🌺 Hawaiian Home Lands

Home Lands. Home People.

DHHL is more than real estate. It's a 200,000-acre legacy left to us by Prince Kūhiō — a permanent place for Native Hawaiians to live, plant, build, and raise our keiki on our own ʻāina.

If you're a beneficiary, an applicant, or someone trying to understand a lease transfer — you're in the right place. I walk this with you, every step. 🌺

🌺 The Foundation

What is DHHL?

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is a State of Hawaiʻi agency that administers the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 — federal legislation that set aside roughly 200,000 acres of trust land across our islands as a permanent homeland for Native Hawaiians.

Its purpose, in plain words: return Native Hawaiians to their land. Help them live, farm, ranch, and raise families on the ʻāina that was once taken. Build self-sufficient homestead communities that last in perpetuity — not for sale, not for development, but kept in trust for future generations of beneficiaries.

To qualify as a beneficiary, you must be a Native Hawaiian of 50% or more Hawaiian blood quantum. Once awarded, you receive a 99-year lease on a homestead lot for $1 per year. Leases can be passed down to qualifying heirs (1/4 blood quantum for successors), or transferred under specific DHHL rules — like the ERTS process for transfers between living parties.

Today, more than 10,000 Hawaiian families live on DHHL homestead land. The waitlist for an award is long — often decades — but for those who walk it through, it's one of the most meaningful pathways to home ownership in Hawaiʻi. 🌺

🌺 Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana

Prince Kūhiō.

Prince of the People.

Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole was born March 26, 1871 on Kauaʻi — heir to the Hawaiian throne. After the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, Kūhiō joined the resistance, served a year in prison for treason against the new government, and could have walked away from public life forever.

Instead, he came back. He served as Hawaiʻi's territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress for nearly 20 years — fighting for his people from inside a system that had stripped them of their land and their kingdom.

His final and most enduring act was the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, signed July 9, 1921. It set aside 200,000 acres for Native Hawaiian homesteading. He died of exhaustion six months later, on January 7, 1922 — given the last state funeral ever held in Hawaiʻi for an aliʻi.

"Stick together and try to agree to the best of your ability to meet the most important problem: the rehabilitation of our race." — Prince Kūhiō, his final days

Every DHHL lease, every homestead, every keiki growing up on Hawaiian Home Lands — they exist because Prince Kūhiō refused to give up.

🌺 Watch & Learn

DHHL, Explained — Short Videos

Plain-English answers to the questions Hawaiian Home Lands families ask most — leases, transfers, awards, and what to expect along the way.

My Tūtū Chose Not to Accept the Award

What's Up With These Prices? DHHL Recipients Get the Letter

DHHL Awardees Cannot Sell the Lease

DHHL Lease Transfers: Expect Delays & Poor Communication

🌺 The Walk-Home

How I Help.

DHHL transactions are different. Different timelines, different paperwork, different rules — and a different kind of patience. Here's how we walk it together.

1

Talk Story First.

Before we touch a single piece of paperwork, we sit down. I want to understand your situation — applicant, beneficiary, heir, transferring? What's the goal? What's the timeline? Some DHHL questions can be answered in 15 minutes. Some take months to map. Either way, no charge for the conversation.

2

Eligibility & Documents.

For new applications: we make sure you have everything DHHL requires for blood quantum verification — birth certificates, genealogical records, OHA documentation. For transfers: we map who's on the lease, who needs to sign, what DHHL needs to approve before we can move. Paperwork is where DHHL deals fall apart. We get it right the first time.

3

Application or ERTS Filing.

For applicants: we file with DHHL and you join the waitlist. For lease transfers: we file the Extension Right To Sell (ERTS) and start coordinating with DHHL Beneficiary Services. I handle the agency communication so you're not stuck refreshing your inbox waiting on Karen at DHHL.

4

Lender + Escrow Coordination.

DHHL financing is a different animal. Not every Hawaiʻi lender does it. I work with lenders who actually know DHHL — Hawaiʻi Community Lending, NFM with Jamaica Canas, and others — plus escrow officers who've handled DHHL transfers before. The team I put around your file matters.

5

Closing & Beyond.

DHHL closings have extra signatures, extra approvals, and timelines that can stretch. I keep you posted at every milestone — and after closing, I stay your DHHL person. Lease questions, successor planning, future transfers — you call me, not a 1-800 number. 🌺

🌺 Common Questions

DHHL Q&A.

The questions I get asked most. If yours isn't here, send it my way — I'll answer and add it.

Who qualifies for a DHHL lease?

You must be a Native Hawaiian of 50% or more Hawaiian blood quantum as defined by the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921. Successors (those inheriting a lease) need a minimum of 1/4 Hawaiian blood quantum.

How long is the DHHL waitlist?

