DHHL responds to lawsuit over evictions of non-Native Hawaiians

LIHUE (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Department of Hawaiian Homelands is responding to a lawsuit against a housing project in East Kauai.

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The case involves the evictions of non-Native Hawaiian residents from the Courtyards at Waipouli Apartments.

DHHL Chair Kali Watson said in a statement the department is prepared to fight the lawsuit, arguing that it is an attack on the constitutionality of the Native Hawaiian rehabilitation program.

“Too many beneficiaries have been bypassed in the past, and in some cases have died waiting,” Watson said. “We will not allow this to continue even when attacked.”

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Two residents of the Courtyards at Waipouli Apartments filed the lawsuit after DHHL bought the complex last year with the intent to transform it into rent-to-own units for waitlisters.

“DHHL has the unique kuleana and constitutional mandate of serving the Native Hawaiian community and will continue to implement its homesteading program with diversified housing options available to our beneficiaries,” Watson said. “Projects like the Courtyards at Waipouli with its rent-to-own approach is a valuable pathway for waitlisters to transition into homeowners – particularly those who might not typically qualify for a mortgage on a turnkey unit.”

Read more: DHHL sued over evictions of non-Native Hawaiians in East Kauai project

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