DHHL Booklet
DHHL Booklet
DHHL Booklet
Ka ‘Aina
Ho‘opulapula
Applying for
Hawaiian Home Lands
into the program, however, depends largely upon you. In the course of
Aloha,
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
Me ka malama `ana, ulu pono ke kumu la`au
`ulu i kanu `ia a ho`opa`a `ia ma ka `aina ola mau.
Ho`olako ke kumu la`au o`o
i na mea `ai i na kanaka e `ai i kana hua.
Introduction
❧ ❧ ❧
2
In order to make the application process as smooth as possible, there
are certain things you need to know and do as an applicant. Since the
land benefits offered by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
(DHHL) are very valuable, it is important to understand that DHHL is
responsible for maintaining the integrity of the HHCA in administering
its programs. An essential element of this responsibility is requiring
applicants to demonstrate, through documentation, that they are eligible
for the program.
Eligibility Requirements
3
However, before starting your search for acceptable documents, kuka, or
consult with your `ohana. They are an invaluable source of information.
Once you've "talked story," you should be better prepared to begin gathering
the documentation needed to show eligibility for the program.
There are two categories of documents used in determining eligibility:
primary and secondary.
Primary Documents
The primary documents used to show you are of age and a qualified
native Hawaiian are:
❧ Yourself;
4
Sample of the PREFERRED birth certificate:
L E
P
A M
S
5
SAMPLE of Completed DOH
"Request For Certified Copy of BIRTH Record Form"
L E
P
A M
S
6
In order to process your application, DHHL utilizes information that is
found only on the original Certificate of Live Birth, which is either black or
green. This is a more complete record of your birth than the Certification of
Live Birth (a computer-generated printout). Submitting the original Certificate
of Live Birth will save you time and money since the computer-generated
Certification requires additional verification by DHHL.
When requesting a certified copy of your birth certificate from the Vital
Records Section of DOH, let the clerk know you are requesting it "For
DHHL Purposes," and that you need a copy of the original Certificate of
Live Birth and not the computer-generated Certification. If mailing in your
request form, please fill in "For DHHL Purposes" in the "Reason for
Requesting a Certified Copy" section. (See example on page 6.)
Please note that DOH no longer offers same day service. If you plan on
picking up your certified DOH document(s), you should allow at least 10
working days for DOH to process your request(s), OR four to six weeks if you
want your certified certificate(s) mailed to you.
In the event the Vital Records Section does not have a birth certificate for
any of your parents or grandparents, they will issue a "No-record" certification.
"No-record" certification means after searching its records, the DOH cannot find
the requested birth certificates. Please submit this "No-record" certification with
your other documents to DHHL.
If you are adopted, your biological birth record is probably sealed. In this
instance, DHHL staff may be able to assist you in getting the ethnicity of your
biological parents. Additionally, depending on your particular circumstance the
Family Court may be able to help you get the information you need. If your
adoption occurred in the State of Hawai‘i, you may be able to get a copy of your
original birth certificate. Access to out of state adoption records, however, vary
according to the respective jurisdiction.
Secondary Documents
There are times when the birth certificates for yourself and/or your parents
or grandparents are not available and you have gotten "No-record" certifications
from DOH. DHHL may accept secondary documents which assist in
establishing family ties or blood quantum in place of primary documents.
7
The following are some of the secondary documents which may be
used. The list is in the preferred order of priority:
❧ Employment records;
8
Birth Certificates (Adoption)
If you are adopted, you must establish proof of your native Hawaiian
ancestry through your biological parents, not your adoptive parents. In
the past Family Court records regarding adoptions have been sealed.
Under current Hawai`i State law, however, there are procedures by
which an adopted individual may obtain information contained in the
sealed records. In some cases DHHL staff may be able to assist you with
this process. (See Sections 578-14.5 and 578-15, Hawaii Revised
Statutes.)
Inconclusive Documents
DHHL staff may ask for additional documentation if, for example, a
nontraditional Hawaiian surname of "Bennett" is listed with the race
given as "Hawaiian". Another reason why more documentation might be
requested is if the age of the applicant doesn't match the age presented
on the document in question.
The state Department of Health, the state Archives, and the state
Bureau of Conveyances are just a few places where you can look for and
obtain primary and secondary documents. Certified copies of records
can be obtained for a fee.
The addresses, telephone numbers and office hours for several of
these sources can be found in the Appendix of this booklet.
Other sources are the state Circuit and Family Courts, the state
libraries, hospitals, schools, religious organizations, and the LDS Family
History Centers operated by the Mormon Church. Although personnel at
the History Centers will assist in your research, they will not do your
research for you.
You may also use copies of documents in DHHL's files of a relative
who is a homestead lessee or applicant. However, you must obtain
written permission from your relative in order for DHHL to use that
relative's genealogical information for your application.
Application Processing
10
Ho `akoakoa na hanauna o neia `ohana---
he mala ia, piha i ka na`auao
a me ke `oko`a maika`i.
You may not apply for all three types of homestead leases. Nor may
you apply for both an agricultural lot and a pastoral lot.
Although you may apply for leases on separate islands, you cannot
hold leases on separate islands. Say, for example, the first lease you
obtain is for a residential lot on O`ahu. You also applied for
agricultural land on Maui. At the time you are offered the agricultural
lot on Maui, you will have to decide which island you are going to
homestead, because you cannot have leases on two islands.
