About KCLT
We Are:
WE ARE Kohala Community Land Trust - the Kohala community taking back ownership and the future of Kohala. WE ARE generational residents of Kohala and newcomers who gave our heart to this place. WE ARE a community that takes care of each of us and all of us. WE ARE a community of people who believe that real wealth is measured by the health of our families, community, and ‘āina, not by the dollars in our bank account. WE ARE a community that values our unique sense of place, our diversity, our cultural and agricultural heritage, our knowledge of the land, our skills, our creativity, and our leadership. WE ARE Kohala i ka unupa’a WE ARE Kohala, a strong people, a community built on a solid foundation. KCLT builds on this foundation for the future. WE ARE committed to keeping Kohala, Kohala. This is our kuleana as Kohala Community Land Trust.
To Do This We Must:
TO DO THIS WE MUST act collectively, as the Kohala community. TO DO THIS WE MUST each ask what we can offer, and be honest about what we need. TO DO THIS WE MUST as KCLT focus in the short term on supporting Kohala people who own property to secure that property for future generations of Kohala residents. TO DO THIS WE MUST prepare the next generation to have secure housing and jobs, and then keep their homes and contributions in the community for future generations. TO DO THIS WE MUST protect and develop dignified, healthy rental housing for Kohala people whose needs are better suited for rental than ownership. TO DO THIS WE MUST secure our commercial and industrial properties for Kohala’s entrepreneurs and service providers to our community. TO DO THIS WE MUST contribute to protecting and stewarding Kohala’s agricultural and cultural landscapes. TO DO THIS WE MUST educate newcomers to understand and contribute to this vision.
We See That:
WE SEE THAT if Kohala people cannot stay in Kohala, Kohala does not stay Kohala. WE SEE THAT new affordable housing development is only a temporary solution. When those homes get sold again, they sell at market prices local residents cannot afford. WE SEE THAT we are blessed with generational lands, with houses provided for former workers when the plantation closed, with homes built by hard working Kohala people. WE SEE THAT we are at risk of losing those lands and homes to newcomers displacing local families. There are many challenges to keeping Kohala homes in Kohala hands, challenges like title issues, aging construction, families who have dispersed. WE SEE THAT every Kohala family losing their home against their wishes, even if the home later sells to another resident, is still a loss to our community. WE SEE THAT every home that we can keep in Kohala hands is a home we don’t have to build. WE SEE THAT Kohala people want to control how and where new homes are built and make sure they are affordable and available to Kohala people. WE SEE THAT having a home is only part of the picture. Kohala people want to work and play and stay physically and spiritually strong and connected right here in Kohala. WE SEE THAT we cannot rely on government or private interests to understand what Kohala needs and wants. But we can ask them for help to achieve our goals. WE SEE THAT Kohala can lead in creating solutions that other communities can adapt so that they too can thrive.
In The Long Run:
IN THE LONG RUN, Kohala will be sovereign over Kohala’s future. Lele o Kohala me he lupe lā. IN THE LONG RUN, every Kohala person is housed and fed and cared for physically, emotionally and spiritually with dignity and aloha from birth through their lifetime. IN THE LONG RUN, every Kohala resident, whether born or newcomer, contributes to collective wellbeing, and pays it forward to future generations. IN THE LONG RUN, Kohala continues to be ka ‘āina ha’aheo.
what is a clt?
Community land trusts (CLTs) are nonprofits that buy and own real estate, keeping it in community control for community benefit.
A CLT acquires or builds homes that can be bought by or leased to community members. The CLT always retains ownership of the land, thus keeping the homes affordable for residents.
Community land trusts can also own commercial buildings and can steward land for agriculture, cultural or environmental purposes.
Learn more here: ECONOMIC BRIEF: NORTH KOHALA HOUSING & WAGE PROJECTIONS (2026–2046)
membership
Becoming a member means being part of something that will support Kohala's people, lands and way of life for generations to come. KCLT only exists as a tool for our community to support and guide itself. Together we create the unique voice that echos the beautiful, talented, strong and heart-felt people of Kohala. Resident Members: - Have voting rights. - Must have their primary residence in North Kohala and be 18 years of age or older. Supporting Members: -Primary residence is outside of North Kohala but would like to support the Kohala community. Annual dues of $20 are collected each calendar year starting in January.
