Hundreds of acres of Hawaiian home lands have been set aside for subsistence-agriculture plots along the road leading to Akaka Falls and the surrounding region, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has scheduled community meetings to discuss the project.

“Unlike other homestead developments, the department will be seeking the assistance of other ag agencies and organizations to develop programmatic supports that can assist lessees in their agricultural pursuits and ensure maximum utilization of the land for agricultural purposes,” DHHL spokeswoman Paula Aila said last week.

DHHL will hold a public meeting tonight from 7-9 p.m. at the Honomu Gym to share information with community members — and to seek input.

“We will introduce the subsistence-ag project at Honomu, general objectives and parameters of the project, pursuant to our administrative rules,” Aila said.

Community members also will learn the general timetable for development of a “conceptual plan,” which is required before development can start.

“The basic premise and goal of the development will be subsistence ag — growing food for your family, extended family and community,” Aila said. “Other ideas and recommendations will flow from beneficiary feedback throughout the planning process.”

DHHL has 766 acres of land near Honomu.

“We are still very early in the planning process,” Aila said. “We are still conducting studies that will eventually identify lands that are most suitable for subsistence agriculture homestead lots.”

The definition of “development” will be determined during the planning process, she said.

It’s not clear how many Hawaiian families will be able to lease land.

To get on the extensive waiting list for leases, an individual must be able to document that he or she has at least a 50 percent blood quantum that is Native Hawaiian.

A second meeting will be held Tuesday night.

This one will be for potential Hawaiian Home Lands homesteaders.

It’s from 7-9 p.m. at Keaukaha Elementary School cafeteria.

Aila said invitations to Tuesday night’s meeting were sent to the top 500 applicants on the Hawaii Island Agriculture Applicant Waitlist.

Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

Hundreds of acres of Hawaiian home lands have been set aside for subsistence-agriculture plots along the road leading to Akaka Falls and the surrounding region, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has scheduled community meetings to discuss the project.

“Unlike other homestead developments, the department will be seeking the assistance of other ag agencies and organizations to develop programmatic supports that can assist lessees in their agricultural pursuits and ensure maximum utilization of the land for agricultural purposes,” DHHL spokeswoman Paula Aila said last week.

DHHL will hold a public meeting tonight from 7-9 p.m. at the Honomu Gym to share information with community members — and to seek input.

“We will introduce the subsistence-ag project at Honomu, general objectives and parameters of the project, pursuant to our administrative rules,” Aila said.

Community members also will learn the general timetable for development of a “conceptual plan,” which is required before development can start.

“The basic premise and goal of the development will be subsistence ag — growing food for your family, extended family and community,” Aila said. “Other ideas and recommendations will flow from beneficiary feedback throughout the planning process.”

DHHL has 766 acres of land near Honomu.

“We are still very early in the planning process,” Aila said. “We are still conducting studies that will eventually identify lands that are most suitable for subsistence agriculture homestead lots.”

The definition of “development” will be determined during the planning process, she said.

It’s not clear how many Hawaiian families will be able to lease land.

To get on the extensive waiting list for leases, an individual must be able to document that he or she has at least a 50 percent blood quantum that is Native Hawaiian.

A second meeting will be held Tuesday night.

This one will be for potential Hawaiian Home Lands homesteaders.

It’s from 7-9 p.m. at Keaukaha Elementary School cafeteria.

Aila said invitations to Tuesday night’s meeting were sent to the top 500 applicants on the Hawaii Island Agriculture Applicant Waitlist.

Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.