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Nanakuli residents call for probe after $980,000 DHHL grant; commissioner asked to pursue review
Summary
A Nanakuli homestead advocate alleged discrepancies in nonprofit filings and asked the commission and Attorney General to investigate a $980,000 DHHL grant awarded to a Nanakuli nonprofit; he supplied filings and requested a three‑commissioner panel for review.
Jermaine Myers, a Nanakuli Hawaiian homestead lessee, told commissioners that DHHL announced a $980,000 Community Development Program grant to the Nanakuli Hawaiian Homestead Community Association (NHHCA) for retail build‑outs, but claimed the award has not produced the promised build‑outs and raised irregularities in nonprofit filings.
Myers said he obtained annual filings from the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs showing overlapping directors and other discrepancies, and he cited apparent errors in NHHCA’s IRS filings dating back to 2017 and 2018. “According to the Nanakuli Village Community Development Corporation's 2022 annual filing, it listed Collie Watson as the treasurer and board of director,” Myers said, and he read the nonprofit’s stated purpose from public filings.
Myers asked the commission to form a panel of three Oahu commissioners — naming Commissioners Sanoy Marfell, Pauline Namuo and Vice Chair Walter Kaneakua — to work with the Attorney General’s office on a full investigation of the two nonprofits associated with the Nanakuli Village Center and the DHHL $980,000 grant.
Acting Chair Kaleikini said he would pass Myers’ request to Chair Watson and staff. Myers said he would also forward his testimony to the governor, lieutenant governor and members of the Legislature.
Commissioners did not take a formal vote on the request during the public‑comment period; Myers said he would provide documents to staff for review.
