Indigent Native Hawaiian project gets green light

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - An extremely poor Native Hawaiian will be a caretaker for some vacant land in West Oahu through a pilot project approved by the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

De Mont Kalai Manaole, 60, calls the two-acre property on Lualualei Homestead Road “Da ‘Āina.”

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands property is raw land and has been a magnet for illegal dumping.

“You couldn’t even walk up here,” said Manaole.

On Tuesday, the Hawaiian Homes Commission approved the “Indigent Native Hawaiian Homesteading Pilot Project” giving Manaole a year-long right of entry permit, essentially making him the caretaker here.

Everything is off-the-grid.

There’s a tent for meetings, bathroom and shower, a container for sleeping, a small fruit and vegetable garden, and a chicken coop to raise food.

After the commission’s approval, Manaole got a huge donation of soil and coconuts so he can grow even more.

Almost a year ago, Manaole held a peaceful protest here placing signs on vacant DHHL parcels because Native Hawaiians are dying on the 29,000 person waitlist for land.

DHHL had offered Manaole two different homestead lots on Hawaii island, but the ex-convict who spent 28 years in prison for attempted murder and other crimes, couldn’t qualify for a bank loan.

Hawaii News Now asked how it feels going from prisoner to protestor to partner.

“It’s an emotional thing because we’ve been waiting 103 years. Indigent Native Hawaiians have been waiting 103 years since the creation of the act to actually be on the ʻāina” said Manaole.

His own journey is focused on helping other indigent Native Hawaiians and bringing life back to this land.

“When you get back to the ʻāina, you work the ʻāina, you going heal,” he said.

“The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supports innovation and will continue to work with the Hawaiian Homes Commission, and its beneficiaries, to get our people on the land. The pilot project approved Tuesday exemplifies that commitment. We will partner closely with the individual involved to ensure all agreements are met and appropriate stewardship practices are maintained,” said DHHL in a statement.

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