A transformative development project in Hāna, Maui, seeks to provide much-needed housing and agricultural opportunities for families in the area.
The plan covers a 656-acre parcel of land located mauka of Hāna Highway, just across from Hāna High and Elementary School and the Hāna Public Library.
With over 30 years of waiting for agricultural and pastoral lands, residents like Sam Akoi IV are hopeful that the development offers a way out of the lengthy waiting list for Hawaiian Homelands leases.
Akoi, who shares a deep connection to East Maui, expressed his excitement about the initiative.
“It’s going to be beautiful to have our kānaka back on the ‘āina,” he said, highlighting the cultural significance of returning families to the land.
According to a final environmental assessment released recently, the project will feature a mix of residential lots, agricultural areas, kūpuna housing, and community spaces.
Details include 78 one-acre residential lots, 65 subsistence agricultural lots ranging from one to three acres, four pastoral lots of approximately 10 acres each, and 30 kūpuna housing units situated on 6.5 acres.
A noteworthy aspect of the project is the inclusion of 31 three-acre agricultural homesteading lots under the Kuleana Homesteading program.
This program permits awardees to begin utilizing the land immediately, although no improvements will be made by the department.
Other planned uses of the land include 18.3 acres devoted to a community center and park, 12.6 acres for a charter school and community garden, 11.6 acres for greenways and additional community gardens, and space for a cemetery spanning 7.7 acres.
Moreover, approximately 2.5 acres are designated for a second community center, while 32.3 acres earmarked for a solar energy system reflects the project’s commitment to sustainability.
Critical to the development is the conservation of existing natural resources; 138.8 acres will be dedicated to preserving the hala and kukui groves, which hold significance for the local community.
The project has garnered a mix of praise and concern from community members.
Jade Alohalani Smith, who founded the Wākiu Community Development Corporation to promote community engagement and feedback, voiced some apprehension.
Some residents fear that the project may attract an influx of outsiders, potentially straining local resources.
Despite this, Smith emphasized the dire housing needs in East Maui, particularly for multigenerational families.
“Hopefully, we can find a solution that reflects our needs,” she said.
The Wākiu Community Development Corporation initiated the planning process back in 2019.
Initially, it aimed to develop a comprehensive plan for several East Maui communities, including Ke‘anae and Wailuanui.
However, those communities ultimately opted not to pursue their plans, narrowing the focus to the Wākiu area.
The project site was part of a significant land transfer from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
This transfer was a result of settlement claims from 1995 aimed at addressing historical injustices regarding DHHL lands.
Public outreach and planning for the Wākiu project involved collecting indigenous knowledge over the course of more than a year.
This culminated in workshops conducted in April 2024, leading to the final environmental assessment released recently.
Akoi, who serves as the president of the Wākiu Community Development Corporation board, expressed optimism about the project’s progress.
“For a long time, Hāna wasn’t even on the map,” he recalled, noting that many residents had relocated to Central and Upcountry Maui due to the lack of homestead opportunities.
He believes the plan reflects the community’s values, emphasizing the importance of sustainable living.
“Growing (food) is who the people are,” Akoi said, connecting it to the cultural practices of gathering, fishing, and farming.
He also voiced concern regarding the challenges his grandchildren may face in inheriting land due to blood quantum requirements.
Akoi himself is 82% Hawaiian, while his children fall just short of the 50% blood quantum needed for homestead leases.
He believes the threshold should be lowered to at least a quarter to ensure more families can benefit from future developments.
Claire Carroll, a resident nearby, shares similar concerns regarding blood quantum and its impact on housing access for local families.
Carroll, who is 50% Native Hawaiian, hopes that changes to the law will occur soon.
“Hopefully the laws change soon so that our children can benefit from getting a home one day,” she stated.
Carroll is not on the waiting list, as she currently owns her own home, but she is nonetheless invested in the project’s outcome.
She expressed worries about the project’s potential impact on the water table that the local community relies upon and urged the installation of adequate infrastructure, including sidewalks.
In the final assessment, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands acknowledged the community’s concerns regarding blood quantum requirements.
The department is currently reviewing its rules and plans to propose updates by early 2026.
While the project’s timeline remains uncertain pending approvals, it is anticipated to advance in four phases.
The initial phase will encompass the hala forest, subsistence agricultural lots, several residential lots, and greenway/community garden spaces.
Smith remains optimistic about the sufficiency of eligible individuals for the homestead project.
Despite a drop in interested participants—from over 200 to about 150—Smith believes a solid base remains.
She currently manages a cattle operation and envisions transitioning to a smaller pastoral lot in Wākiu as she ages.
Ultimately, her focus is on the larger picture of providing opportunities for future generations.
“Put yourself in our situation—your kids need homes, right?” she explains to those wary of the project’s potential impact.
“It’s not just about you. Everyone deserves to have a good quality of life.”
Maui County Council Member Shane Sinenci emphasized the importance of projects that reflect community connections and address the pressing housing needs for Native Hawaiians.
Sinenci hopes the project will enable those who had to leave East Maui due to a lack of housing opportunities to return to their roots.
“The more we fail to house Native Hawaiians, the more we fail to establish home equity and generational wealth through homeownership,” he noted.
As the development moves forward, it symbolizes a long-awaited chance for East Maui families to find both a home and a sustainable way of living rooted in their heritage.
image source from：https://mauinow.com/2025/06/13/department-of-hawaiian-home-lands-656-acre-project-of-farms-homes-public-spaces-in-hana-moves-forward/
