Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Honokōwai Homestead Community – Master Plan and Environmental Review

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is developing a land-use plan and seeking environmental approvals for an agriculture homestead community on approximately 800 acres of land at Honokōwai within the Ka‘anapali Moku on Maui. The purpose of the project is to develop a master plan of these lands with a focus on providing agriculture homesteading opportunities to DHHL’s Maui Island Waiting List beneficiaries. 

DHHL’s Administrative Rules were amended in March 2017 to include a new smaller Agriculture Homestead Lease. This Subsistence Agriculture Homestead Lease provides space for a small family farm, not to exceed three acres. The Administrative Rules require lessees of these smaller subsistence agriculture homestead lots to cultivate their lots with plants and/or animals. A Farm Plan and cultivation of at least two-thirds of the usable acreage of the lot are not required for Subsistence Agriculture Homestead Leases. Construction of a house and residence on the lot is optional.

County of Maui Issue and Opportunities Related to Honokōwai 

• Invitation to a Beneficiary Consultation Meeting Regarding a Water Credit Agreement with Maui County -July 2, 2018
• DHHL West Maui Fact Sheet presented to the West Maui Community Plan Advisory Committee – January 21, 2020  
• DHHL Testimony before the Maui County Council Affordable Housing Committee Regarding Water and Sewer Credits to DHHL for Homestead and Agricultural Lots in Lahaina – June 7, 2021 

Upcoming Meeting:

• Honokōwai Homestead Community Master Plan Beneficiary Informational Meeting – November 8, 2021, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Meeting Invitation

Project Schedule and Environmental Review Documents 

Timeframe	Honokōwai Action
September 25, 2019	Beneficiary Planning Meeting #1 BC1 Meeting Invitation Letter BC1 Meeting #1 PowerPoint Presentation BC1 Participant Agriculture Survey BC1 Discussion Board and Results BC1 Meeting Summary
October 2019	Request for Pre-assessment consultation information Pre-Assessment Consultation Letter Requesting Information from Agencies
October 2019 – March 2020	Data collection and preparation of technical studies for Master plan concepts.
February 26, 2020	Beneficiary Planning Meeting #2 BC2 Invitation Postcard BC2 Concept Alternative Handout #1 BC2 Concept Alternative Handout #2 BC2 Concept Alternative Handout #3 BC2 PowerPoint Presentation
November 12, 2020	Beneficiary Planning Meeting #3 BC3 Invitation Postcard BC3 PowerPoint Presentation  BC3 Meeting Summary  Selection of Preferred Master Plan (MP) Alternative
June 2021	Presentation of the DHHL Honokōwai Master Plan Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to the Hawaiian Homes Commission (HHC) Written Submittal on the Master Plan, Summarizing Land Uses, Proposed Infrastructure, Potential Impacts and Proposed Mitigation Measures.   PowerPoint Presentation
July 2021	Publication of the DHHL Honokōwai Master Plan Draft Environmental Assessment EA in The Environmental Notice (July 8, 2021) DHHL Honokōwai Master Plan Draft Environmental Assessment, Anticipated Finding of No Significant Impact
July 2021 – August 2021	Public comment period on the Draft EA PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BEGINS:  JULY 8, 2021 DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS:  AUGUST 9, 2021
August 2021 – September 2021	Respond to comments received and revise the Draft EA.
November 8, 2021	Honokōwai Homestead Community Master Plan Beneficiary Informational Meeting – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Meeting Invitation
January 2022	Presentation of Final EA to the HHC for Approval and Finding of No Significant Impact (G-1)
February 2022	Final Environmental Assessment