Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in a FFRMS Floodplain and a Wetland in Waimānalo

Date: December 18, 2025

To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals

This is to give notice that The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) under 24 CFR Part 58has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988 as amended by Executive Order 13690 and 11990, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection. The activity is funded under the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program under HUD grant number 25HBGHI0001, among others.

The proposed project is located on the Island of Oʻahu, within the established Hawaiian Homestead lands of Waimānal o in the Moku of Koʻolaupoko, Ahupuaʻa of Waimānalo. The project area is generally bounded by Kalanianaole Highway, Kumuhau Street, and Hihimanu Streets and is located within tax plats 41003, 41008, 41009, 41016, 41017, 41019, 41020, 41021, 41029, 41030, 41031, 41036, 41037, and 41038.

The proposed project is partially located in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain and adjacent wetland. The location and extent of the FFRMS floodplain was determined using a 0.2 percent flood approach, meaning that flood zones throughout the project area were determined by identifying 0.2% chance floodplain areas utilizing preliminary updates to Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) as proposed by FEMA and available through the City and County of Honolulu website.

The proposed project is the expenditure of Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) funds for the rehabilitation, demolition/re-construction, on-site infrastructure improvements, and infill new construction of single-family dwellings at various locations on Hawaiian Homestead lands in Waimānalo, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu. The purpose of the proposed project is to improve health and safety, address long-standing infrastructure deficiencies, and expand housing opportunities for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. Through both the rehabilitation of aging homes and infrastructure, and infill new construction on vacant parcels within the project area, this project will enhance the livability, resilience, and cultural integrity of the Waimānalo homestead community.

A site-specific review of any project activities that are proposed on lots within the project area that are in the FFRMS floodplain or mapped as containing wetlands will also be conducted. The proposed project, which is primarily focused on rehabilitating existing single-family dwellings, will then advance on a lot-by-lot basis. As the need arises, a more in-depth assessment and action to avoid, minimize, or mitigate for any specific activities proposed on lots that are located within the FFRMS floodplain and lands mapped as wetlands will be taken. Site-specific details such as the precise project activities and locations, project parcel or footprint size, and appropriate mitigations or avoidance measures will be determined during the site-specific review process. The proposed project serves the DHHL's mission to provide people of native Hawaiian ancestry with safe and secure housing by retaining and increasing Beneficiary housing supply in existing DHHL communities while meeting the requirements of Executive Orders 11988 as amended by Executive Order 13690 and 11990.

Although much of the project area is located in Zone X (Outside 0.2%-Annual-Chance Floodplain, which is also the lowest risk flood zone in the state of Hawaiʻi), some home lots may be located near/adjacent to or overlap with special flood hazard areas, including Zone AE (1%-Annual-Chance Flood, with BFE), Zone AEF: (Floodway Areas in Zone AE), and Zone XS (0.2%-Annual-Chance Flood).

The location and extent of wetlands throughout the project area was determined by utilizing data from the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). About 1.1 total acres of various wetland types occur within the Waimānalo Homestead lands, including Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland, Freshwater Emergent Wetland, and Riverine. However, no work is anticipated to occur within a wetland. If any projects or necessary work included within the project activities as detailed above are determined to occur within 100 ft of an NWI-designated wetland, DHHL will initiate further consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to assess and avoid or mitigate any potential impacts to wetlands and species common to wetland habitats. DHHL has considered the following alternatives and mitigation measures to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial functions and intrinsic values of the existing floodplain/wetland: Acquire, develop, and/or rehabilitate single-family housing on a different site, outside the floodplain and wetland areas. Oʻahu is experiencing a housing shortage across all demographics, including DHHL beneficiaries. As noted in DHHL's Oʻahu Island Plan, an additional 1,390 acres of land suitable for residential development are needed to meet the homesteading needs of applicants on the residential waiting list for the island. DHHL is actively working to add more lands and more built units to their inventory on O'ahu. However, to more immediately meet the demand, DHHL is committed to maintaining and rehabilitating existing single-family housing, especially in older Hawaiian Homestead Communities (such as Waimānalo) with a high prevalence of homes in need of repair, maintenance, and updates. DHHL also uses infill new construction projects on single-family lots in existing homestead communities to increase the supply of safe, affordable beneficiary housing. This alternative would not meet the needs of retaining and increasing beneficiary housing supply in existing DHHL communities. No action. < /a>This alternative would leave aging houses within the Waimānalo homestead community in increasingly dire states of disrepair. Many homes would eventually be condemned, or reach a state of disrepair where the homes may no longer be habitable or rehabilitation is not feasible, thereby decreasing the supply of safe, affordable housing for beneficiary families. This alternative would not meet the project purpose, nor is it in alignment with DHHL's long term plans for the site as outlined in the DHHL O'ahu Island Plan. DHHL has reevaluated alternatives to the proposed project, parts of which may be located in floodplains and wetlands, and has determined that it has no practicable alternative. Environmental files documenting compliance with steps 3 through 6 of Executive Order 11988, as amended by Executive Order 1369, and Executive Order 11990, are available for public inspection, review and copying upon request at the times and location delineated in the last paragraph of this notice for receipt of comments. There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in wetlands and/or floodplains, and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about wetlands and floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in wetlands and floodplains, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk. Written comments must be received by DHHL at the following address on or before January 3, 2026. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Attention: Malia Cox, NAHASDA Compliance Specialist PO Box 1879 Honolulu, HI 96805 Comments may also be submitted by email via DHHL's consultant at [email protected].