Hawaiian Homes Commission approves FY27 budget items, modernization funding and $25.2M trust advance for 41 homes

At its June 15 meeting, the Hawaiian Homes Commission approved the Department of Hawaiian Homelands’ fiscal year 2027 operating and development budgets, a $941,046 request to support DHHL’s system modernization initiative, and an advance from the Hawaiian Homes Trust Fund of up to $25,232,000 to finance 41 homes in EK2C for NAHAZDA‑eligible households.

Modernization: Deborah Oliviano, modernization project manager, asked the commission to approve $941,046 from trust account T905‑25 to support the department’s system modernization; the motion included authority for the chair to shift funds between budget line items up to $500,000. Commissioners clarified that the $500,000 authority was a total cap across applicable submittals; the item passed by voice vote.

Housing finance advance: Lewa Kinila Kano presented a recommendation that the commission approve an advance of up to $25,232,000 from the trust to finance 41 homes in EK2C; commissioners voted to approve the advance. A commissioner noted on the record that the appropriation is an advancement intended to be replenished.

FY27 budgets and transfers: Finance staff presented the FY27 operating and development budgets and asked the commission to authorize the chair to shift funds within stated limits ($500,000 operating; $1 million development). Commissioners discussed variance reporting, encumbrances, project tracking, contingency handling, and how prior fiscal encumbrances feed into current project budgets. The commission approved the FY27 budget items by voice vote. Separately, staff requested and the commission approved a quarterly transfer of approximately $1.3 million from HOME receipts into the Hawaiian Home general loans fund.

During budget discussion, staff described ongoing work to build integrated project and budget tracking (including due‑diligence and encumbrance reporting) and noted federal and county funding opportunities being pursued to supplement trust funds for infrastructure work.

The approvals allow DHHL to proceed with planned modernization work, encumbered development projects, and the financed construction of 41 homes tied to the trust advance. The commission repeatedly recorded approvals by voice vote ('I').