Ke Alahou, Volume I, Number 5, 1 ʻApelila 1980 — THE HAWAIIAN HOMES LANDS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE HAWAIIAN HOMES LANDS

The 1920 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, championed in Congress by Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, provided a means to encourage rehabilitation of the native Hawaiian race which appeared headed for extinction at the turn of the century. The act authorized the Hawaiian Homes Commission to administer a rehabilitation program which would return Hawaiians to the land. The Act provided that certain public lands be "designated available lands," and placed under the jurisdiction and control of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Since Statehood, administration of the program has been vested in the State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), a principal department of the State of Hawaii. Headed.by an eight-member representative Commission appointed by the Governor to staggered four-year terms, DHHL controls and manages approximately 190,000 acres of land. The Commission Chairman, Georgiana Padeken also serves as the DHHL Director.

The Act provides for native Hawaiians of not less than one-half of the blood quantum, of the, race inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778 to lease and occupy lands for homestead, farming, andranching. Additionally, the Act provides for leasing land for revenue purposes to generate funds for administrative and operating expenses, capital improvēment costs, and as a source of loan funds for native Hawaiians. The first 23 original homestead settlers moved onto Hawaiian home laiids at Kalamaula, Mōlokai in 1922. Today, almost 60 years later, there are nearly 3,000 homesteading families on homestead lands throughout the State. The major thrust of the land program through its 59 year history has been and will continue to be placement of as many native Hawaiians as possible on Hawaiian home lands within financial constraints. Over 50 per cent of the homesteads are located on Oahu in fourhomestead areas: Nanakuli, Papakolea, Waianae, and Waimanalo. Residential homestead

communities also exist on the Big Island, Kauai, Maui and Molokai, More than 6,000 families are on the current waiting list for Hawaaiian home lands; 90 percent are waiting for residential lands; 50 perqent of this group have applied for Oahu homesteads. About 10 percent of those on the waiting list have applied for agricultural farm and ranch lands. And, presently there are approximately 350 farms and over 60 ranching operations in existēnce on Hawaiian home lands. Providing a more viable agricultural program and more lands for farming and ranching also has a high priority within the Department. Padeken sees adequate. financing and technical assistance including business and financial management, production and marketing skills as essenriaK " A total program is imperative," Padeken believes. "It will take time, dollars, legislative support, and commitment to make such a program work." Additional priorities include minimiziag the amount of lands used for revenue producing purposes and maximizing income through more effective land management. Further, eeonomic development in business areas on Hawaiian home lands by and for Hawaiian is possible as has been demonstrated by a successful pilot project in Nanakuli. This project is in keeping with the DHHL's examination of methods and programs whereby native Hawaiians can participate in the use of revenue producing lands. , In all of its adtivities and programs, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands strives toward accelerating the process of self-determination by and for Hawaiians.

The Department of Hawai'ian Home Land's home construction program continnes to plaee as many Hawaiians as possib!e on īands within financial constraints.

DHHL Director, GeoMiana Padeken, and secretarj r , Miriam Ryder pause before moss rocK wall built by Pa Pohaku masonry-trainees.