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Commission accepts 2025 Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant annual performance report
Summary
DHHL presented its 2025 annual performance report for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NAHASDA). The commission accepted the report and staff described how NAHASDA funds are being used for homeowner financing, developer loans, home repairs, rental subsidies and acquisition to shorten timelines for housing delivery.
The commission accepted DHHL’s 2025 annual performance report for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NAHASDA) and authorized transmittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lehua Kinila‑O‘Kano, DHHL’s NAHASDA program manager, outlined how the grant ceiling has grown from early program levels to a cumulative allocation of roughly $22.3 million, and how NAHASDA funds were leveraged for homeowner financing, developer loan capitalization, infrastructure support and rental/subsidy programs.
Staff highlighted recent outcomes: NAHASDA capital has supported low‑income housing tax credit projects, subsidized mortgages and developer scoring (helping projects win credit awards), funded home repair programs for older homesteads, supported kupuna rental subsidy and funded planning for Ewa Beach homestead redevelopment. Staff also described a request to raise the NAHASDA ceiling ceiling to $30 million to support an expected increase in homeowner financing demand tied to DHHL projects in 2027.
Commissioners asked about practical barriers for beneficiaries — notably Davis‑Bacon wage requirements on federally funded construction, contractor shortages and steps DHHL is taking to host contractor workshops and to explore modular or factory‑built housing models that avoid some prevailing‑wage constraints. Staff said they would organize a contractors’ workshop by year‑end and continue coordinating with Habitat and nonprofit builders to expand contractor capacity.
The motion to accept the 2025 NAHASDA annual performance report was approved by the commission. Staff will transmit the accepted report to HUD and pursue the requested NAHASDA ceiling increase in DHHL’s Nelson / sufficient sums budget submission to the governor and legislature.
