COURTESY IMAGE The East Kapolei I project, shown in this aerial photograph, will be divided into 350 house lots along with a park, commercial space and office complex. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will award the lots to families Oct. 22.

Hawaiians preview state’s Kapolei project

More than 1,000 people attended a briefing yesterday by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to discuss its largest project to date: 350 lots in East Kapolei that soon will be awarded to native Hawaiian families.

"It's exciting," Gov. Linda Lingle said at the briefing. "The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has done so much of the groundwork that's now allowing projects not just to benefit native Hawaiians, but everyone in the state, because for every Hawaiian family that gets into one of these houses, it's one less family competing in the affordable-housing market."

More than two-thirds of those who attended the briefing at Kamehameha Schools expressed interest in acquiring a lot on the East Kapolei I project. Hawaiian Home Lands plans to award the 350 lots on Oct. 22.

Individuals who are 50 percent Hawaiian and are awarded a lease would pay the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands $1 a year for the land for 99 years. Once that lease expires, families have the option to renew their lease for another 100 years so they can pass it on to their family members who are 25 percent Hawaiian.

Some families flew in from Seattle and Las Vegas to attend the briefing yesterday in the hope of returning to the island, according to Lloyd Yonenaka, administrator for information and community relations for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

More than 18,000 people statewide are currently on the waiting list to receive homes. Of that figure, more than 8,000 people on Oahu alone are on the list, Yonenaka said, noting that some have been waiting since the 1950s.

Each lot, estimated at 5,000 square feet, will be leased as an undivided interest award, which means no pre-qualification is required, Yonenaka said.

"It puts a lease in their hands now and gives them time to qualify for a mortgage," he said.

Attendees were provided with information that included the Home Ownership Assistance Program, or HOAP. The program, which was established last year, helps families reduce their debt so they can be eligible to become homeowners and qualify for a mortgage.

"In the past, when the department has awarded a lease, people just weren't ready. They were told they have three months to decide if you want it or not, and they just weren't ready," Lingle said. "This is giving them up to three years to get ready."

Families will have time to get their credit in order, save money for a down payment and prepare themselves to become homeowners, she said.