DHHL says Act 279 money is moving projects: Puʻuhona keys turned over, hundreds of project leases coming by year‑end

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands officials told the commission on Oct. 20 that Act 279 infrastructure funding has begun to produce tangible results for beneficiaries on Maui, while cautioning that vertical housing delivery depends on financing, county permits and water availability.

Lede: Acting Land Development Division administrator Kalani Franda and project managers described multiple concurrent projects funded or enabled by Act 279 and related county commitments; Pu‘uhona in West Maui already has lots and foundations in place and a first generation of beneficiaries has received keys, staff said.

Nut graf: The department reported that most of the $600 million in Act 279 funds has been encumbered for 28 priority projects statewide, that roughly $120 million has been expended to date, and that staff expect to issue about 2,400 project‑lease awards by Dec. 31, 2025. Staff emphasized that construction timelines vary by project and require water, county approvals and developer financing.

What staff said: Kalani Franda (acting administrator, Land Development Division) walked through a project portfolio for Maui and said the Puhono project in west Maui is well underway — “roads are complete, all the water and sewer lines are in the ground, and the electrical infrastructure is complete,” engineer Neil Nugent said — and the department expects to complete homes there within about a year. Mr. Nugent said Wailuku single‑family and Wai‘e Humauka are at various stages of permitting and design; Wai‘e Humauka will include both residential and agricultural lots.

Housing and finance approach: Michelle Hitzman (Housing Projects Branch) explained DHHL’s evolving model: award project leases to beneficiaries to secure priority rights for specific developments, then pair selectees with…