Representatives from multiple Hawaiian homestead associations on Maui used the Sept. 16 public-testimony period to push DHHL and the commission for pragmatic local infrastructure fixes: targeted road repaving, clearer and faster park-reservation processes, help with vacant-house successors, and funding for repairs and court enforcement when squatters occupy homes.

What residents asked for: Jimmy Kinkade of the Pohokalo Hawaiian Homes Community Association presented two contractor estimates and asked the department to consider roughly $352,800 for repaving 73,560 linear feet of local roads plus additional mobilization and striping costs; he also presented a separate quote near $47,000 to repair an unused basketball court. Paukukalo volunteers and youth baseball organizers thanked DHHL and partners for recent backstop and field repairs and asked for help with ongoing water and maintenance costs. Multiple testifiers called for clearer, timelier park-reservation processing and suggested the Maui DHHL office be empowered to approve routine reservations rather than routing them to land-management divisions in Honolulu.

Vacant homes and enforcement: Waianae and Maui speakers described recent evictions and violent or dangerous conditions in some vacant units. Waianae leaders said they had worked with the state sheriff and DHHL enforcement to remove four squatters from a vacant home and that the municipality and association are pursuing successor outreach so vacant homes can be properly transferred or returned to inventory.

Department response: DHHL staff told commissioners that many of these infrastructure problems require coordinated action with county transportation agencies, the Legislature for funding, or DHHL’s own maintenance-and-repair budgets; the department encouraged associations to compile specific bids and scope documents to support targeted funding requests.

Ending: Associations said they would continue to pursue grant funding and work with DHHL staff to accelerate maintenance and enforcement work; commissioners said the department will review bids and consider advocacy and budget adjustments.