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DHHL Awards Over 500 Homes to Native Hawaiian Beneficiaries

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  Published in House and Home on Thursday, January 8th 2026 at 17:34 GMT by Hawaii News Now

Honolulu, Hawai?i - January 8, 2026 - The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) has announced a landmark year for housing awards, distributing over 500 new homes to beneficiaries in 2025. This represents a substantial increase from previous years and offers a glimmer of hope for Native Hawaiians facing a decades-long wait for land and housing. A recent episode of 'Hawaii News Now Insights' featuring Deputy Director Morgan McPherson sheds light on the factors driving this significant progress, as well as the persistent challenges that remain.

The Hawaiian Home Lands program, established in 1920, was created to rehabilitate Native Hawaiian people displaced from their ancestral lands. The program provides 99-year leases for residential, agricultural, and pastoral uses. However, demand far outstrips supply, resulting in a substantial and growing waitlist. For generations, families have waited, sometimes for decades, to receive their lease awards. This recent surge in awards is therefore particularly meaningful.

According to McPherson, the 2025 increase isn't a fluke, but the result of deliberate, multi-faceted improvements within DHHL. He highlighted three key drivers: streamlined processes, increased funding, and a dedicated focus on completing previously stalled projects.

Streamlining the Process: McPherson detailed how DHHL has worked to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and accelerate the approval process for building permits and lease awards. This included digitizing records, improving inter-agency communication, and implementing more efficient review procedures. While acknowledging that further refinement is needed, the initial results have been demonstrably positive, allowing DHHL to process applications at a faster rate.

Increased Financial Investment: For years, funding limitations have been a major impediment to expanding housing opportunities. McPherson noted that recent increases in state and federal funding have been crucial in enabling DHHL to initiate and complete more projects. These funds have been directed towards infrastructure development, site preparation, and the construction of new homes. He specifically mentioned that some funding was allocated to innovative building technologies aimed at reducing construction costs and accelerating timelines.

Addressing the Backlog: A significant portion of the 2025 awards stemmed from a focused effort to resolve long-delayed projects. Many lease applications had been approved years ago, but faced obstacles due to land issues, infrastructure deficiencies, or administrative delays. DHHL prioritized clearing these backlogged cases, bringing closure to families who had been waiting for an extended period. This "clean-up" effort was essential in achieving the record number of awards.

Despite this progress, McPherson was candid about the challenges that still confront DHHL. Land acquisition remains a critical issue. Identifying and securing suitable land for development in Hawai?i, given its limited landmass and high property values, is a constant struggle. Furthermore, navigating complex environmental regulations and community concerns can further complicate the process.

Infrastructure development is another significant hurdle. Many prospective housing sites lack the necessary infrastructure - roads, water, sewer, electricity - to support residential development. Building this infrastructure is expensive and time-consuming, requiring substantial investment and careful planning.

Looking ahead, McPherson outlined plans for continued improvement. These include exploring public-private partnerships to leverage additional funding and expertise, investing in sustainable building practices, and enhancing community engagement to ensure that housing projects meet the needs of beneficiaries. DHHL is also actively pursuing innovative financing mechanisms and exploring alternative construction methods to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

The long waitlist continues to be a major concern. While the 500+ awards in 2025 are a positive step, they represent only a small fraction of the total number of beneficiaries still waiting for housing. DHHL acknowledges the urgency of the situation and is committed to accelerating housing delivery in the years to come. The department's success will be crucial not only in addressing a historical injustice but also in ensuring the future well-being of the Native Hawaiian community.

Listeners can find the full interview with Deputy Director Morgan McPherson on 'Hawaii News Now Insights' at [ https://podcasts.hawaiinewsnow.com/insights/dhhls-spike-in-awards/ ].