OHA and DHHL Sign Landmark Agreement to Advance Native Hawaiian Housing in Kakaʻako Ma Kai
News Release from OHA, October 23, 2026
HONOLULU (Oct. 23, 2026) — The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) today took a significant (illusory) step toward expanding housing opportunities for Native Hawaiian families, signing a …
--(fake) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) …
--establishing a (fake) framework …
--for the (fake) proposed …
joint development of approximately 3.3 acres in Kakaʻako Ma Kai.
(TRANSLATION: This, like the recent OHA BOT approval of a PLA for Kakaako Makai, is a desperate too-little, too-late move to save Keoni Souza from electoral oblivion. But half of ballots have already been cast. After the Election, all this empty talk goes POOF—even if Souza somehow beats Ikaika Anderson. Even the new spelling of ‘Ma Kai’ will go poof!)
The agreement, signed during a ceremony attended by leadership from both organizations, advances a collaborative vision to transform a largely underutilized property known as Lot I into a mixed-use development featuring residential homestead condominiums, commercial space, structured parking, and potential community and cultural uses.
The proposed project would create new opportunities for DHHL beneficiaries to establish homes in Honolulu’s urban core while providing OHA with a long-term commercial interest intended to generate economic benefits for its beneficiaries.
“This agreement represents an important step toward bringing Native Hawaiian families back to lands where our kūpuna once lived, worked and thrived,” said OHA Board of Trustees Chairperson Kaialii Kahele. “For too long, the promise of these lands has remained unrealized. By working together with DHHL, we have an opportunity to turn that promise into homes for our people, economic opportunity for our lāhui, and a stronger future for generations to come.”
Under the agreement, OHA intends to convey its ownership interest in Lot I to DHHL, subject to the necessary approvals and execution of definitive agreements. DHHL would lead the planning, financing and development of the residential homestead project, while OHA would receive ownership or other agreed long-term control of a commercial component of the completed development.
The proposed development concept includes one or more residential homestead condominium towers above a mixed-use commercial and structured-parking podium. The number of housing units, building heights, commercial space and other development details will be determined through subsequent planning, design, financing and governmental approval processes.
“This partnership demonstrates what can be accomplished when Native Hawaiian institutions work together with a shared purpose,” Kahele added. “OHA brings land and a commitment to advancing the well-being of our beneficiaries. DHHL brings its expertise and responsibility to deliver homestead opportunities. Together, we can pursue a project that neither organization could accomplish in quite the same way alone.”
“Lot I is a catalyst for cultural revival in Kakaʻako Ma Kai, serving as a hub for Native Hawaiian innovation and creativity,” said DHHL Director Kali Watson. “This mixed-use community will offer spaces for our beneficiaries, and the broader community to live, reconnect, and thrive.”
Watson emphasized the importance of community input throughout the planning process, ensuring the development reflects the aspirations and needs of its future residents.
“We have an opportunity to develop a vibrant community that not only respects the land but also enriches the lives of our people,” Watson said. “Through key collaborations and shared vision, Kakaʻako Ma Kai is poised to become an area individuals and families could one day receive health services, host gatherings, care for our kūpuna, transform the hospitality industry, and preserve and perpetuate our culture through educational experiences.”
The agreement follows nearly a year of discussions between the two organizations. In November 2025, OHA and DHHL announced an exclusive negotiating period to explore residential development opportunities for Lot I. The Hawaiian Homes Commission subsequently approved negotiations in December 2025.
Lot I is one of nine parcels comprising approximately 29 acres of OHA-owned land in Kakaʻako Ma Kai. OHA acquired these properties in 2012 as part of a settlement with the State of Hawaiʻi for unpaid Public Land Trust revenues.
Historically, the Kakaʻako Ma Kai area supported Native Hawaiian cultural and subsistence practices, including cultivation of kalo and ʻuala and traditional fishing activities. OHA has consistently expressed its commitment to revitalizing these lands in ways that honor their history while delivering meaningful benefits to Native Hawaiians.
The MOA establishes the parties’ intentions and responsibilities for moving the proposed project forward. Additional agreements will be required to address financing, property transfer, environmental considerations, commercial ownership, parking, development schedules, and other details.
The project will also require applicable governmental approvals, and OHA remains committed to working collaboratively with the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority and other stakeholders as planning progresses.
“Today’s signing is not the finish line. It is the beginning of the next important phase,” Kahele said. “Our responsibility now is to translate this shared vision into a mixed-use community that delivers lasting, measurable benefits to Native Hawaiian families and the broader urban core.”
For more information on OHA’s Kakaʻako Ma Kai lands, visit www.oha.org/kakaako-makai.
Map that clearly shows where LOT I is (and you can see who all the landowners are)
Mixed-use renderings for the future vision of KM
Lot I photos that show the current condition of the area
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