$1.5M in Federal Funds to DHHL for Moloka‘i Water Improvements

Department of Hawaiian Homelands Logo.

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will receive $1.59 million in US Department of Agriculture funding to improve water infrastructure of the Hoʻolehua Water System on Molokaʻi.

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaiʻi) made the announcement today saying, “More than 2,000 Molokaʻi residents depend on the Hoʻolehua Water System for reliable water service.  This USDA funding will support DHHL’s ongoing efforts to modernize the Hoʻolehua Water System. I will continue to work with federal stakeholders to ensure that all Hawaiʻi residents, including those living on Hawaiian Home Lands, have access to safe drinking water.”

Jobie M.K. Masagatani, Chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission said, “The USDA funds will help us to modernize this historic water system that serves our first two homesteads of Hoʻolehua and Kalamaula, created almost 100 years ago under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920. And, the federal funds will help ensure continuous water delivery to serve more generations of our beneficiaries on the island of Molokaʻi.”

The USDA award will assist DHHL in implementing a robust plan to improve the transmission and reliability of the Hoʻolehua Water System.

Additionally, the funding will be used to increase the sustainability of the water system and lessen the number of unexpected losses of water service, as well as reduce the system’s annual energy costs through increases in the water storage capacity and improvements to water safety, security, and water pressure.