The Hawaiian Home Lands Act and DHHL General Plan Update
THE HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS ACT WAS CREATED IN 1921 TO ADDRESS THE DIRE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS DISPLACED BY THE INFLUX OF OUTSIDER SETTLEMENT IN THE ISLANDS.
The Act allocated +/- 200,000 acres of former crown and kingdom lands exclusively for homesteading by natives and established the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) to administer the Act. Lands would be available under 99-year leases at a charge of $1.00 per year. Beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust are individuals having at least 50 percent Hawaiian blood, and their successors who have at least 25% Hawaiian blood. SSFM’s participation in updating DHHL’s General Plan established for the first time a statewide system of land use designations, policies, and guidelines for the use of Hawaiian Home Lands that reflect a Hawaiian perspective while aligning with planning best practices. The policies in the Plan will support DHHL in furthering the Act’s mandate—to make land available for approximately 28,000 applicants waiting for a homestead, while benefiting all Hawaiian beneficiaries. Late last year SSFM learned of the American Planning Association (APA) Hawaii Chapter Outstanding Planning award for the General Plan Update. We were pleased to have just been notified of new recognition by APA’s Sustainable Communities Division, a division of the national organization. The national award will be presented at the APA conference in April.
The Hawaiian Home Lands Act and DHHL General Plan Update
THE HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS ACT WAS CREATED IN 1921 TO ADDRESS THE DIRE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS DISPLACED BY THE INFLUX OF OUTSIDER SETTLEMENT IN THE ISLANDS.
The Act allocated +/- 200,000 acres of former crown and kingdom lands exclusively for homesteading by natives and established the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) to administer the Act. Lands would be available under 99-year leases at a charge of $1.00 per year. Beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust are individuals having at least 50 percent Hawaiian blood, and their successors who have at least 25% Hawaiian blood. SSFM’s participation in updating DHHL’s General Plan established for the first time a statewide system of land use designations, policies, and guidelines for the use of Hawaiian Home Lands that reflect a Hawaiian perspective while aligning with planning best practices. The policies in the Plan will support DHHL in furthering the Act’s mandate—to make land available for approximately 28,000 applicants waiting for a homestead, while benefiting all Hawaiian beneficiaries. Late last year SSFM learned of the American Planning Association (APA) Hawaii Chapter Outstanding Planning award for the General Plan Update. We were pleased to have just been notified of new recognition by APA’s Sustainable Communities Division, a division of the national organization. The national award will be presented at the APA conference in April.