Department of Hawaiian Home Lands - Leialii Dedication Ceremony

News Release

LINDA LINGLE
GOVERNOR

Micah Kane, Chairman
Ben Henderson, Deputy to the Chairman
Phone: (808) 586-3800
Fax: (808) 586-3899
For Immediate Release: April 13, 2007

DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS
AND DOWLING COMPANY
DEDICATE FIRST HOME SITES IN WEST MAUI


MAUI, HAWAI'I--The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and Maui developer Dowling Co. dedicated the first Hawaiian Homes project in West Maui today at the Villages of Leiali'i in Lahaina, a 104-unit single-family affordable housing development.

The housing project marks a historic step in a subdivision that had been stalled since the early 1990s. The project was revitalized in 2004 when parcels 1A and 1B of the Villages of Leiali'i were transferred to DHHL from the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawai'i, (HCDCH) now called the Hawai'i Housing Finance Development Corporation (HHFDC).

"It is really great to see this project come to life again and to see families moving into their new homes," Governor Lingle said about the state project that began during her term as Mayor of Maui County. "This is an affordable housing project for Maui's people. Many of the new homeowners are from the West side and it is gratifying to know they will own their own homes in their hometown."

The state announced the transferred Phase 1A and 1B of the property to DHHL in September of 2004 in a move that included the transfer of lands at Kapolei on Oahu and Laiopua in West Hawai'i, for the development of residential housing for native Hawaiians.

Because the property would be developed for housing under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the transfer was completed after the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) assured DHHL it would support the transfer despite the still unclear status of the ceded lands issue.

"This is the first residential development we have done on the West side and is the result of the cooperation between government agencies - Hawaiian Home Lands, HHFDC, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and a private developer, Dowling Co," Micah A. Kane, Director of the DHHL said. "Dowling Co has been a great partner in developing homes for native Hawaiians. When the Villages of Leiali'i is completed, we will have built 422 homes with Dowling Co," he added.

The two-, three- and four-bedroom single-family homes were available in six different models and prices ranged from $145,000 to $250,000. The average lot size is 6,700 sq. ft. and house size runs from 1,298 sq. ft. to 2,218 sq. ft.

After the development was blessed, a kukui nut tree was planted on the site to symbolize a growing, living community.

"It is one of the greatest sources of pride for our company when we develop homes for native Hawaiians," said Everett Dowling, president of Dowling Company. "These projects represent our commitment to the Maui community to provide affordable housing."

Dowling Company also developed the Waiehu Kou 2, 3 and 4 Hawaiian Homes subdivisions on Maui and is the single largest private developer of homes for native Hawaiians in the state.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is responsible for administering the Hawaiian home lands program as established by Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole. DHHL continues to strive for Prince Kuhio's vision of returning native Hawaiian people to the land and developing healthy, self-sufficient Hawaiian communities, through the many benefits and programs it offers. For additional information visit www.hawaii.gov/dhhl.

####

Media Contact:
Lloyd Yonenaka, ICRO
Phone: (808) 587-6367
Cell: (808) 754-0078

Ruth Limtiaco
The Limtiaco Company
Tel: (808) 535-9099
E-mail: RuthL@TheLimtiacoCompany.com

Mei Lee Wong
Dowling Company, Inc.
Tel: (808) 244-1500
MeiLee@DowlingCo.com

Back to News