Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 35, Number 11, 1 November 2018 — The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands welcomes 65 new homesteaders to the Ka'uluokaha'i subdivision of East Kapolei [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands welcomes 65 new homesteaders to the Ka'uluokaha'i subdivision of East Kapolei

A Ka'uluokaha'i lol selection ceremony was held in December. - Photo: Courtesy Department ofHawaiian Home Lands

Submitted by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) welcomed 65 new homesteaders to the Ka'uluokaha'i subdivision lot selection ceremony on Sept. 29 at Kapolei High School. This awards ceremony reflects the second offering of turn-key homes in the Ka'uluokaha'i subdivision of East Kapolei, whieh greeted its first residents this summer. The Ka'uluokaha'i subdivision is the first phase of the East Kapolei II master-planned community being developed by DHHL on the Ewa Plains, mauka of the Ewa Villages Golf Course. The subdivision will be comprised of approximately 1,000 singlefamily house-lots at completion. Infrastructure construction for the subdivision began in September 2009, whieh included mass grading of increments and the construction of Maunakapu Street (formerly known as East West Road). Gentry Kapolei Development, LLC began home construction in September of this year with first home occupancy slated for May. "The DHHL continues to provide permanent homeownership opportunities for our beneficiary families for generations to eome. In Ka'uluokaha'i, families will

enjoy a new elementary and middle school, both within walking distance of their homes. Down the street, the KROC center offers additional amenities that include childcare, pools, gyms, meeting and events space and a worship center. Families ean also enjoy shopping, movies, restaurants, hotels and more nearby at Ka Makana Ali'i Mall whieh sits on land owned by the DHHL. Ka'uluokaha'i is perfectly situated with easy to and from the H2 freeway. All of this makes for a perfect homestead community and we are happy to be a part of this," said Iobie Masagatani, director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands received over $3 million in infrastructure development funding from the United State Department of Housing and Urban Development (U.S. HUD) as well as the United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development (USDA-RD) and Rural Utilities (USDA-RU). Another $11 million in infrastructure funding eame from the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) program. DHHL's HALE program also played an integral role in preparing department beneficiaries SEE DHHL ŪN PAGE 8

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for the financial responsibility of purchasing and maintaining a new home. More than 150 beneficiaries took advantage of the financial literacy workshops provided by Helen Wai, LLC, whieh assisted them on their path to Ananeial readiness. In addition, the department worked closely with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development, HomeStreet Bank and Bank of Hawai'i to ensure beneficiaries had the most viable financing options available, prior to purchasing their new homes. ■