Decades in the Making

91 Maui ʻOhana Awarded Homesteads in Waikapū

Decades in the Making: 91 Maui ʻOhana Awarded Homesteads in Waikapū

WAIKAPŪ, MAUI — After decades of hoping, waiting, and holding on to faith, 91 Native Hawaiian families are finally stepping into a long-awaited dream: homeownership in Maui’s newest Hawaiian homestead community, Puʻuhona Phase II.

Earlier this month, nearly 100 Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) beneficiaries gathered for an emotional lot selection event in Waikapū. Names were read aloud for nearly four hours — some applicants having waited since the late 1980s — as ʻohana chose from a range of turnkey homes based on size, price, and location. The moment marked more than a housing milestone — it was a return to ʻāina, to history, and to a promise made generations ago.

Puʻuhona Phase II: A New Chapter in Waikapū

Set against the stunning landscape of Central Maui, Puʻuhona Phase II will include 91 single-family homes, ranging from two to five bedrooms, priced between $411,422 and $699,000. Construction is expected to be completed by February 2026, with homes designed for both modern comfort and rootedness in community.

“This project is not just about building homes,” said DHHL Director Kali Watson. “It’s about rebuilding ancestral connections, creating opportunities, and empowering generations to thrive on the ʻāina.”

Watson echoed the vision of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, who championed the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act to restore land to Native Hawaiians — not only to live on, but to thrive with pride and purpose.

“A Bright Light at the End of the Tunnel”

For many awardees, the journey here has been marked by perseverance through heartbreak, housing insecurity, and the rising cost of living on Maui. For Sheldean Dudoit of Makawao, the news came after years of doubt and struggle.

“I really thought, like, aww man, I was giving up hope,” Dudoit shared. “But my sister was like, ‘Yo, you’re going to get something, just hang in there.’ So I just had to keep the faith — and it all paid off. Now I can say I have a place to call home for my kids and me. That means everything.”

A Promise Still to Be Fulfilled

Governor Josh Green also recognized the significance of this moment and the work still ahead.

“The wait for a home should never be measured in decades,” Green said. “These 91 families have endured against all odds. We have a responsibility to them — and to every Native Hawaiian still waiting — to move faster, build smarter, and deliver on the promise of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.”

Last summer, 52 homes were awarded in Puʻuhona Phase I — the first such awards on Maui in over 17 years. Those families are expected to move in this summer.

With six DHHL projects now in development on Maui totaling more than 1,600 planned units, the future is brighter — but not without continued advocacy, action, and hope.

“Don’t Give Up”

Director Watson’s message to families still on the waitlist is simple but powerful: “Don’t give up.”

Every name called in Waikapū was a reminder of the patience, perseverance, and unshakable hope that defines Native Hawaiian resilience. Puʻuhona is more than a housing project — it’s a living symbol of restoration and renewal, where ʻohana can plant roots and build legacies.

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