147 Hawaiian families
receive homestead leases

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands offered 147 residential homestead leases to residents in July, 37 of which were in a new subdivision on the Big Island.

The Waimea housing area near Lalamilo has turnkey, single-family homes, with lot sizes averaging more than 10,000 square feet.

Homes cost between $87,500 for a three-bedroom, two-bath "self-help" model and $167,000 for a four-bedroom, two-bath developer-built home.

Sixty-five of the remaining leases offered in July were for homestead lots in Hilo and 45 were for Lanai.

The department expects to offer more than 1,000 residential leases covering all islands in 2006.