Land board approves transfer of 300-plus acres in Hilo to Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday authorized the transfer of more than 300 acres of state land in Waiākea, Hilo, to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

The transfer involves eight parcels now under the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Two are commercially zoned and could support industrial or commercial development intended to generate revenue. The remaining six parcels, located in Hilo’s town core, are considered suitable for connected residential and agricultural homestead development.

Gov. Josh Green called the action a step toward placing more Native Hawaiian beneficiaries on homestead lands.

“Getting Native Hawaiian beneficiaries onto the land has been a top priority of my administration,” Green said in a news release. The state awarded more than 2,500 leases in 2025 and expects to award about 3,000 this year, the most in state history, the governor said.

The transfer is part of the state’s continuing effort to fulfill requirements under Act 14, a 1995 law intended to compensate DHHL for the state’s use of Hawaiian home lands trust properties from Aug. 21, 1959, through July 1, 1988.

DLNR Chair Ryan Kanakaʻole said the approval moves the state closer to fully satisfying the land-transfer obligations established under the law.

“The parcels approved for transfer will provide meaningful opportunities for both homesteading and revenue generation, further supporting DHHL’s mission to provide for the economic self-sufficiency of Native Hawaiians,” Kanakaʻole said.

Before a final conveyance, DHHL will conduct due-diligence reviews of the properties, including title, environmental, cultural and infrastructure assessments. DLNR and DHHL will then continue discussions on the conveyance and any remaining Act 14 requirements.