04/15/2025
Big win for 100 Native Hawaiian families in Waikapū.
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) just awarded nearly 100 turnkey homes on Maui — a huge step for many ‘ohana who’ve been waiting years for this opportunity.
But while this is amazing news, it’s only a piece of the bigger story.
There are still over 29,000 Native Hawaiians on the DHHL waitlist. More than 500 have died waiting for a home. That’s heartbreaking.
I remember a conversation with a friend whose parents qualified for the list but chose not to apply — because they could afford housing and wanted to leave space for those who couldn’t. That kind of kuleana, that belief in collective care, stayed with me.
If individual families can make sacrifices like that to uplift our people, surely our leaders and systems can do more to fulfill the mission.
We need faster solutions. We need housing justice.
Let’s celebrate the wins — and keep pushing for all who are still waiting.
Sources:
Hawaii News Now + DHHL (linked in bio)
