State, federal agencies to collaborate on Hawaiian homes

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

Officials from the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands yesterday signed an accord with federal agriculture authorities that they say will lead to more joint projects promoting home ownership and agricultural enterprises for Hawaiians.

The memorandum of understanding is the first agreement of its kind between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a state agency, Gov. Linda Lingle said.

The governor was joined at the signing ceremony by department director Micah Kane and James Moseley, deputy secretary of the U.S. Agriculture Department.

Kane said his department had identified 86 projects that could qualify for loans or grants through the Agriculture Department's Rural Development division, and that talks had to proceed quickly. The state has a narrow window of time in which to institutionalize a relationship so it isn't stymied by a presidential election, he said.

Lingle said she hoped the agreement represented a federal commitment to work more closely with Hawai'i on development projects.

"I can't stress enough to you how important it is to go to Washington, D.C., and be accepted the way we are," she said.

A working team will be established to coordinate joint projects, Kane said. The collaborative approach could help the Homelands Department fulfill its goal to develop planned communities rather than isolated clusters of homes.

"This is not about building houses. It's about creating communities," Lingle said. "That's what Hawaiian Home Lands is focusing on doing now."

The Rural Development programs not only finance house building, Moseley said, but also underwrite development of roads, water systems and other public facilities that can be shared with adjacent, non-Hawaiian communities.

Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.