Our Story

The Ahonui Homestead Association (AHA) is a Native Hawaiian nonprofit organization established in February 2019 on Molokaʻi. Founded by beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA), including long-waitlisted applicants, successors, and lessees, AHA aims to restore and rehabilitate Native Hawaiians to their ancestral lands. AHA's mission encompasses preventing homelessness, promoting self-governance, and preserving cultural practices such as fishing, farming, and traditional land stewardship. The association actively participates in community planning efforts, including initiatives related to the ʻUalapuʻe Kuleana Homestead Settlement Plan on Molokaʻi.

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Ualapue Stewardship Program

Presented by AHA – Ahonui Homestead Association

We are a grassroots hui grounded in the values of aloha ʻāina, mālama ʻāina, and taking care of kuleana homestead in Ualapue. We are group of Kanaka Oiwi (lineal descendants), kānaka lawelawe (cultural practitioners), and hoa aloha who walk with reverence for Ualapue. Our kuleana is to protect, heal, and uplift this wahi pana — a sacred storied place — through collective aloha, ʻike kupuna, and pilina (deep relationship).

Ka Hana a Mākou – What We Will DoThrough our Hoʻomalu ʻĀina Program, we commit to:

Mālama i ka ʻāina – Restoring native forest ecosystems and increasing biodiversity through thoughtful reforestation.
Hoʻōla i ke kai – Preventing erosion and sediment runoff to protect our nearshore waters and marine life.
Hoʻopau i nā mea hoʻokahuli ʻāina – Removing invasive species to restore balance and honor native plants.
Hōʻihi i ka holoholona – Managing deer populations using culturally appropriate, humane practices to protect fragile native habitats.
Mālama ala hele – Maintaining traditional trails for cultural access, ceremony, and ʻike sharing.
Kūkulu kaiāulu ʻike – Hosting hana ʻāina workdays, cultural workshops, and ʻāina-based learning rooted in aloha ʻāina education.
Hoʻoikaika ʻAi Pono – Advancing food sovereignty through community gardens, regenerative agriculture, and traditional food practices.
Hoʻopuka ʻike kūpuna – Gathering, documenting, and sharing ancestral knowledge to strengthen intergenerational connections.All actions are guided by aloha, pono, and ʻohana consciousness — ensuring that our work is aligned with spirit, place, and people.

Hoʻoulu Kaiaulu – Community Involvement Ualapue is not just land — it is a living ancestor. Whether you are kamaʻāina, hoaʻāina, or a malihini called by aloha ʻāina, we welcome you.

We invite your manawa (time), lima (hands), and naʻau (heart) to help us care for this sacred place. E launa pū kākou. Let us stand together — in pilina, kuleana, and aloha — to ensure Ualapue thrives for the next seven generations.

ʻUalapuʻe Kuleana Homestead Settlement Plan

The ʻUalapuʻe Kuleana Homestead Settlement Plan is a community-led initiative developed by the Ahonui Homestead Association (AHA) in partnership with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) to create a sustainable homestead community in ʻUalapuʻe, East Molokaʻi. This plan reflects the vision of returning Native Hawaiian beneficiaries to their ancestral lands, guided by cultural values and a deep kuleana (responsibility) to mālama ʻāina.

Goals and Focus Areas:

Kuleana Homesteads: The plan provides lots for beneficiaries to live and farm in a subsistence lifestyle, combining housing with traditional food cultivation, cultural practice, and low-impact land use.
Cultural and Ancestral Connection: Beneficiaries with ancestral ties to ʻUalapuʻe will be prioritized for lease awards. This aligns with ongoing DHHL rule amendments that aim to give preference to those with genealogical connections to specific homestead areas — honoring the original spirit of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
Environmental Stewardship: Restoration of native ecosystems through reforestation, watershed care, and deer control to protect and sustain ʻāina for future generations.
Food Sovereignty & Healing: Support for community gardens, traditional farming, and lāʻau lapaʻau (plant medicine) practices to foster health, self-sufficiency, and resilience.
Community Education & Engagement: Workshops and gatherings to teach traditional knowledge, build pilina (relationships), and support youth and ʻohana in caring for land and each other.

A Living Model of Aloha ʻĀina

The ʻUalapuʻe Kuleana Homestead Settlement Plan is more than housing — it's a vision for a thriving Native Hawaiian community rooted in ancestral wisdom, sustainability, and kuleana. It is a movement to bring ʻohana home and restore the relationship between kānaka and ʻāina in a way that nourishes future generations.

learn more about Kuleana Homested Settlement Plan

Pilina Based Priority Waitlist Amendment

Community Partners

The Ahonui Homestead Association (AHA) collaborates with several key partners to advance its mission of restoring Native Hawaiian beneficiaries to ancestral lands and promoting cultural preservation. Notable partnerships include:

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL): AHA works closely with DHHL on initiatives like the ʻUalapuʻe Kuleana Homestead Project, aiming to develop 0ne-acre kuleana homesteads for beneficiaries. Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA): AHA has engaged with OHA to discuss community needs and cultural preservation efforts, reflecting a shared commitment to Native Hawaiian advancement.

Community Organizations: AHA has indicated intentions to collaborate with other homestead associations, such as representatives from Kahikinui, to exchange knowledge and best practices. Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

These partnerships support AHA's objectives in land restoration, cultural education, and community development for Native Hawaiians.