The Hawaiian Homes Commission recorded a series of votes at its Oct. 20, 2025 meeting in Wailuku. Commissioners passed a number of land‑disposition and procedural motions, denied at least one transfer request tied to unresolved violations, and deferred or continued other items for further work. Below are the key outcomes captured on the meeting record and in public testimony.

Why it matters: DHHL’s decisions at this meeting move dozens of project leases and revocable permits forward on multiple islands, shape funding and infrastructure priorities and set implementation timelines for Act 279 projects funded by the state and local partners.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the meeting record)
- Agenda amendment (corrections to consent items D5 and D8) — Motion to amend agenda carried.
- Approval of consent agenda (as amended) — Motion carried.
- Item D12: Denial of requested assignment of agricultural lease 7026 (Gordon Cuneva → Carl Cuneva) — Denial approved by motion; department cited ongoing violations (unauthorized vehicle storage and Department of Health issues) and said transfer could be resubmitted once violations are remediated.
- Item E1: Approval of lease awards, Honokau (agricultural subdivision, Lahaina, Maui) — Motion to approve lessee awards carried; staff said 40 agricultural lots were being awarded in phase 1 and that construction and infrastructure timing varies by project type.
- Item E2: Approval of lease awards, Wai‘e Humauka Subdivision (agricultural project leases) — Motion carried; staff recommended 55 awards for 99‑year leases and began coordination with financing counselors.
- Item F10: Affirmation to remove Shawanad University of Honolulu as co‑licensee for East Kapolei license (Kapolei license #642) — Motion carried.
- Item F1: Approval to issue a general lease and extend a right of entry for Keaokea Homestead Farm Lot Association (Keaokea/Wailuku, Maui) — Motion carried; association representatives said master planning and assessments are complete and they need the lease to access DHHL funding.
- Item F3: Approval of license/easement requests (examples include a license/easement to Kevin & Deborah Robell Trust for waterline access) — Motion carried on the record.
- Item F4: Fifth amendment to right of entry for Hawaiian Telcom assets — Motion carried.
- Item F6: Lease term extensions for three general leases in Ka‘ahana Industrial Subdivision (Hawai‘i Island) — Motion carried.
- Items F7 & F8: Termination/related action regarding Ken’s Towing Services general leases — Department reported receipt of payments and partial remediation steps; commissioners agreed to work with the operator and the licensee attorney on a short interim hold; staff to return with a recommended path (department noted potential holdover period agreed by staff but full cancellation deferred).
- RP renewals/Revocable Permit renewals across islands (F9, F11 etc.) — Motions to renew/approve revocable permits carried in roll calls noted as “motion carried.”

What commissioners asked for: Several commissioners pressed staff for more detail on project readiness, funding sources and the degree to which awarded project leases are encumbered versus expended. Commissioners repeatedly asked staff to ensure beneficiaries receive timely, plain‑language notices about lot awards and to expand beneficiary outreach as project schedules proceed.

Next steps and implementation notes: Where transfers were denied (D12), the department indicated remediation milestones and potential soil testing for vehicle contamination will be required before reconsideration. Where leases were approved, staff said many lots remain at the infrastructure stage and that the timing of vertical (housing) construction depends on financing and county permits. Commissioners asked staff to return with implementation timetables and, where relevant, briefings on funding strategies tied to Act 279 and county allocations.

Speakers (selected) referenced in votes and discussions
- Juan Garcia, Homestead Services Division Administrator, DHHL (government)
- Kalani Franda, Acting Administrator, Land Development Division, DHHL (government)
- Michelle Hitzman, Housing Project Branch Manager, Land Development Division, DHHL (government)
- David Hope, Administrator, Enforcement Unit, DHHL (government)
- Attorney Catherine Garson (on behalf of Ken’s Towing Services) (business/legal)
- Association representatives and beneficiaries who testified in support or opposition for particular agenda items (citizens)

Authorities referenced in the meeting record
- Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (statute) — used throughout as DHHL’s governing authority for land dispositions and limited rights
- HRS Chapter 343 (Environmental Assessment) — referenced when project environmental review timelines were discussed

Clarifying details
- The department reported some Act 279 funds have been encumbered and roughly $120 million expended so far; staff said the department was on track to encumber $600 million of Act 279 funding across projects, with additional draws dependent on construction progress and county approvals.
- On D12 (transfer denial): Department cited unauthorized vehicle storage, Department of Health involvement and possible soil testing as remediation steps required before a transfer can be reconsidered.

Ending: The meeting moved a significant set of procedural and project‑level items forward while highlighting the need for clearer beneficiary outreach and more detailed implementation schedules for awarded leases. Several contested or technically complex items (notably the Waihuli wells beneficiary consultation) were deferred for additional work.

Speakers
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provenance
[{"topicintro":{"block_id":"t1239","local_start":0,"local_end":80,"evidence_excerpt":"Homestead Services Division has 10 consent agenda items for you this morning..."},"topfinish":{"block_id":"t1852","local_start":0,"local_end":60,"evidence_excerpt":"Those opposed? Motion carried. Thank you, commissioners."}}]