Righth image, Kaulana H.R. Park (far right), DHHL director, gives Melveen Hoomanawanui the key to her new home as Mayor Carvalho (far left) and her family look on.
Left image, Homes in Piilani Mai Ke Kai, Phase 1, Increment 1

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) turned over the first homes on Nov. 4 in the 172-unit Piilani Mai Ke Kai affordable residential subdivision in Anahola, Kauai.
“This project provides affordable homes at a time when housing is out of reach for so many of Hawaii’s people,” says Kaulana H.R. Park, DHHL director and chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.
The first homes are part of the first increment of 36 homes that were awarded in early 2009.
The project is being developed in three phases under the department’s Undivided Interest Awards program, which provides a homestead lease without the need to financially qualify for a mortgage until the homes are ready for construction, usually in two to three years. That time is used by the lessees to financially qualify for a mortgage and by the department to build the infrastructure for the subdivision.
“It is great to see these homes being completed and even better to see families move in,” said Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr. at the turnover event. “This project provides much needed jobs and affordable homes, and those families who will be moving in soon deserve credit for working hard to become new homeowners.”
The department continues to build green, with all homes equipped with solar water heating systems, low-flow plumbing fixtures, energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, Energy Star appliances, and double E-rated windows and sliding doors for added insulation.
Coastal Construction Co., Inc. was the home building contractor for the first phase. Four models — ranging from a 1,056-square-foot, three-bedroom, two bath Aheahe model at $199,000 to the four-bedroom, two-bath Malua model with 1,539 square feet of living space at $260,000 — are being offered.
The Piilani Mai Ke Kai subdivision is approximately 71 acres.
Cost of on-site improvements for Phase 1 is $9.03 million and is funded from two sources: $5.83 million from the Hawaiian Home Land Trust Fund and $3.20 million from the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant. Delta Construction Corp. was the sitework contractor.