DHHL in-house permitting ability enables advancement on 20-plus homestead projects statewide

Director Kali Watson on Monday signed the first Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in-house building permit, marking a major milestone for the department.

“Monday’s permit signing not only accelerates our ability to construct houses but significantly changes the pace at which we can get our beneficiaries off our waitlists and into homes,” said Watson.

The department’s new in-house permitting ability enables it to advance on the development of more than 20 homestead projects statewide.

It involves the same process and much of the same work each of the state’s 4 counties already perform when processing building permits now.

“By granting the department with the ability to process these permits independently, we relieve the counties of this burden, fast-tracking [the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’] ability to expedite services to its beneficiaries,” said Department of Hawaiian Home Lands program specialist Timothy Hiu.

Monday’s permit signing was for the department’s new $6.3 million Yorktown transitional housing project in Kalaeloa on Oʻahu, which includes 18 studio units, a shared laundry room and an office space.

The project is aimed at low-income and houseless beneficiaries on the department’s waitlist.

Renovations of the former U.S. Navy officer visiting quarters are underway and expected to be completed within the next 6 months.

Another 3 months will be needed for parking lot upgrades and installation of a solar system.

Move-ins are projected to begin by late 2025.

“This is an exciting time for the program, and we remain committed to finding innovative solutions to move the department forward,” Watson said.