Our mission is to maximize the potential of City-owned lands through strategic planning, innovative partnerships, creative financing, and responsible stewardship to deliver affordable, senior, workforce, and mixed-income housing; foster equitable housing opportunities; and promote sustainable development and conservation that enhance the quality of life for all Oʻahu residents.
City News | April 30, 2025
HONOLULU – After more than a decade of exploring ways to improve its housing efforts, the City, under Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s leadership, has officially established the new Department of Housing and Land Management (DHLM) — a bold, strategic reorganization to centralize and accelerate the City’s housing initiatives.
City News | December 29, 2025
HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu is addressing a complex brownfield redevelopment area along its urban core. With a new elevated rail corridor under construction along Honolulu’s southern shoreline, the City is planning for new transit-oriented development at future station areas to better connect communities, jobs, and services.
City News | April 16, 2026
HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu and State of Hawaiʻi are working together to provide temporary housing options for residents whose homes were left uninhabitable following the recent Kona Low storms. The back-to-back storms caused significant damage in several communities, leaving some households unable to safely return to their homes. Temporary housing is being coordinated to ensure families have a safe place to stay while cleanup and repairs are underway.
CWNL logo wins silver award at 2026 Pele Awards
The Department of Housing and Land Management’s (DHLM) Clean Water and Natural Lands (CWNL) Program was recently recognized at the 2026 Pele Awards, with Honolulu-based creative agency Welcome Stranger receiving a Silver Pele Award for CWNL’s logo design. Presented annually by the American Advertising Federation Hawaiʻi, the Pele Awards recognize excellence in advertising, branding, and design across Hawaiʻi’s creative industry.
Housing policy, community, and connection: A conversation with Gavin Thornton of DHLM
As DHLM’s first Director of Housing Policy, Gavin Thornton is helping shape the City’s housing policy approach in ways that strengthen and preserve Hawaiʻi’s people, communities, and culture. His work focuses on the rules, strategies, and partnerships that can help build more housing, preserve affordability, and make better use of public land in service of local communities.
New conservation signage installed at Kahuku Golf Course to support native species protection
The signage highlights the ecological and cultural importance of the area while encouraging respectful use of the shoreline and golf course surroundings. The installation is intended to help educate visitors about native species and habitats that rely on the Kahuku coastline, including seabirds, coastal vegetation, and marine life that may periodically use the area.
DHLM staff member appointed to Hawaiʻi Judicial Selection Commission
We’re proud to share that Ailina Tagupa-Laborte, a planner in DHLM’s Finance Division, has been appointed to serve on the Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission. Appointed by Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, Ailina will serve a six-year term from April 2, 2026 through April 1, 2032.
Honoring Earth Day through Mālama ʻĀina at Hāwea Heiau and Keawāwa Wetland
Following Earth Day earlier this week, the event is part of DHLM’s ongoing efforts to support community-based stewardship through the CWNL program, which helps protect and preserve Oʻahu’s most important natural and cultural resources for future generations.
Supporting Hawaiʻi’s Future Through Strategic Land Use: A conversation with Jenn Ontai of DHLM
As part of DHLM’s leadership team, Jenn Ontai works behind the scenes to help move some of the City’s most important real estate transactions forward—supporting everything from affordable housing development to interdepartmental land use.