Opportunity Overview
The Hawaiʻi Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is accepting proposals under RFP-27-HHL-002, Building Sustainable Community Economic Enterprises (Statewide). The program supports sustainable, revenue-generating or workforce-building enterprises in existing Hawaiian Home Lands homestead communities, including projects involving food security, job creation, workforce training and education, and beneficiary-owned economic enterprises.
Funding and Deadline
Total statewide funding: $1,000,000. Maximum request: $250,000 per application. The award period is five years from the contract effective date.
Proposal deadline: November 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. HST. Proposals must be submitted electronically as PDF and/or JPEG/JPG attachments to DHHL.General.RFP@hawaii.gov. Cloud-storage or website links are not accepted. The email subject must identify RFP-27-HHL-002 and the applicant name.
Current pre-offer session: Addendum No. 1 modifies the remaining optional virtual pre-offer conference to September 23, 2026 from 12:00 noon to 12:40 p.m. HST. Written questions are due September 22, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. HST, with DHHL responses scheduled for September 28, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. HST.
Eligibility
The applicant must be a Hawaiʻi-registered charitable nonprofit with current 501(c)(3) status and must demonstrate that a majority of its current clients or participants are native Hawaiian beneficiaries under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. The organization must represent or serve HHCA beneficiaries, identify the existing homestead communities and DHHL lessees to be served, and maintain an appropriate DHHL land disposition when applicable. Applicants must remain compliant through Hawaiʻi Compliance Express.
Only one application may be submitted under this RFP. Partnerships are allowed and encouraged, but the project must remain beneficiary-driven and the applicant must document the connection to the homestead community through appropriate board resolutions, support letters, evaluations or comparable evidence.
Match and Allowable Costs
A cash or in-kind match is not stated as mandatory. Documented match and in-kind support can strengthen the proposal and earn evaluation credit.
The solicitation contemplates eligible project costs such as dedicated staff, programmatic and startup operations, materials and supplies, qualifying equipment, and construction when directly tied to the approved economic-enterprise project. Applicants should follow the detailed cost restrictions in the RFP. Prohibited uses include housing development or housing infrastructure, housing counseling or direct housing assistance, land or building purchases, alcohol, entertainment, out-of-state or international travel, revolving funds, gratuities, and prohibited vehicle/equipment purchases.
Application Package
A complete proposal includes the application cover sheet, project scope, budget, timeline, required forms and attachments, governance and organizational documentation, beneficiary-service evidence, and other materials identified in the application checklist. DHHL states that the Hawaiʻi Awards and Notices Data System (HANDS) is the official public posting location for the RFP, addenda, written-question responses and related procurement notices.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 78/100. This is a meaningful statewide community-development opportunity with a substantial per-project ceiling and a long implementation period, but eligibility is narrow and requires strong documented ties to Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries and existing homestead communities.
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The solicitation is centered on beneficiary-driven community economic enterprises rather than clinical care or remote physical examination. Equipment restrictions further reduce any defensible N9+ pathway. N9+ should not be introduced or forced into this opportunity.
QC Healthcare Fit: 8/100. A health-related workforce or community enterprise could theoretically qualify if independently aligned with the RFP, but healthcare is not a stated program priority and QC Healthcare is not a direct-applicant fit absent a qualifying nonprofit beneficiary-led structure.
Next Action
Strong prospects are Hawaiʻi 501(c)(3) organizations already serving a majority-HHCA-beneficiary population in existing homestead communities and able to document a credible beneficiary-led enterprise, governance support, five-year implementation plan, and compliant budget. Applicant-specific facts must be verified before Atlas outreach or package production.
Official sources: DHHL Grants; RFP-27-HHL-002 Grant Application; Addendum No. 1.