Decades of waiting end for 31 families awarded Hawaiian homestead lots

After dozens of families celebrated choosing their Hawaiian homestead lots at a Saturday ceremony in Waimanalo, a father-son duo holding No. 44, the last number, were called to the front of the room to pick the site of their future home.

Derek Salis had waited since the 1960s for a chance to build a house on homestead land. He and his son, Jordan Salis, said they both felt grateful for the opportunity and did not mind that they were called last. The pair said they were excited to work with Habitat for Humanity to build their four-bedroom, two-bathroom house, which is much bigger than their Kalihi home.

“We got a good lot,” Jordan Salis said. “(It’s) awesome.”

State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands officials anticipate all homes for the planned 44-lot Kakaina project will be completed in two years. Site work on the vacant 7-acre lot about a mile from Waimanalo District Park was completed in June and July.

Of the 44 lots, 31 were awarded by the end of Saturday’s ceremony. DHHL officials said they would contact the remaining 13 families to see whether or not they want to accept their lots.

Once lots were selected Saturday, lessees chose between building their home or going with a contractor, Armstrong Builders LLC, to develop one of four home designs. Tommy Kalawaia and wife Christine Kalawaia, who were one of the last to choose, said they initially thought they were higher on the list. Tommy Kalawaia’s father had been on the waiting list since 1968, they said.

“I’m thinking about my kids, too,” said Tommy Kalawaia, pointing out that he can eventually transfer the lease to them. “(But) it worked out. I’m satisfied.”

An applicant’s place on the waiting list is determined by the date the application is accepted by DHHL. Leases, which span 99 years and can be extended an additional 100 years, cost $1 per year in rent.

William Aila Jr., DHHL deputy director, told families Saturday that they are building a future for their children. Other officials, including Gov. David Ige, state Sen. Laura Thielen and DHHL Director Jobie Masagatani, also spoke to the crowd, which packed the cafeteria at Blanche Pope Elementary School.

“You can always come home to this puuhonua,” Aila said. “This will be a milestone in many people’s lives today. Going forward there will be challenges, but good challenges because in the end, you will have your hale.”

A few years ago construction at the site sparked frustration for several residents who said they suffered from excessive noise, dust and vibrations. One resident said the construction caused property damage, including cracks in the concrete wall that surrounds his Poalima Street home. They blamed the contractor, Paradigm Construction, and DHHL for the problems.

Aila said the department worked with the contractor to address residents’ concerns.

At Saturday’s ceremony, Leini DeLima, who was third to choose, said her mother had been waiting since 1963 to pick a homestead lot. The lease was transferred to her after her mother, Lynette DeLima, died in 2003.

“She’s smiling,” DeLima said of her mother. “I’m very grateful.”

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Correction: The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands awarded 31 of the 44 homestead lots for the Kakaina project at a Saturday ceremony. An earlier version of this story and Sunday’s print edition omitted the number of lots that were actually awarded at the ceremony and a headline said 44 families received lots.