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Beneficiaries press DHHL to speed projects, cite Aina Mauna legacy and ask to 'end the wait list'
Summary
Multiple beneficiaries urged the Hawaiian Homes Commission to accelerate projects including the Aina Mauna legacy initiative and to partner with state agencies to reduce a decades-long wait list, calling the situation a 'humanitarian crisis' and asking for DHHL support and letters of endorsement.
A broad group of beneficiaries and wait-list representatives told the Hawaiian Homes Commission on Feb. 18 that the department must do more to reduce a long-standing wait list and back projects that would place families on homestead lands.
"Let's end the wait list," said a speaker identifying as a wait-lister during a series of public comments supporting the Aina Mauna legacy project and related proposals. John McBride and other beneficiaries described letters of support from homestead associations, cited court decisions they said support movement on projects, and urged DHHL to partner with agencies including the governor's office, county mayors and DLNR.
Speakers emphasized community-backed pilot projects that, they said, could place beneficiaries on the land more quickly. "As your fiduciary obligation as trustee, just simply approve our project that you guys have on record," one speaker said, calling the effort an island-wide priority.
Chairing staff thanked the speakers for their advocacy and noted the commission's ongoing work to issue leases and pursue pilot projects. Commissioners and staff acknowledged the emotional weight of the testimony and said they were continuing to push for awards and projects within available resources.
The testimony reflected a mix of project-specific requests (Aina Mauna legacy, local pilots) and policy demands (priority for lineal descendants, support letters to agencies). Commissioners did not take formal action during the public-comment portion; speakers were invited to return as projects move toward agenda consideration.
