This is good news for Native Hawaiians who got homes, but it raises questions about whether the momentum continues after the department's leader steps down.

• Kali Watson, head of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, is not seeking reappointment when his term ends December 31.
• Under his four years in charge, the department handed out more than 5,300 homestead leases, a sharp jump from prior years, giving many Native Hawaiians who had waited decades a path to owning a home.
• Watson credited his staff for the turnaround rather than taking sole credit himself.
• Big tasks remain unfinished: building infrastructure, finishing homes, and handing over keys to people still on the waiting list.

Outlook: Whoever replaces Watson will inherit a long list of unfinished housing and infrastructure projects needed to keep the lease pace going.