DHHL to offer about 240 Maui subsistence agricultural lots; May 22 deadline to register interest

Maui — The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) told beneficiaries at a Maui orientation that it will offer roughly 240 subsistence agricultural project leases across two parcels, Honokowai and Pulehunui, and asked interested applicants to submit an interest form by May 22 to be invited to the June 20 project selection meeting.

Makalapua Kanuha-Banakako, the event master of ceremonies, opened the orientation and said the session exists to help beneficiaries “get back on the land” and learn how the new subsistence agricultural awards will work. Chair Watson, DHHL’s commission chair and director, said the offerings are intended both to reconnect Native Hawaiian families with the ʻāina and to advance food resilience.

“While your lease of the land is only for a dollar a year, it will cost money to do this type of development,” Chair Watson said, urging applicants to use the orientation’s resources and to take advantage of DHHL financing and partner programs. DHHL staff explained that the department provides land‑use leases and infrastructure while private and other public partners supply additional capital and services.

DHHL staff presented project details: Honokowai’s current phase will award about 40 subsistence agricultural lots of roughly two acres each; Pulehunui’s south parcel is planned to contain about 200 subsistence agricultural lots, also about two acres apiece, along with a compact “piko” community area for aggregation facilities, cultural and training spaces and other community‑based economic development. Construction of vertical improvements was described as likely to begin around 2030.

At the orientation DHHL reviewed funding and timelines. Staff cited approximately $511 million allocated to infrastructure across DHHL projects and noted a separate general excise tax set‑aside estimated around $89 million earmarked for shared infrastructure. DHHL said private partners can bring additional financing for vertical development.

To participate, DHHL said beneficiaries must submit an interest form by May 22; eligible respondents who submit on time will be invited to the June 20 project selection meeting, where awards and specific parcel assignments will be made. DHHL staff emphasized that if a beneficiary is already a residential lessee, building a residential structure on a new agricultural lease could require giving up the original residential lease.

DHHL said staff and partners — including University of Hawaiʻi CTAHR agents, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service representatives and the Maui County Department of Agriculture — will be available after the presentation to answer questions and explain available workshops and financing supports.

DHHL will post the PowerPoint and the recorded video of the presentation on its website for those who could not attend.

What’s next: submit the DHHL interest form by May 22 to be considered for the June 20 project selection meeting; staff contact information and additional resources are on the DHHL website.