Achieving Homeownership for Hawaiians

by OHA Trustee Keli’i Akina PhD Ka Wai Ola Sept 2025

For the Mokulehua ʻOhana, the dream of owning a home began with quiet sacrifices – late nights balancing budgets and teaching their children the value of patience.

Over time, their persistence paid off, and they stepped through the doorway of their first home in ʻEwa Beach. It was more than a house; it was a source of pride and a place where this Native Hawaiian family could grow together, secure in both heart and future.

Homeownership has become a dividing line between the haves and have-nots, allowing owners to build equity and pass on wealth to their families, while renters often end up building wealth for others.

With Hawaii’s low housing supply and high demand, constantly rising real estate prices widen the gap. This disparity is a major reason why many Native Hawaiians have left the islands.

Don’t get me wrong. While Hawaiians face many challenges, there is great hope for every one of us. That’s what I tell young people whenever I can speak to them.

I often share that when I grew up, my parents always provided for our needs but didn’t teach my siblings and me the value of homeownership. They were hard-working and responsible, but they didn’t encourage us to set our sights on owning real estate. In fact, my parents never owned a home until late in their lives when my grandmother passed away, which allowed them to buy her rundown house in Chula Vista, California.

But my parents did teach me this: “Kūlia i ka nuʻu” (strive for the summit). This ʻōlelo noʻeau inspired a lifetime of determination and hard work, reminding me that no matter our background, we all have the capacity to reach our goals and provide for our families.

On May 20, 2025, Trustee Akina spoke at the Nānākuli Neighborhood Board Meeting about OHA funding opportunities to help with homeownership. Also pictured are Trustee Kalei Akaka and OHA Director of Community Engagement, Lise Vaughan-Sekona. – Courtesy Photos

Trustee Akina with his good friend Pastor Alan Cardines at the Nānākuli Neighborhood Board Meeting on May 20, 2025.

That’s why I am proud to support OHA’s 15-year strategic plan, Mana i Mauli Ola (MiMO), which expands the opportunities for Native Hawaiians to own housing. For many, the inability to secure a down payment remains an almost insurmountable barrier, but this is where OHA is beginning to make a real difference.

Through its new Access to Home Ownership (AHO) program, OHA is guaranteeing portions of home loans through American Savings Bank, enabling qualified Native Hawaiians to make lower down payments and avoid costly mortgage insurance for fee simple housing, making the dream of homeownership in Hawaiʻi more attainable than ever.

Crossing the line to become a homeowner is no longer impossible but achievable. With hard work and access to resources like those that OHA is developing, we can make real progress.

Imagine the day when OHA has the resources to offer beneficiaries low- interest mortgages. Let’s “kūlia i ka nuʻu” and make the dream of homeownership a reality for Native Hawaiians!