I am not Native Hawaiian, and I am not an expert in Hawaiian Home Lands law. What follows is my best effort to compile accurate, current information from official sources — DHHL, OHA, and the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation. This is a topic where you should absolutely speak with an OHA advocate or an attorney who specializes in DHHL and Native Hawaiian land rights. I can help connect you with those resources. What I can offer is a plain-English starting point — so you walk into any conversation already informed.
Your Land. Your Rights. Your Resources.
About free legal help in Hawai'i: Truly free legal representation for housing matters is very limited. Most free resources provide legal information or referrals — not an attorney who will represent you. The Hawai'i State Bar Lawyer Referral Service (808-537-9140) is the most reliable path to a licensed attorney; many offer a free first consultation. Be clear on what each resource offers before counting on it.
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legalnavigatorhawaii.orgNative Hawaiian homeowners — whether on Hawaiian Home Lands or the open market — face a unique set of legal, financial, and cultural circumstances that no other homeowners in the United States share. This section is dedicated to making sure you understand the programs, protections, and resources that exist specifically for you and your 'ohana.
DHHL — Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
The DHHL (Department of Hawaiian Home Lands) administers the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920 — one of the most unique land programs in the United States. If you are a DHHL lessee or on the waitlist, your homeownership situation is fundamentally different from any conventional homeowner.
- DHHL provides 99-year homestead leases at $1 per year for residential, agricultural, or pastoral purposes — leases may be extended for an aggregate term not to exceed 199 years
- You own the home — but the land is held in trust by the State of Hawai'i
- This means standard foreclosure rules do not apply the same way — the land cannot be sold to non-Native Hawaiians
- Eligibility requires at least 50% Hawaiian blood quantum — verified through birth certificates and genealogical records
- DHHL manages over 200,000 acres across O'ahu, Maui, Moloka'i, Lāna'i, Hawai'i Island, and Kaua'i
- DHHL has a Home Owner Assistance Program (HOAP) specifically for lessees in financial distress — contact DHHL directly at (808) 586-3800
- DHHL can offer direct loans, insured loans, or loan guarantees for home repair or replacement
- The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (NHLC) provides free legal representation for DHHL lessees facing housing issues
- Standard foreclosure cannot transfer your lease to a non-Native Hawaiian — the lease must revert to DHHL or transfer to an eligible successor
- Losing your lease means losing your place on the waitlist — contact DHHL and NHLC before missing any payments
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands currently has roughly 29,000 people on its waitlist — with wait times spanning decades. If you are on the waitlist and facing housing distress, you have options that don't require waiting:
- DHHL's Rent-With-Option-to-Purchase (RWOTP) program — launched on Hawai'i Island in 2021 — allows waitlisters to rent for 15 years and then purchase and receive a 99-year homestead lease. DHHL has plans to expand to other islands.
- DHHL launched a $10 million Kūpuna Rental Subsidy Program for kūpuna still on the waitlist — covering most of their rent while providing housing counseling
- In March 2025, DHHL awarded 665 leases in Kapolei, with 29 new projects actively under development across all islands and a goal to issue more than 2,600 leases by the end of the year
- Contact DHHL district offices on your island to check current waitlist status and available programs
OHA — Office of Hawaiian Affairs Programs
The OHA (Office of Hawaiian Affairs) is a semi-autonomous state agency dedicated to improving the wellbeing of all Native Hawaiians — regardless of blood quantum. OHA has launched important new homeownership and housing programs in 2025.
AHO is a deposit-backed program designed to reduce barriers to homeownership for Native Hawaiians. OHA uses pledged funds to guarantee portions of home loans financed by American Savings Bank — eliminating PMI and lowering monthly payments.
- No Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) — saves $250–$800/month depending on home price
- As little as 3% down payment required
- Below-market interest rate through American Savings Bank
- AHO supports beneficiaries who are not eligible for DHHL or who choose not to purchase through DHHL
- Available for homes on Hawaiian Home Lands AND on the open market
- Must be a first-time homebuyer, Hawai'i resident, and registered in OHA's Hawaiian Registry Program
- Open to applicants earning up to 140% of the area median income, with thresholds varying by household size and county
- OHA provides emergency housing and utility assistance for Native Hawaiian families in distress — through Catholic Charities Hawai'i on O'ahu, Hawai'i Island, and Kaua'i, and Maui Economic Opportunity on Maui, Moloka'i, and Lāna'i
- OHA has provided $6.1 million in emergency funds for Native Hawaiians affected by federal funding disruptions in 2025–2026
- Must be Native Hawaiian — registered through OHA Hawaiian Registry Program or able to show proof of ancestry
- Contact OHA Beneficiary Services: (808) 594-1888 or oha.org
- OHA advocacy covers education, health, housing, and economic stability
Section 184A — Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee
- A federal HUD loan guarantee program specifically for Native Hawaiian families on or near Hawaiian Home Lands
- Allows Native Hawaiians to purchase, construct, or rehabilitate a home with a low down payment and competitive interest rate
- Can be used on DHHL land — fills the gap where conventional lenders won't lend because they can't hold the leasehold land as collateral
- Down payment as low as 2.25% for loans over $50,000
- Must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized Native Hawaiian organization or a DHHL beneficiary
- If you have a 184A loan and are behind on payments — contact HUD directly at (800) 569-4287 for free housing counseling
- HUD-approved counselors understand the unique constraints of Hawaiian Home Lands leases
- Section 184A loans have specific loss mitigation options — request them from your servicer before accepting any other outcome
- Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) — a HUD-approved counseling agency specializing in Native Hawaiian housing
- Contact HCA at (808) 587-7788 or hawaiiancommAssets.org
Lease Succession — What Happens When a DHHL Lessee Passes Away
One of the most important — and least understood — aspects of DHHL leases is what happens when a lessee dies. This affects many families across Hawai'i and is an area where early planning makes an enormous difference.
