The Hawaiian Homes Commission has officially approved the “Indigent Native Hawaiian Homesteading Pilot Project,” granting a one-year right of entry permit to De Mont Kalai Manaole to manage a two-acre parcel on Lualualei Homestead Road.
According to Honolulu KHNL, the project seeks to address environmental neglect, including illegal dumping, while providing Native Hawaiians an opportunity to reconnect with their ancestral lands.
Manaole, who has faced personal struggles, including previous incarceration, views this initiative as a path toward redemption and community empowerment. As described by Evrim Ağacı, he plans to transform the land into a self-sufficient community hub with meeting tents, sanitary facilities, and sustainable gardens. His vision aligns with efforts to promote sustainable living and tackle systemic barriers that have historically limited land access for Native Hawaiians.
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has endorsed the project, highlighting its alignment with their mission to return Native Hawaiians to the land, Hawaii News Now reports. Community advocates see this pilot initiative as a critical step toward addressing historical inequities while fostering cultural preservation and environmental stewardship.
This project represents a broader movement to empower Native Hawaiians through land reclamation and sustainable development, with hopes that it will serve as a model for similar programs in the future.
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