Upcoming Events
Kohala Community Land Trust (KCLT) is pleased to announce details for our upcoming homeownership and home buyer workshops. The workshops are offered free of charge to members of the Kohala community thanks to grant support from the Atherton Foundation. All workshops will be held on Saturdays, 10 am – noon at the Kohala Senior Center. SEPTEMBER 12TH 10 AM - NOON: FIRST TIME HOME BUYER READINESS - Updates on the next phase of Self Help Housing - Renter and buyer programs offered by Hawaiʻi County - How KCLT can offer permanently affordable housing - Hawaiian Community Assets - introduction to their certified credit and homeownership counseling process to qualify for these opportunities. SEPTEMBER 19TH 10 AM - NOON – PROPERTY TAX AND HOME INSURANCE ISSUES FOR KOHALA HOMEOWNERS - Hawaii County Property Tax Division on the new ʻāina kupuna program for properties owned over 100 years; agricultural dedication; and long term rental programs. - Tad Nottage of Aloha Insurance Services on different types of homeowner insurance and current issues in gettting and keeping your property insured. - KCLT wants to hear from Kohala homeowners on how they need help keeping their properties so we can work on providing solutions OCTOBER 10TH 1:00-3:00PM – TITLE AND ESTATE PLANNING - Shauna Kahiapo of Aloha Legacy Law will provide basic information on how to plan for keeping your property and providing for your future generations. OCTOBER 10TH 10 AM - NOON – HOW ʻOHANA DECISIONMAKING FOR HOMES AND ʻĀINA - Kumu Kama will talk about hoʻoponopono as a process for families to have needed conversations around their homes and ʻāina - West Hawaiʻi Mediation Center will present the mediation process as an option.
_Update.jpg)
Team
Kohala Community Land Trust's Board is elected by the membership and is made up of three equal categories: Lessee Directors, Resident Directors and Public Representative Directors. Board members serve in four Working Committees: Strategy and Governance, Property Acquisition and Stewardship, Development, Finance and Accounting.
Ashton K. Dircks
Board President
Ashton is a husband, father, 7th generation taro farmer, Makalii crew member, and is currently serving as the President of the board for KCLT. Ashton looks forward to working with our community to “Keep Kohala, Kohala.”
Terra Sutton
Board Vice President
Founding Board member of the original 2002 KCLT, Terra brings experience across multiple disciplines in support of stabilizing her home community, independent of yet parallel to the existing County and State governance systems.
Beth Robinson
Interim ED, Board Secretary
Beth Robinson is Director of Conservation and Legacy Lands with Hawaii Life. She has been working on Affordable Housing solutions for North Kohala since 2007.
Denni Keyes
Board Treasurer
Denni Keyes is a lifelong resident of North Hawaii, Kohala High School alum, Realtor and passionate community member. She is dedicated to helping more local community members find affordable housing options in North Kohala.
.png)
Beldon Kealoha
Board Member
Beldon is a retired HIDOW teacher, with deep family roots in Makapala, Niuli'i and Pololu. Currently, he is the Driver's Education Program Coordinator/Instructor at Kohala High School and an active participant for the Sacred Hearts Food Pantry in Hawi.
Whitney Harvey
Board Member
Whitney Harvey is a Waimea resident committed to supporting broader access to affordable housing for Kohala and is passionate about the CLT model as a way for communities to shape their future from the ground up. She is honored to work in service to her community through many projects.
Keli'i Kapali
Board Member
Keliʻi Kapali, born and raised on Kauaʻi, lives with her ʻohana in Waimea. A First Nations Futures Fellow with a doctorate in Architecture, Keliʻi brings over 15 years of experience in land planning and management, as well as indigenous and community-centered design.
Jared Terpak
Board Member
Jared Terpak is a Kohala High School graduate and longtime resident of North Kohala. Holding diverse roles from construction to secondary education, he now works as a certified home inspector.
Jared is committed to advancing safe, resilient, and affordable housing for families in the North Kohala community.
Cat Givarz
Board Member
Cat Givarz is a retired Sustainable Permaculture Designer and architect based in Kohala. She is an alumna of the University of Florida College of Architecture.
_Square%20Edit.jpg)
Seb Choe
Program Director
Seb Choe is a Kona resident devoted to housing and land justice in Hawai'i Island. Seb has led architecture firms, non-profits, and grassroots campaigns addressing accessibility and environmental justice, and has worked as a youth arts educator with Vibrant Hawai'i, Donkey Mill Art Center, and East Hawai’i Cultural Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coming Soon