At our November Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees made a significant and unified decision that reflects both confidence in our direction and our commitment to advancing opportunities for our lāhui. With a strong consensus, the board voted to approve OHA entering negotiations with the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) regarding the potential development of one of OHA’s nine parcels at Kakaʻako Makai.
This action marks a forward-looking moment for OHA, rooted in collaboration, shared purpose, and strategic vision. The 3.336-acre property at the corner of Ala Moana Boulevard and Forrest Avenue, called Lot I, has long represented untapped potential within OHA’s 29 acres of holdings at Kakaʻako Makai.
By authorizing negotiations with DHHL, the board is embracing the mission-driven opportunity to pursue a partnership aimed at addressing two of our community’s most urgent needs: housing and long-term economic stability.
Through the work of OHA’s executive leadership team and Land Department, we look forward to meaningful discussions with Director Kali Watson and his team at DHHL. I am strongly supportive of strengthening the relationship between DHHL, the state, and OHA so we can work collaboratively to meet one of the greatest needs of our beneficiaries – affordable housing.
Both OHA and DHHL carry distinct kuleana to Native Hawaiians. Yet our missions intersect at a fundamental truth: our people deserve access to opportunities that allow them to live, thrive, and build generational security.
For the first time, OHA and DHHL are taking a proactive, collaborative approach to form a partnership. This project at Kakaʻako Makai offers a chance to align resources, expertise, and responsibilities in ways that can deliver meaningful benefits to beneficiaries across the pae ʻāina, while further advancing our mission-driven efforts to foster Native Hawaiian self-determination and economic independence.
The board’s decision also reflects trust in DHHL’s ability to find a way to utilize the property through a residential mixed-use project. OHA’s approval clears the path for DHHL to examine the parcel thoroughly, authorizing DHHL access to the property to perform site due diligence related to its future development, evaluate its feasibility, and determine how a potential project might advance its mission for Native Hawaiians.
“The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is committed to working collaboratively with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to execute a first-of-its-kind approach to affordable housing for Native Hawaiian families,” said Director Kali Watson.
“Mahalo nui to OHA’s Board of Trustees for taking bold action on an initiative that will not only reshape the futures of our ʻohana but transform the landscape of Honolulu’s urban core into a thriving Native Hawaiian community. Under the leadership and support of Gov. Josh Green, we will persist in exploring opportunities that meet the demand for affordable housing while reducing DHHL’s long-standing residential waitlist.”
As we enter this next phase, transparency and communication remain priorities. We will continue to update beneficiaries as discussions progress and as DHHL completes its due diligence. If a proposal for development is made by DHHL, OHA’s Board of Trustees will decide on that after the due diligence phase is completed. Whatever the outcome, the board’s decision affirms our commitment to responsible stewardship and to exploring every opportunity that can advance Native Hawaiian wellbeing.
This is the moment to activate the potential of Kakaʻako Makai. Through a partnership between DHHL, the state, and OHA, we have a real opportunity to move this vision forward in a way that honors our kūpuna and strengthens the future of our keiki for generations. I mua – the time has come to unlock Kakaʻako Makai for Native Hawaiians.
