDA to produce additional housing. DHHL staff also said that a portion of program income and prior allocations will continue to support homeowner assistance and emergency housing conversions for beneficiaries who are homeless or substandard units in existing homesteads.

Vote and next steps: The commission voted to accept the plan; several commissioners asked DHHL staff to prepare an annual performance report that clarifies how funds were spent relative to the plan and to provide clearer outreach to kupuna about eligibility and application steps. DHHL said it will incorporate community feedback into program outreach and will finalize the plan for submission to HUD.

Representative testimony excerpts: \"We would like to see a reallocation from the developer financing of $7,500,000 to go to homeowner financing,\" Kainoa McDonald, a community group representative, said in a prepared presentation. \"Our kupunas are electronically challenged with limited access to computers; Naha‑SDA should consider offering classes to Kupuna and their families that include successors,\" testified Velma Mariano, a homestead leader.

The motion to accept the plan passed by voice vote; commissioners said they expect staff to return with an annual performance report and additional outreach efforts to strengthen homeowner access to NAHASDA programs.","Commission accepted DHHL’s Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NAHASDA) annual housing plan for FY2025–26. Beneficiaries urged shifting more funds to homeowner financing, outreach for kupuna, and allocations for crime prevention and local repairs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6633232,"Commission defers lease commencement decision for Puʻukapu (Pūʻukapu) pastoral lots after residents demand more consultation",3627,2352000,5979000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665869-206236f0d75be6c984192a47a9dadda2&start=2352&end=5979","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665869-206236f0d75be6c984192a47a9dadda2/thumbnail_2352000.jpg","/articles/6633232/Hawaii/Commission-defers-lease-commencement-decision-for-Puʻukapu-Pūʻukapu-pastoral-lots-after-residents-demand-more-consultation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633232-ab5f71a93a7dc259f1f8d380357dd5f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771210694&Signature=hEJqmR0zCo37zoEjpABjLAbKrjouIZ9ltBGQcYeFyKnVs0kg0Vws9elQUqQMcsGyEtWmhOODQs~Ja~pYXmk3u2IdCW5ojoRarTDg1kJ-g2MvZ3JmR~9Xpx9-g-gafy7~QzruFz-1ICtjizZK9v05UiSvhqjugHJCZOrtyhyMGJ0iZqvRVXKqahcqwONQ1crwNilcR0PvT0fjUxK24P9QUV5qfa8m6xjwiZEtEKuoQRcOOwNIYzT42ds2pbYgR37~nCQSafr-E74V1VVF6hJtPFjcmB2xZsqIf9C4nMJ3FvYu1MDlvPjpP9LPGU3P63DQmIv03z0TZHbI33Dqb82XeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hawaiian Homes Commission on Monday deferred action on an item that would have amended lease commencement dates for pastoral lots awarded in 1990 at Puʻukapu (also spelled Pulukapu/Pu'u Kapu), saying beneficiaries and district staff need more time to work through questions about roads, addresses, tax impacts and insurance.

The submittal proposed a June 1, 2025 lease commencement date for 186 pastoral lots. Staff said setting a commencement date would allow lessees to receive a seven‑year real property tax exemption and for DHHL to provide the county with lessee and address information, which would help lessees obtain permits, insurance and financing. \"This submittal is proposing a 06/01/2025 commencement date,\" West Hawaii staff explained during the presentation.

Why residents objected: Dozens of Puʻukapu residents and nonprofit representatives testified in opposition, saying DHHL and its district office had not consulted the community adequately about road improvements, emergency access, insurance for preexisting structures and who would pay county property taxes once commencement occurred. The homestead associations argued that DHHL had not followed through on earlier commitments to confer with beneficiaries after a May 2024 commission directive.

Concerns raised publicly included:
- Road safety and durability for emergency responders and heavy trucks: residents said some roads are narrow, eroded and unable to sustain large construction or water‑delivery vehicles without significant work. County and DHHL staff acknowledged the roads would not meet a county standard for dedication without upgrades.
- Physical addresses and emergency response: local first responders told DHHL they could respond more effectively if DHHL worked with county planning to assign physical addresses to lots.
- Insurance, permits and existing structures: lessees with preexisting structures said uncertainty about the commencement date and county recognition of lots is delaying final permits and county final inspections; beneficiaries asked whether existing structures would be grandfathered and whether they could obtain insurance and financing.
- Funding for road and water upgrades: staff said a county‑standard potable water system could cost tens of millions; the exact figure was not available and was described as “large.”

Public testimony was robust: Hui Hoʻolōpukapu (a nonprofit homestead association formed after the 2021 Mana Road wildfires) submitted a formal written letter and presented a timeline of contacts that, they said, showed long gaps in communication by DHHL between May 2024 and February 2025. Residents told the commission that meetings announced with short notice made meaningful community input difficult.

Commission response and next steps: Commissioners said they wanted a plan that would address both short‑term practical steps and the larger questions beneficiaries raised. The commission directed DHHL to arrange beneficiary consultation with Puʻukapu lessees, coordinate with county departments (planning, public works, police and fire) on road maintenance and addressing access and addressing, and identify short‑term measures (for example, assigning physical addresses, evaluating existing water tanks and pump adapters for firefighting use) that could be implemented without final commencement action.

