Questions and Answers

Who is responsible for replacing soil/dirt on properties?
Hawaii Community Lending is currently unaware of any resources but will notify the public of them as they become available.
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If you have already had survey work performed at your property, how do you complete the reimbursement form
Residents can note in the comment section on the form that they are inquiring about survey reimbursement information, and Hawaii Community Lending will respond to them directly.
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Will Kilohana also begin paying rent in March 2025, even though they're not there yet?
Yes, the rent requirement is for all direct housing programs, regardless of your unit type.
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What is considered a 100% fair market rate? Is that based on FEMA or previous rents?
The fair market rent is set by HUD and is based on the number of bedrooms in the unit. The current rates are as follows:

When direct leasing expires, is the amount of money residents pay for rent based on the fair market HUD?
Yes, households in direct housing will pay the fair market rent set by HUD to FEMA.
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Will residents only be charged the fair market value?
The agreement with the property owner is separate. The rent for direct housing survivors is based on the fair market rent set by HUD.
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Is there an oversight or authorized body that reviews FEMA rules and regulations?
Congress sets the FEMA regulations, so changes must go through the legislative process.
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Regarding rental assistance, when the Additional Living Expense (ALE) is exhausted, it's two months, and then you reapply for another three months. Does it extend beyond the five months? Or is that the end?
Yes, for CTHA (Continued Temporary Housing Assistance), residents can reapply for an additional three months and then an additional three months from there. ALE assistance can be extended beyond the initial two months, with the ability to reapply for up to three additional three-month periods, for a total of up to 11 months of rental assistance.
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Can property owners make landscaping improvements to the temporary housing units placed on their land by FEMA?
No, FEMA will maintain the property while the temporary units are in use, and property owners will not be able to make changes to the property during this period.
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If residents are putting a temporary unit on their property through the FEMA program, are they able to start rebuilding while it's there, or do you have to wait until the two or three-year commitment is up and then start rebuilding?
That two- to three-year commitment is specific for the secondary sites, not the primary sites. If residents are placing a unit on their primary property, FEMA is strongly encouraging residents to rebuild. Residents will still need to pay the rent for the unit they live in while the permanent unit is being constructed.
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Are FEMA officials being made aware of the community’s concerns from the weekly Lahaina meetings?
FEMA communicates the community's concerns to higher-level officials, including Congress members, and welcomes the community to reach out to their congressional representatives. FEMA representatives said they would pass on the feedback from this meeting to their supervisors and the Federal Coordinating Officer, who was also present.
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Are there examples of individual needs that FEMA can assist with?
Residents encouraged signing up for disaster case management, which can help connect people to various resources beyond just FEMA assistance. Residents can contact FEMA directly via 211 for details.
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Is the Disaster Case Management Program funded and managed by FEMA?
The Disaster Case Management Program is funded by FEMA but managed by the Department of Human Services as a state program.
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What does CWRM stand for? Who is CWRM, and what is their contact information?

CWRM stands for the Commission on Water Resource Management under the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). The best way to find contact information for CWRM is to Google "DLNR Commission on Water Resource Management" or "CWRM."
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What is the concept behind putting King Kamehameha III Elementary School at the new location?
Kamehameha Schools said that if the new school site is chosen, the water allocation from their previous King Kamehameha III Elementary School site would follow the new location. Kamehameha Schools also planned a Hawaiian learning space and affordable housing alongside the new school. However, the plans are still conceptual, and Kamehameha Schools emphasized they would not force anything on the community if the community does not want it. It is also important to know that there are challenges around land swaps and getting approval from the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) to use water resources.
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Is there a plan to extend recycled water to the Kūhiō Lands community?

Using R1 water to replace potable water is the highest priority, as it can help address water concerns and support both temporary and permanent housing projects. Current ideas for creating greenbelts and other uses of R1 water are under review. However, determining whether to prioritize R1 water for fire prevention, agriculture, cultural uses, and other applications—beyond just affordable housing construction—requires both political decisions and community involvement. A recent council resolution has urged the administration to allocate R1 water not only for affordable housing but also for fire prevention, agriculture, and cultural purposes. There are challenges in accelerating the six-year capital improvement plan for R1 water infrastructure to a one-year timeline, as this would necessitate postponing all other capital projects in different departments and districts.