Left to right: Charleene Cummings, Destiny Smith and ?ohana, Kaua?i Commissioner Dennis Neves.

ANAHOLA, KAUA?I – The joyful sounds of children playing and little bare feet running across the newly-poured pavement of a two-car garage on Anu Street in the Anahola homestead of Pi?ilani Mai Ke Kai signaled a bright new beginning for two Kaua?i families.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) presented beneficiaries Destiny Smith and Charleene Cummings with the keys to their new homes Thursday, December 19, 2024. The celebration included Kaua?i Commissioner Dennis Neves, Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) staff and other project partners.

“We take pride in celebrating every single family that steps foot into their new home,” said Kali Watson, DHHL director. “By offering affordable housing options through initiatives like NAHASDA, we pave the way for our beneficiaries’ success and ensure stability for generations to come.”

The homes were selected by the families to meet their specific needs and financial capabilities.

“I am sincerely grateful to all those who contributed to the NAHASDA funding, helping these families in living the dream of our beloved Prince Jonah K?hi? Kalaniana?ole – to place our people on the ??ina,” Neves said. “As a commissioner, we experience the fruits of our labor with events like this and I look forward to more of this type of assistance in the future.”

Enacted in 1996, NAHASDA transformed the way American Indians and Alaska Natives provided affordable housing on rural Indian reservations and Alaska Native villages. The Act facilitated enhanced partnerships with financial institutions and established a block grant program, empowering American Indians and Alaska Natives to decide how to effectively utilize federal funds to tackle affordable housing challenges.

Four years later, Congress amended NAHASDA by adding Title VIII, which enables comparable funding for eligible native Hawaiian families living on Hawaiian homelands. This applies to those whose total household income is at or below 80% of the designated area median income (AMI) for their specific counties.

DHHL is the designated recipient for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG) as administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Native American Programs (ONAP).

In Kaua?i county, the AMI for a single-person household is $74,350. Smith and Cummings recognized the NAHASDA program as a key component on their journey toward homeownership.

“This is a dream come true for us,” said Smith. “We didn’t think that we’d ever have a house to come home to and to be able to come home for Christmas is the best gift we could’ve received.”

The excitement was evident as families gathered, each person envisioning the memories they would create within the walls of their new homes. Among the features in her home, Smith looks forward to her new kitchen and espresso machine.

Cummings also delighted in the idea of spending time in her kitchen. When asked about the first dish she would prepare, she replied, “rum cakes.”

“I think I will enjoy it here for the rest of my life,” Cummings added.

All NAHASDA applicants are subject to income eligibility requirements and must participate in housing counseling as part of the program.

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B-ROLL (2:27)

SOUNDBITES

Destiny Smith, Anahola homesteader

 (:33 seconds)

“I think the opportunity would’ve been there but it wouldn’t have been in an affordable range of price, it would’ve been hard for us to pay $3,500 dollars a month compared to what we got, so Kalapaki would have to work more, I’d have to work more, and now I can probably stay home more with the kids, and help the kids grow and go to school and everything, and the money won’t be so stressful with this program.”

Destiny Smith, Anahola homesteader

(:36 seconds)

“It’s exciting, this is a dream come true for us, we didn’t think that we’d ever have a home to come home to with each other, and to be able to come home for Christmas this is like the best gift we could’ve received and for our kids they don’t realize how great it is now but I think eventually they’ll be so thankful for what we had to go through to do this and it just means everything for us, we’re going to have a very merry Christmas this year for sure.”

Charleene Cummings, Anahola homesteader

(:13 seconds)

“Maybe just watching family come over and enjoy, with the grandkids coming and going, and the greats.”

Charleene Cummings, Anahola homesteader

(:06 seconds)

“I think I will enjoy it here for the rest of my life.”