Outcome: The commission deferred the item and agreed to hold beneficiary consultation sessions and return with a concrete plan. \"Can we request that you have beneficiary consultation?\" a commissioner asked. \"Yes. We'll do that,\" staff replied. The motion to defer was agreed to by the commissioners.","The commission postponed action on amending lease commencement dates for 1990 pastoral awards in Puʻukapu (Pūʻukapu), citing widespread beneficiary concern about road access, emergency response and unclear impacts on existing structures and taxes.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6633238,"Hawaiian Homes Commission approves temporary water-bill subsidy for Kailapa lessees",2515,9773000,12288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665869-206236f0d75be6c984192a47a9dadda2&start=9773&end=12288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665869-206236f0d75be6c984192a47a9dadda2/thumbnail_9773000.jpg","/articles/6633238/Hawaii/Hawaiian-Homes-Commission-approves-temporary-water-bill-subsidy-for-Kailapa-lessees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633238-e559e72214cc6d655173d823e5a23b5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771210694&Signature=dna8GD~-~tegrSq8-31qA9gdXmecf1tOfIa2S2N0sX7RtTLL1aOwDYqgDy4xq~Xe~JuEmpaQaEZuTD5XbY7-UuqpmB~ueJUwqG7JdPR1LenBOy3A0XVeJ1acB4ImTJlKCkHiB0CH9cnZEEXzCS89gqXqZDhsRbiE7SoydZ7kojvVNVzQXQF9E0Gw06z2vlsTNZGlro6pByrxzyZKXySUe~ZWlnPJXgKEJvRrWoowQeEPki~FYsMjgTSJH0RfF3v1RIo-A3iHDAFA-7zgqMAIN3897HDiTBmSctiYcKb8P3DwZiseEI-WJLOJCiTzXHQVlpFxgpYZGAAd244QJkMuQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hawaiian Homes Commission voted Monday to approve a temporary water-bill subsidy for homestead lessees served by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) Kauaihai/Kailapa water system, saying the measure will ease immediate household costs while staff develop longer-term fixes.

The commission’s action waives the bimonthly base meter fee for Kailapa residential customers and provides rate stabilization for the first two usage tiers for lessees; the subsidy does not apply to the Kailapa Community Association’s flat usage tier. \"The recommended motion action for item G‑1 is that the Hawaiian Homes Commission approve the temporary water bill subsidy for Kailapa Homestead lessees on the DHHL Kauaihai water system,\" Planning Program Manager Andrew Choi told commissioners at the meeting. The motion passed with the commission adopting the staff proposal.

Why it matters: Kailapa lessees have raised repeated concerns that recent DHHL rate increases and the system’s high per‑thousand‑gallon charges make bills unaffordable. Commission and staff presentations showed DHHL buys treated groundwater from Kohala Ranch Water System and that wholesale purchase and energy costs are the largest drivers of the system’s bills. The temporary subsidy aims to blunt the financial impact of scheduled FY2026 and FY2027 rate increases while DHHL completes a statewide review of its water administrative rules and pursues alternate water sources and midterm infrastructure work.

What commissioners and staff said: Louie Makaiwa, DHHL district staff who detailed system costs, told the commission that the department’s FY2023 total operating cost for the Kailapa system was about $245,000 a year, including roughly $175,000 paid to the Kohala Ranch water source. Staff estimated the department would forgo roughly $69,000 in billed revenue in FY2026 and about $206,000 in FY2027 if the full subsidy were applied; staff also said the actual additional out‑of‑pocket cost to DHHL would be roughly $30,000–$40,000 per year given existing operating expenditures and expected payments.

Beneficiaries urged action. Testifiers from the Kailapa community urged approval. \"As a single parent, my water bill is the same cost as my car payment,\" Kailapa resident and Kailapa Community Association board president Shauna Kalukui said. \"We're really dependent on this right now as financial relief.\" Several residents described months when bimonthly bills exceeded several hundred dollars.

Longer‑term steps: DHHL officials said the subsidy is explicitly temporary. Staff will continue pursuing midterm and long‑term measures that include (1) an expedited update to DHHL’s administrative rules and a cost‑of‑service water rate study, (2) discussions with the County Department of Water Supply about interconnections and equipment upgrades, and (3) exploration of alternate water sources — including agricultural/non‑potable options and new wells — that could reduce reliance on purchased water.

Final tally and next steps: The commission approved the motion during its regular session; the motion was moved and seconded and the chair called for the vote. \"All those in favor, say aye.\" \"Aye.\" \"Those opposed? Motion carried,\" the chair said. Staff said they will return to the commission with implementation details and timing and will pursue beneficiary consultation as part of the rule‑making and rate‑study work.

The commission scheduled a community meeting this evening at the Kailapa Community Association Center to continue discussion and share additional implementation details.","The Hawaiian Homes Commission voted to waive the bimonthly base meter fee and stabilize tiered usage rates for Kailapa (Kauai) homestead lessees while DHHL pursues longer-term water-rate and source solutions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Commission approves housing plan, water subsidy, permits and property actions; defers Puʻukapu commencement

Commission accepts 2025–26 Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant annual plan amid calls for more homeowner funding and safety investments

Commission defers lease commencement decision for Puʻukapu (Pūʻukapu) pastoral lots after residents demand more consultation

Hawaiian Homes Commission approves temporary water-bill subsidy for Kailapa lessees