Hawaiian Home Lands director to step down after four-year term

Kali Watson, the director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, announced on Friday that he will not seek reappointment. His four-year term concludes on December 31.

Watson’s departure marks the end of a period defined by a sharp increase in housing availability for Native Hawaiian families. During his time in office, the department issued more than 5,300 leases. This output contrasts sharply with the previous decade, where the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act facilitated approximately 10,000 leases over 105 years.

The lease awards broke down as follows: 65 in 2023, 84 in 2024, 2,586 in 2025, and 2,570 in 2026. The department projects it will offer nearly 4,900 additional leases in 2027. Watson noted that the administration offered more than 5,200 homestead leases in just two years, a pace he described as historic progress toward fulfilling commitments to Native Hawaiian families.

Watson previously led the department from 1995 to 1998. In that earlier role, he coordinated the development of more than 3,100 residential lots. He also secured legislative funding and approval for a $600 million settlement between the state and the department. That settlement included the transfer of 16,518 acres of state land to the trust. Additionally, Watson played a key role in the transfer of more than 900 acres of federal lands under the Hawaiian Home Lands Recovery Act of 1995.

Gov. Josh Green praised Watson for bringing urgency to a waitlist that has spanned generations. Green stated that Watson pushed homestead projects forward across the state. The governor acknowledged that Watson helped ensure the families who waited the longest were at the center of the work.

“Governor Green, mahalo for your trust, your support and the opportunity to serve,” Watson said. “You understood that behind every name on our waiting list is a person, an ʻohana and a hope that has too often been deferred.”

Watson credited his staff for the department’s achievements. He said that much of the work involved processing applications, financing, engineering, and contracts away from the public eye. He expressed appreciation for the team’s efforts in getting families their keys.

Watson will spend the remainder of his term preparing for a transition. He plans to take a short break before returning to his development team. He intends to explore partnerships with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Aliʻi Trusts, and community organizations to support homesteading, farming, and commercial enterprises. His last day in office is December 31.