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Kyapa community seeks DHHL help after certified‑kitchen grant awarded but funds not released
Summary
Kyapa community leaders told the commission they received a $331,000 grant award in 2025 to add a certified kitchen to an existing pavilion but have not received funds; they said required blueprint approval was filed in February 2026 and invoices were submitted but payments remain on hold.
Representatives from the Kyapa community told the Hawaiian Homes Commission they have an awarded grant (contract 73302) for $331,000 to install a certified kitchen at an existing pavilion but have not yet received disbursement of funds that would start the work.
Janad Kukuy described the history of a proposed resource center and explained the community pursued a certified kitchen grant after the initial site lacked access and utilities. "We were awarded in December 2024 for $331,000," Kukuy said, and added the community expects the kitchen to support food programs, local farmers and summer food distributions.
Shauna Kulukui, board president of the Kyapa Community Association, told the commission the grant contract was awarded in 2025 and a notice to proceed arrived in November 2025, but funds have not been paid. She said blueprint approval from DHHL land management was received in February 2026 and that the engineering drawings invoice was submitted but returned pending further action. "We have not received our funds as of today," Kulukui said.
Commissioners advised the applicants to submit the required reporting and to follow the invoicing guidance in the DHHL notice letter; one commissioner noted an April 30 reporting deadline and encouraged the group to use that correspondence to trigger staff follow‑up. Staff asked the community to work with the DHHL grants manager handling distributions and suggested filing the overdue report and resubmitting any corrected invoices so the matter can be processed.
The item was heard for information and no funding reallocation was decided at the meeting.
