Native Hawaiian Council Weighs in on DHHL Audit Results

A native Hawaiian advocacy group today submitted suggestions on how to resolve problems revealed in an audit of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

The testimony from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement was presented at a meeting in Kona of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

The suggestions came during a roundtable discussion of the issues that surfaced in the state audit including DHHL’s high loan delinquency rate.

According to a DHHL spokesperson, the options presented included allowing reduced or suspended loan payments for a short period of time, adding the missed payments to the outstanding loan balance, a change in interest rates or extending the loan repayment period.

According to the DHHL statement, the council’s comments resulted from discussions held during its annual convention.

Feedback from the convention, as well as that submitted by other beneficiary organizations, will be helpful in assisting the department in better serving native Hawaiian beneficiaries, the spokesperson said.

“We appreciate the time and effort invested by CNHA and conference participants in helping us better serve our native Hawaiian beneficiaries,” said Jobie Masagatani, chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission and director of DHHL, which the commission oversees.

“The Department has already undertaken some of the suggestions presented, but there are others that warrant further discussion,” Masagatani said in the statement.

Founded in 2001, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is a network of more than 100 native Hawaiian organizations governed by a 15-member board of directors.