Anahola family seeks succession rights amid lease dispute after Frank Cummings' passing

In a poignant gathering at the Hawaiian Homes Commission meeting on May 20, 2025, community members voiced their concerns over pressing issues surrounding land succession and tenant rights. The atmosphere was charged with emotion as individuals shared personal stories that underscored the deep connections to their ancestral lands.

Dominique Scanga, a tenant at White Poli, opened the discussion with a heartfelt plea for clarity and support. He expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the Inner West group, which had been tasked with managing housing transitions. "We work hard on the island, and we need a place to stay," Scanga stated, emphasizing the anxiety caused by uncertainty about their housing situation. His words resonated with many in the room, highlighting the community's struggle to maintain stability amid ongoing changes.

The meeting also featured Jesse and Roslyn Cummings, who spoke about their family's efforts to secure succession rights to a homestead property in Anohola following the death of Jesse's father, Frank Cummings. Roslyn shared the emotional toll of navigating the legal complexities after her father-in-law's passing, revealing that Jesse learned of his father's death through relatives rather than direct communication. "We just want to make sure that everything is happening legally," she implored, as she detailed their attempts to engage with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) for guidance on the succession process.

Jesse Cummings presented a timeline of their efforts to claim their rights, detailing multiple attempts to communicate with DHHL and the lack of responses to their inquiries. "We never came here seeking answers; we came because remedial action needed to take place," he asserted, underscoring the urgency of their situation. The couple's commitment to their family's legacy and their desire to uphold traditional practices were palpable, as they expressed a deep connection to the land that had been in their family for generations.

As the meeting progressed, the commissioners listened intently, acknowledging the emotional weight of the testimonies shared. The discussions highlighted not only the bureaucratic challenges faced by families seeking to secure their homesteads but also the broader implications for community cohesion and cultural preservation in Hawaii.

The meeting concluded with a call for transparency and accountability from the DHHL, as families like the Cummings sought assurance that their rights would be honored and that their voices would be heard in the ongoing dialogue about land management and succession. The stories shared that day served as a reminder of the enduring ties between people and their land, and the importance of safeguarding those connections for future generations.