Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Hawaiian Homes Commission Chairman Alapaki Nahale-a is pleased to announce that Governor Neil Abercrombie has appointed Michelle Kauhane as Deputy to the Chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

Michelle Kauhane completes the three-person team — all are current or former Hawaiian homestead residents — leading the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), joining Hawaiian Homes Commission Chairman Alapaki Nahale-a and Chief of Staff M. Waialeale Sarsona.

Kauhane is a resident of the Kaupe’a Hawaiian homestead community in Kapolei.

“Michelle Kauhane has skills and experience which will be invaluable in achieving our mission at DHHL,” Chairman Nahale-a said. “She has a long history of serving Native Hawaiians, and her knowledge in affordable housing will help Native Hawaiians build financial assets, making their families more self-sufficient and better able to create economic opportunities for themselves.”

“I look forward to continuing to serve the Hawaiian community,” said Ms. Kauhane. “It is an honor to be part of the team working to advance the mission of our trust with a voice to empower beneficiaries.”

Kauhane succeeds retiring DHHL Deputy Robert Hall, who is leaving the department on July 1.

“We thank Bobby Hall for his service to the Native Hawaiian community,” Chairman Nahale-a said. “We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

ABOUT THE APPOINTEE:

Michelle Kauhane has served as Executive Director of Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) since 2006. HCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency with a particular focus on serving Native Hawaiians.

Kauhane is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Gonzaga University. She also serves the community as a board member of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA); Board Chair of the Native Hawaiian Policy Center of CNHA; former Board President of the Honolulu Habitat for Humanity; board member, National Coalition of Asian Pacific Community Development; Vice President, O’ahu Moku Puni Council; and is the President of the Kaupe’a Homestead Association.