- A surviving spouse — even if not Native Hawaiian — can inherit the lease for their lifetime
- After the surviving spouse, the lease must pass to a Native Hawaiian successor (at least 25% blood quantum) named by the lessee
- Children, siblings, or other relatives may qualify as successors if they meet the blood quantum requirement
- Successors must be named in advance — designating a successor early protects your 'ohana
- If no qualified successor is named, the lease reverts to DHHL and the family loses the homestead
- Review and update your DHHL lease successor designation — contact your DHHL district office
- Ensure your successor meets the 25% blood quantum requirement and has documentation
- Work with the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation for free legal guidance on succession planning
- Consider a will or trust that specifically addresses your DHHL lease succession
- Birth certificate amendments to reflect Native Hawaiian ancestry may be needed — NHLC can assist
Free Resources for Native Hawaiian Homeowners
For all DHHL lessees and waitlisters. Home Owner Assistance Program (HOAP), financial assistance, district offices on every island.
dhhl.hawaii.gov · (808) 586-3800 →Beneficiary services, AHO homeownership program, emergency housing assistance, Hawaiian Registry Program, and advocacy for all Native Hawaiians.
oha.org · (808) 594-1888 →Free legal representation for Native Hawaiians on DHHL matters — lease succession, foreclosure defense, birth certificate amendments, and Hawaiian Home Lands rights.
nativehawaiianlegalcorp.org →HUD-approved housing counseling agency specializing in Native Hawaiian families. Free foreclosure prevention, financial coaching, and Section 184A loan guidance.
hawaiiancommunityassets.org · (808) 587-7788 →View 25+ military, state, and nonprofit programs to help with mortgage payments, rent, utilities, and emergency housing needs — including programs specific to Native Hawaiian homeowners.
Browse All Programs →- 1Identify what type of homeowner you are first. Are you a DHHL lessee, a DHHL waitlister, or a Native Hawaiian homeowner on the open market? Your options and protections are significantly different depending on your situation.
- 2If you are a DHHL lessee behind on payments — contact DHHL immediately. Call (808) 586-3800 and ask specifically about the Home Owner Assistance Program (HOAP). Do not miss payments without contacting DHHL first — a DHHL lease is irreplaceable.
- 3Contact the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation for free legal advice. NHLC specializes in DHHL and Native Hawaiian land rights. Visit nativehawaiianlegalcorp.org for free legal representation before making any decision about your home.
- 4If you are a Native Hawaiian homeowner on the open market — check OHA's AHO program. If you are a first-time buyer or exploring refinancing options, OHA's Access to Home Ownership program may provide significant financial relief. Contact OHA at (808) 594-1888 or oha.org.
- 5Register with OHA's Hawaiian Registry Program if you haven't already. The Hawaiian Registry Program is required for AHO and many other OHA benefits. Registration is free at oha.org/hawaiian-registry.
- 6Review your DHHL lease successor designation. If you are a DHHL lessee, make sure your successor is named and documented. Contact your DHHL district office to update this. It protects your 'ohana if something happens to you.
- 7Contact Hawaiian Community Assets for free HUD-approved housing counseling. HCA specializes in Native Hawaiian families and Section 184A loans. Call (808) 587-7788 for free foreclosure prevention counseling.
- !Be extremely cautious of anyone offering to buy your DHHL leasehold home quickly. Hawaiian Home Lands leases cannot be sold to non-Native Hawaiians. Any offer to purchase your DHHL property from an investor should be reviewed by NHLC before you sign anything.
- 8Reach out to Barbara. While I am not an expert in DHHL law, I can help you understand general real estate options, connect you with the right attorneys and counselors, and make sure you have explored every resource available before making any decision. I will never pressure you toward a sale.
Native Hawaiian homeowners face a set of circumstances unlike any other in the country — and deserve guidance that reflects that reality. While I am not a DHHL specialist, I am committed to making sure you walk away from any conversation with me better informed, better connected to the right resources, and never pressured toward any particular outcome. Your land and your 'ohana matter. Let's make sure you have everything you need to protect both.
"Informed Decisions are the Best Decisions."™