• WHHA History & Timeline

    On the southern slopes of Haleakalā, the community of Waiohuli began its journey in 1986, when the first homestead leases were awarded to Native Hawaiian families. This milestone planted the seeds of a neighborhood that would grow steadily through the vision, resilience, and determination of its people.

    By 1999, the lessees came together to form the Waiohuli Hawaiian Homesteaders Association (WHHA). Their mission was simple but powerful: to serve residents of the Waiohuli Kula Lots subdivisions, foster community ties, and build a strong foundation for generations to come.

    In 2005, WHHA gained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, opening doors to greater opportunities for support and growth. The following year, in 2006, the Association created its first Strategic
    Plan—a roadmap that continues to guide the community today. One of its earliest dreams was
    to establish a place where families could gather, learn, and thrive together.

    That vision took root in 2007, when WHHA secured 5 acres of land from DHHL for community use. By 2009, an additional 12 acres were added, creating the grounds for what would become
    He Piko No Waiohuli, the community’s gathering place and park.

    The years that followed saw steady progress. In 2010, WHHA participated in the Keokea–Waiohuli Regional Plan, identifying priorities like water development and a future
    community facility. With a $250,000 DHHL grant in 2012, WHHA worked with architects to
    design a master plan for the community center site—plans that still guide development today.
    Legislative grants helped fund the community kitchen, amphitheater, gardens, and comfort
    station, shaping He Piko into the vibrant hub it is becoming.

    In 2018, WHHA’s efforts expanded with the launch of the WE-DO initiative (Waiohuli Economic Development Opportunity). Later that year, a request was submitted to DHHL for
    land to bring WE-DO to life. By 2019, beneficiary consultations were held, and the Hawaiian
    Homes Commission granted access to 150 acres adjacent to Waiohuli, beginning a new
    chapter of growth.

    Partnerships soon followed. In 2020, WHHA entered into a public-private partnership with Pueo

    Development, seeking ways to create jobs, housing, renewable energy, and
    infrastructure for the community. Despite delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, WHHA and its
    partners pushed forward—securing approvals, legislative support, and special-purpose revenue
    bonds to move WE-DO closer to reality.

    From 2021 through 2023, WHHA achieved landmark progress:

    ● Governor approval of $80 million in bonds for WE-DO.

    ● Multiple DHHL and legislative grants totaling more than $1.7 million for capacity building, operations, and facility improvements.


    ● Preliminary approval of a 65-year general lease for the WE-DO lands.


    ● Environmental assessment work to ensure future projects align with both law and the
    spirit of the land.

    Most recently, in 2024 and 2025, the pace has accelerated. WHHA secured funding for capacity building, a new computer center, and pre-development planning, along with a pending $500,000 broadband program award. Partnerships have also expanded to include renewable energy development and major infrastructure requests—laying the foundation for jobs, housing, and sustainable solutions within Waiohuli.

    Today, the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) has been approved, and WHHA stands at the threshold of turning decades of vision into action. What began as a collection of homestead
    leases has grown into a united community effort—rooted in the land, guided by the dreams of its
    people, and carried forward by the WE-DO initiative.

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