Schatz, local leaders discuss expanding housing access for Native Hawaiians

US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led a roundtable discussion with local leaders about innovations and partnerships that are helping to expand housing access for Native Hawaiians. 

“Hawai‘i’s housing crisis affects everyone, including Native Hawaiians,” said Vice Chair Schatz. “We simply have to make it easier to build housing. I appreciated hearing directly from leaders who are working every day to get more housing built about what we can do to help.”

Schatz was joined in the discussion by Hawai‘i State Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa; Kali Watson, Chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission; Kūhiō Lewis, President and CEO of the Hawaiian Council; Lee Wang, Executive Director of Housing Hawai‘i’s Future; and Damien Waikoloa, Chapter Lead of Hawai‘i YIMBY.

Earlier this year, he introduced the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act Modernization Act, comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and modernize federal housing programs serving Native Hawaiians and other Native communities.