Homestead Associations Upgrade Enrollment System

SCHHA News Release

The Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations (SCHHA) ended the 2021 calendar year by completing the installation of a modern membership enrollment database.  

“This is a major milestone year for our homesteads and waitlist families,” said Sybil Lopez, SCHHA Vice Chairwoman.  “After 35 years since our founding, we have a modern server and software system to replace our antiquated enrollment system of individuals that are members of homestead associations they belong to.”

The SCHHA Homestead Enrollment Modernization Project was adopted by homestead and waitlist leaders in 2019 from all across the state, to upgrade technology for a database that empowers individuals to register, engage and vote in elections of homestead associations including the SCHHA beginning in 2023.

“2021 is not only the 100-year anniversary of our land allotment act, but now, is a year where the first enrollment database has been set up to serve multiple homestead associations,” said Kammy Purdy, a SCHHA leader and member of the Ho’olehua Hawaiian Agricultural Association on Molokai.  “It’s been a labor of necessity, in this day and age – to bring our member enrollment system into the 21st century, and best of all, to create an enrollment process that serves many different homestead associations like ours on Molokai.”

Now that SCHHA’s Homestead Enrollment system is installed at a secured facility with industry firewalls and state of the art technology, SCHHA moves its project into its beta phase in 2022, to pilot enrollment at 4 different homestead associations, including the national waitlist association.

The software design enrolls Hawaiians defined by the federal allotment act, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920 (HHCA), as its Base Roll, and enrolls Hawaiians not HHCA eligible, through its Descendant Roll.  

“By the time our beta process is complete, our homestead associations will be able to issue identification cards, enroll lessees, waitlist individuals, successors and ohana regardless of blood quantum, wanting to participate in our homestead issues,” commented Purdy.  “It’s exciting! And depending on the different constitutions of individual homestead associations, enrolled members will be able to participate in our homestead elections.”

Founded in 1987 and 2008 respectively, SCHHA and AHHL are two of the largest and most representative policy voices on issues impacting tribal lands in Hawaii defined under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA).  The SCHHA and AHHL represent the interests of 10,000 trust land lessees and 28,000 on the waitlist.  Each are registered as federally defined homestead associations with the Department of Interior.  SCHHA is a self-government dedicated to the rights and responsibilities of trust land communities.