Lana`i Residential
12
Available Residential Awards
The homestead program offers a range of residential awards that
include, but are not limited to:
❧ 99-year lease;
❧ Minimal real property tax after the first seven years (applies only
to County of Kaua`i and City and County of Honolulu, O`ahu);
13
❧ Taxing of assessed value of improvements on property (Hawai`i and
Maui counties only);
Once you are ready to apply for a homestead lease, you may either call or go to
the DHHL Application's Office in Honolulu or the DHHL District Office closest to
you and ask for a homestead application packet. (See Appendix for the directory of
DHHL District Offices.)
Letter of Welcome
❧
❧ Application for Lease of Hawaiian Home Lands
❧ Addendum to Application
There are two ways to submit an application. You can mail in the completed
and notarized form, along with certified copies of the necessary documentation.
These certified copies will be returned to you. You may also submit your
application in person. Due to the increasing demand for homestead leases, an
appointment is necessary.
14
Please call one of the six DHHL district offices listed on page 1 of the
appendix to schedule an appointment, then bring in the necessary documentation
to the Application's Office in Honolulu or any of the five district offices on the
neighbor islands. You may have your documents notarized at any district office
free of charge.
Once your application is completed and accepted, it is time stamped, signed
by a DHHL representative, and filed in the order it is received. A confirmation
letter with a copy of the application will be mailed to you.
15
❧ The successor is your spouse, child*, grandchild, father or mother,
widow or widower of a child, brother or sister, widow or
widower of a brother or sister, or niece or nephew.
16
E pulama i ka `aina.
Ho mai i ke ola.
E hi`ipoi i ka `ohana.
Ho mai i ke ola ho'i.
18
Will my chances be better if I choose a shorter waiting list?
Not necessarily. It would depend on your employment opportunities
on that island, the quality of available lands, and the design and
construction projections for that island.
Can you own a non-homestead home at the time you apply for a
Hawaiian homestead lease?
Yes. Owning non-homestead property does not disqualify you from
receiving a lease. However, should you receive a residential homestead
lease, you must be the owner-occupant.
19
Is the 50 percent blood quantum requirement going to be
lowered?
Presently, DHHL does not have plans to lower the 50 percent blood
quantum. DHHL's first obligation is to those on the existing waiting list
and the many qualified native Hawaiians who have yet to apply for a
homestead. Any changes in the blood quantum requirement will require
state legislative and congressional action.
20
How come I wasn't given an award, yet I know someone who
applied after me already has a lease?
There may be a number of reasons. For example, a lessee may have
received a lease as a result of a transfer from another lessee or through
successorship from a deceased relative.
❧ ❧ ❧
❧ ❧ ❧
21
Ma mua o kau huki `ana i ke kalo,
Ma mua o kau lawe `ana i ka i`a,
Ma mua o kau `ako `ana i ka `ulu---
E nonoi mua i ka `ae `ana no ka mea,
ho`ike ia i ka mahalo no na mea ola apau loa.
O`ahu Office
Kaua`i District Office
Homestead Applications Branch
Street and Mailing Address:
Street Address:
3060 Eiwa Street, Room 203
1099 Alakea Street, Suite 1230
Lıhu`e, Hawai`i 96766-1886
Honolulu, Hawai`i 96813
Tel: 274-3131 Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 1879
Honolulu, Hawai`i 96805
i
DOCUMENT RESOURCE CENTERS
ii
LDS FAMILY HISTORY CENTERS
(Search the WorldWide Web at www.familysearch.org for
more center locations and information. Please call individual
centers for hours of operation.)
O`AHU HAWAI`I
Honolulu Hilo
1560 S. Beretania Street 1373 Kılauea Avenue
Honolulu, Hawai`i 96826 Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Tel: 955-8910 Tel: 935-0711
Kane`ohe KAUA`I
46-177 Halaulani Street Lıhu`e
Kane`ohe, Hawai`i 96744 4580 Ehiku Street
Tel: 247-3134 Lıhu`e, Hawai`i 96766
Tel: 246-9119
La`ie
55-600 Naniloa Loop MAUI
La`ie, Hawai`i 96762 Kahului
Tel: 293-2133 25 West Kamehameha Avenue
Kahului, Hawai`i 96732
Mililani Tel: 871-8841
95-1039 Meheula Parkway
Mililani, Hawai`i 96789 MOLOKA`I
Tel: 623-1712 Kaunakakai
35-100 Kamehameha Highway
Waipahu/Makakilo Kalama‘ula, Hawai`i
94-210 Kahuali`i Street Tel: 553-5296
Waipahu, Hawai`i 96797
Tel: 678-0752
iii
SAMPLE
"Application for Lease of Hawaiian Home Lands"
iv
SAMPLE
"Designation of Successor to Application Rights
for Homestead Lease"
v
SAMPLE
"Kumu `Ohana Worksheet"
vi
SAMPLE OF COMPLETED
"Kumu `Ohana Worksheet"
vii
Department of
Hawaiian Home Lands
Chairman's Office
1099 Alakea Street, Suite 2000
Honolulu, Hawai`i 96813
Telephone: (808) 586-3800
FAX: (808) 586-3899
Writer:
Michele Lum Molina
Illustrator:
Reiko N. Tom
Printer:
Pacific Printing & Publishing
*This booklet is meant to assist you with the application process for obtaining
Hawaiian home lands. It is not an administrative rule book. If you wish to
view the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ Administrative Rules, please
contact the district office in your area.
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
State of Hawai`i
August 2000