Groundbreaking Held For DHHL Subdivision in Waimea

A groundbreaking ceremony was held today in Waimea for the second phase of a Department of Hawaiian Home Lands subdivision.

DHHL officials said Phase 2A, Increment 1 of the Lalamilo development will provide 83 lots for DHHL beneficiaries, some of whom have been waiting since 1965. The phase consists of 35 acres of land on South Kohala Distribution Road, located two miles makai of the town’s center.

Infrastructure costing $11.3 million is planned for the subdivision and will include roadways, wastewater and water systems and other utilities. The project also includes a park and an archaeological preservation lot.

The infrastructure is being paid for from the Hawaiian Home Lands trust and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Hawaiian Home Lands trust funds and Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act.

“Today we celebrate with the ‘ohana who will plant roots here at the foot of the majestic Kohala Mountains,” said DHHL Director Jobie Masagatani. “These ‘ohana will lay the foundation for a growing and thriving Native Hawaiian community here in Waimea now and into the future.”

“This project is the result of years of hard work and decades of commitment to the vision set forth by Prince Kuhio,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie, “Returning native Hawaiians to the aina creates opportunities not just for our beneficiaries, but for all Hawaiians and all Hawaii.”

Construction is expected to begin next month and be completed within a year. Goodfellow Bros. is the contractor.

Phase 1 of the Lalamilo subdivision was completed in June 2011, and is now home to 28 native Hawaiian families, DHHL officials said.