COVID-19 Updates

This page was last updated and archived on October 1, 2022. See the below link for State of Hawaii COVID-19 information.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is closely monitoring the latest developments regarding the COVID-19 virus and is in communication with the Governor’s Office and the State Department of Health. Please find pertinent details about DHHL activities and information for beneficiaries below.

DHHL Office Hours and Services

  • State of Hawaii COVID-19 Building Entry Requirements (effective September 13, 2021)
  • DHHL’s offices have reopened to the public for walk-in payments and pre-scheduled appointments.
    • DHHL’s Kapolei Office Cashier Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • Beneficiaries seeking transfers, successorships, or other services will be handled on an appointment-only basis. Click here for DHHL office phone numbers.
  • In the interest of social distancing, if you are able to mail in your payment please continue to do so:
    • All payments should be mailed to P.O. Box 1721, Honolulu, HI 96806.
    • Only checks, cashier’s checks, or money orders will be accepted.

COVID-19 Relief Programs

DHHL COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program

  • Eligibility
    • Eligible renter households are those with incomes of no more than 80% of area median income (AMI) who also meet the following conditions.
    • Priority is given to households with incomes of no more than 50% of AMI as well as to households in which one or more household members were unemployed for 90 days prior to application. The DHHL has worked with its service provider on a system for prioritizing assistance.  Visit hawaiiancouncil.org/kokua for more information and to apply.
    • One or more individuals in the household have qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced another financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the coronavirus outbreak; and
    • One or more individuals in the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability. This may include a past due rental or utility notice, an eviction notice of unsafe or unhealthy living conditions (such as overcrowding), or any other evidence of risk.
    • Rental assistance provided to an eligible household should not be duplicative of any other federally funded rental assistance provided to such household.
  • Qualified Expenses (Assistance can be used to pay for:)
    • Rental arrears and future rent payments
    • Delinquent and future utility and home energy payments
    • Other qualified expenses related to housing
  • Payments
    • Assistance will be paid directly to the landlord or the utility provider.

DHHL Direct Loan Payments

March 15, 2021: Mortgage Loan Deferral Extended for DHHL Borrowers

Dec. 14, 2020: Mortgage Loan Deferral Extended for DHHL Borrowers

September 24, 2020 – HHC Approves DHHL Loan Deferral Extension

March 24, 2020 – HHC Approves DHHL Loan Deferral (Direct Loans and Loans Assigned to DHHL)

The action is an opportunity for beneficiaries with direct loans and loans assigned to DHHL to defer mortgage payments for a period of six months, effective with the April 2020 payment.

VIDEO: Hawaiian Homes Commission Chair William J. Aila, Jr. discusses HHC decision

  • How does it work?
    • If you have a loan directly with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, you may defer your loan payment(s) for up to six months under the recent Hawaiian Homes Commission action.
    • Loans qualified under the deferment include DHHL Direct Loans or loans assigned to DHHL (an easy way to know if you qualify is if you write a check payable to DHHL for your loan).
    • There is no application process to enroll in the deferment period. All qualified loans will automatically be deferred, beginning with the April 2020 payment.
    • Qualified lessees may choose to defer fewer than six months of payments depending on their financial relief needs.
    • The Department urges anyone able to make loan payments to continue to do so. Lessees are not required to use the deferral. Those who are able to continue to make regularly scheduled payment(s) are highly encouraged to do so by continuing to make their payment(s) as usual. Borrowers will continue to receive monthly statements from DHHL.
  • Additional notes: 
    • Deferred loan payments are not forgiven. Deferred payments will be moved to the end of the loan and the full balance of the loan is still payable.
    • If your mortgage is with a private lender and you are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 outbreak, please contact your lender as soon as possible.
      • Private lender loans could include but are not limited to HomeStreet Bank, Bank of Hawaii, VA, or a local Credit Union.
      • The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides relief for homeowners with government-guaranteed mortgages.  Homeowners with mortgages backed by the FHA, USDA, VA, HUD Section 184a, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac are eligible for loan forbearance for up to one year without fees, penalties, or additional interest. Click here for additional information.
    • On April 21, 2020, the Hawaiian Homes Commission approved the deferral of loan payments, from March 2020 until October 2020, for beneficiaries with an agreed-upon monthly payment plan who are currently going through the contested case process.
  • Need More Information?
    • Call (808) 620-9500 to be connected with a DHHL loan officer.

Facility Reservations

  • Camping permits and facility reservations statewide will not be accepted until further notice.

Travel

Community

  • Community concerns or issues of lawlessness on homesteads should be directed to local law enforcement.

Public Notices

Official Government COVID-19 Resources

For the latest official information about COVID-19 and related resources click below:

Additional Resources

Hawaiian Homes Commission Meetings