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DHHL awards $5.4 million in Native Hawaiian grants to community groups and projects statewide
Summary
The Hawaiian Homes Commission approved $5.4 million in state general fund grants for projects identified in DHHL's Native Hawaiian Development Plan, awarding full funding to qualified applicants across facilities, programmatic and capacity categories.
The Hawaiian Homes Commission on Feb. 18 approved recommendations by DHHL staff to award $5,400,000 in state general funds to multiple Native Hawaiian community organizations and projects statewide.
DHHL planning staff said the grants round aimed to conserve limited Native Hawaiian Rehabilitation Fund (NHRF) balances while using state funds to support projects. Gigi Kairau, DHHL’s grants specialist, described three request‑for‑proposal tracks: up to $500,000 for facilities on Hawaiian homelands, up to $200,000 for program or project needs (land due diligence, program implementation), and up to $20,000 for capacity building. Gigi said the department received 21 applications, disqualified two as ineligible and funded the remainder at requested levels.
Why it matters: The grants support community facilities, cultural and resiliency projects, and capacity building for homestead associations and nonprofit organizations that serve DHHL beneficiaries. Staff said expanding capacity‑building awards (from $5,000 to $20,000) responded to beneficiary feedback.
Public testimony included beneficiaries seeking clearer outreach and better notification about grant cycles and application support for homestead associations and kupuna groups. Staff said grant information had been posted on DHHL and state procurement websites with two orientation meetings; Gigi also committed to resume periodic commission updates on grant program status.
Implementation and oversight: DHHL said grants will be administered consistent with the Native Hawaiian Development Plan and that staff will monitor use of funds, report back to the commission on awards, and seek improved outreach for future cycles. The commission approved the awards by voice vote during the meeting; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.
Ending: Staff said they will follow up with grant recipients and that additional beneficiary consultation on broader Native Hawaiian Development Plan initiatives will continue this year.
Note: Quotes and allocations are drawn from the department’s submittal and in‑meeting statements.
