HIRONO MEETS WITH DHHL CHAIR, VOWS CONTINUED FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR NATIVE HAWAIIANS

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono expressed her continued commitment to affordable housing for Native Hawaiian families during a meeting today with Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) Chair Jobie Masagatani.

“I appreciate the opportunity to meet with Chair Masagatani and express my continued commitment to both affordable housing for Native Hawaiian families and continuing our trust responsibility to this indigenous population. It is important that the federal government and DHHL work together to meet these critical needs,” Hirono said. “I will keep fighting to ensure the Senate reauthorizes the important programs contained in my Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act, and I plan to communicate closely with DHHL to ensure we appropriately and effectively serve Native Hawaiian families.”

Hirono introduced the Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act earlier this year, which would reauthorize the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant. The bill also reauthorizes the 184A loan guarantee program, which provides an avenue for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries to secure financing to purchase a home on Hawaiian Home Lands.