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DHHL chair and staff outline homelands history and current leasing push
Summary
DHHL leaders and staff described the agency’s centennial-era mission, recent growth in active leases and the scale of remaining demand, saying recent state funding and federal modernization proposals could accelerate placement of beneficiaries on homelands.
Richard Maderas opened the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands briefing by introducing federal staff, national advocates and DHHL leaders and explaining the session’s purpose: to explain the NAHASDA Modernization Act of 2026 and provide updates on Native Hawaiian housing initiatives.
Chair Watson framed the modernization effort in historical terms, invoking Prince Kuhio and the Native Hawaiian Homes Commission Act’s original purpose. "It was established by Prince Juna Kuyo Kaniyano," he said, and described DHHL’s continuing task to finance and develop lands so beneficiaries can be homesteaded. A DHHL government-relations representative said DHHL was established in 1921 and described lease terms that historically have supported long-term homesteading.
DHHL staff reported program-scale numbers: active leases have grown from about 10,000 to over 12,000 since the chair took office, and the wait list was described in the briefing at roughly 27,733 applicants. Chair Watson said state funds received under Act 279 (2022) — "in 2022, under act 279, we got 600,000,000" — are being used for development and awards, and the agency has plans to scale awards over coming years with additional federal support.
The presenters urged beneficiaries to follow up after the briefing and to submit testimony for the forthcoming Senate Indian Affairs hearing; slides and the recorded briefing will be posted on DHHL’s website and YouTube. "We will get this up on DHHL's YouTube as soon as we can as well as put a link on the page of the DHHL website," Richard Maderas said, giving a contact path for additional questions.