It varies by island and lot type. Some applicants wait 20+ years. The waitlist is by application date, so the sooner you apply (if you qualify), the better. Don't wait to file — you can always pass on offers and stay in line.

Can I sell a DHHL lease?

Yes — but only to qualifying Native Hawaiians (50% blood quantum or more), and only with DHHL approval through the Extension Right To Sell (ERTS) process. You can't sell a DHHL lease on the open market. The buyer must be on the DHHL waitlist or an approved successor.

What is ERTS?

Extension Right To Sell (ERTS) is the legal process DHHL uses to approve a lease transfer between two parties. It involves DHHL Beneficiary Services reviewing both the seller and buyer, verifying eligibility, valuing improvements, and approving the transaction. It typically takes 4-9 months — faster if everything's prepared, slower if documents are missing.

Can I pass my lease to my children?

Yes — through a successor designation. Your designated successor must have at least 1/4 Hawaiian blood quantum. Designating a successor is one of the most important steps every lessee should take. Without it, the lease can revert to DHHL on your passing.

What does a DHHL lease cost?

The lease itself is $1 per year for 99 years. You'd still pay for any home/improvements on the lot, plus property taxes, utilities, and HOA fees if applicable. For transfers, the buyer typically pays the seller for improvements (the home, additions, landscaping) — not the land itself.

Can I get a regular mortgage on DHHL land?

Not exactly. Because it's leasehold (not fee simple), most mainstream lenders won't finance DHHL transactions. You'll need a DHHL-experienced lender like Hawaiʻi Community Lending, USDA Rural Development, or specific local lenders who understand the leasehold structure. I have a vetted lender shortlist for every transaction.

Why does an ERTS take so long?

DHHL has to verify both parties' eligibility, review all transfer documents, get appraisals on improvements, run beneficiary background checks, and coordinate with the Hawaiian Homes Commission for approval. It's a thorough process designed to protect the trust. Patience is part of the deal — but having an experienced agent shortens the wait significantly by getting paperwork right the first time.

🏝️ Step 1

Browse Active Listings

See the DHHL homes currently on the market across O'ahu and the neighbor islands. Each listing shows price, key details, and the listing agent's contact info.

View Active Listings →

📋 Step 2

Tell Me What You're Looking For

Area, bedrooms, budget, timeline, must-haves. Whether you're a beneficiary buying a re-sale or want to understand the waitlist process — I'll meet you where you are and send you matches as they come up.

🌺 Step 3

We Walk Through the Process Together

DHHL transactions have unique requirements — beneficiary verification, blood quantum, lease assignment. I handle them in plain English so you're never lost.

🌺 Important Disclosures Regarding DHHL

Not Affiliated With the State of Hawaiʻi or DHHL: Sascha Thompson and Agency Team Hawaiʻi / eXp Realty are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the State of Hawaiʻi, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), the Hawaiian Homes Commission, or any branch of state or federal government. Information shared on this page is provided as a courtesy and educational resource for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries and prospective applicants.

DHHL Authority: All DHHL programs, eligibility requirements (including blood quantum requirements), waitlist procedures, transfer rules (ERTS), succession rights, and lease terms are determined exclusively by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921. For specific eligibility, application status, or program details, contact DHHL directly at dhhl.hawaii.gov or call DHHL at 808-620-9500.

Information May Change: DHHL policies, lease terms, blood quantum requirements, transfer procedures, and waitlist times are subject to change by action of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, the Hawaiʻi Legislature, or the U.S. Congress. While I strive for accuracy, the information on this page reflects publicly available DHHL guidance at the time of writing and should be verified against current DHHL sources before making any decisions.

Not Legal, Tax, or Financial Advice: Information about DHHL leases, succession, blood quantum, transfers, and beneficiary rights involves complex legal, financial, and cultural considerations. Nothing on this page constitutes legal, tax, financial, or government program advice. For specific DHHL legal questions, consult a Hawaiʻi attorney experienced in Native Hawaiian law. For tax implications, consult a qualified tax professional.

DHHL-Experienced Lenders: Standard mortgage lenders typically do not finance DHHL leasehold transactions. Specialized lenders such as Hawaiʻi Community Lending, USDA Rural Development, and select local lenders work specifically with DHHL beneficiaries. Any lenders mentioned on this site are personal recommendations based on past working relationships. Sascha Thompson does not receive compensation, referral fees, or other payments from any lender in exchange for referrals.

Cultural Respect: DHHL exists to fulfill the trust established by Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole and codified in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 — to return Native Hawaiians to their land. Sascha Thompson approaches DHHL transactions with deep respect for this kuleana (responsibility), the cultural significance of homestead lands, and the sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian community.

Equal Opportunity: Sascha Thompson serves all DHHL beneficiaries equally and does not discriminate based on family situation, lease type, geographic location, or any protected class.