James DuPont
Waikoloa,HI
Summary
With nearly forty years of experience as a Homestead Assistant, Applications Branch Chief, District Supervisor and Acting District Operations Manager, there's a thorough understanding of the Homestead Services Division's overall functions to serve beneficiaries. The experience with applicants provided the foundation for understanding the application process and opportunities provided in pursuit of homestead leases. The importance of genealogy, research and documentation assisted beneficiaries with meeting the requirements of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920. Active participation in the Acceleration Period from 1985-1990 resulted in numerous awards of residential, agricultural and pastoral leases statewide. Orientation and Awards meetings provided an understanding of the department's inventory of lands on each island. Understanding the financial needs of beneficiaries, counseling and guidance through credit and the loan application process prepared them for lease awards and home ownership. In addition, the opportunity to explain the terms and conditions associated with homestead leases established their acceptance of responsibilities attached to the lease. As the department's representative, working relationships have been established with private, county, state and federal agencies and staff in pursuit of the Program's goals and priorities.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Acting District Operations Manager
State of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
2023.01 - Current
- H(Support Homestead Services Division Administrator with direct supervision of District Office Supervisors and staff on the Islands of Kaua'i, Oahu, Moloka'i, Maui and Hawaii.
- Implement goals and priorities in conjunction with District Office Supervisors and Office of the Chairman.
- Assist District Offices with review of annual budgets.
- Develop goals and priorities with District Supervisors related to Performance Appraisals.
- Train East District Office Supervisor regarding responsibilities of position and service to beneficiaries.
- Identify staffing needs for District Offices and support filling of vacant positions.
- Improve district operations efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing best practices.
West Hawaii District Office Supervisor
State of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
1992.05 - Current
- Organize and supervise road construction of ten miles of roads in Pu'ukapu for pastoral homesteads.
- Coordinate acceptance of lots of record with County of Hawaii to create new plat maps and individual tax map key numbers for one-hundred and eight-four (184) pastoral lots in Pu'ukapu.
- Supervise staff of five (5); Office Assistant (1), Homestead Assistant (1), Heavy Equipment Operator (1), Equipment Operator III (1) and General Laborer (1).
- Assist with oversight and management of approximately 100,000-ac. in West Hawaii including commercial and light industrial and pastoral lots.
- Provide customer service to applicants on the Hawaii Island Wide Wait Lists and 1,800 homestead lessees.
- Coordinate various projects with Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), their contractors, department staff and lessees in the Waikoloa Manuever Area to address unexploded ordnance (UXO) surveys.
- Monitored and evaluated personnel performance to complete annual reviews; work with staff to develop goals and priorities for rating period.
- Conduct interviews to fill vacancies.
- Work with homestead associations to organize lessees and implement plans to improve their respective communities.
- Provide support to department divisions (LMD, LDD, Planning, OCH, CAD) and staff to address various projects in West Hawaii.
- Establish workflow processes, monitored daily productivity and implemented modifications to improve personnel performance.
- Assisted with recommendations to upgrade and improve Kuhio Hale facility.
- Manage community hall and improvements for community functions and events.
- Provide counseling and support to lessees regarding loan application processing; assist with loan delinquencies and collection efforts of the department..
Applications Branch Chief
State of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
Jan1989 - 1992.05
- Supervise staff of four with intake and processing of homestead lease applications statewide.
- Conduct review of documentation to establish native Hawaiian qualifications of not less than fifty percent (50% Hawaiian blood) to comply on program requirements for applicants.
- Establish process and methodology for review and acceptance of documents and train staff for consistency and implementation of genealogy guidelines.
- Award of 225 pastoral lots in West Hawaii and Ka'u; organize Orientation meetings and lot selection for awards; work with consultants on paper subdivision and layout of lots.
- Research 1952 Waimea Area Pastoral Waitlist to identify applicants; audit list to determine applicant's qualifications to meet blood quantum requirements; develop, assist and implement successorship guidelines for deceased applicants.
- Coordinate land identification with DHHL Planning. Land Management and Land Development Divisions in anticipation of lease awards.
- Review and research family genealogies to identify documents and confirm NHQ for applicants.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Seattle University
Seattle, WA06.1975
Skills
- Staff Training and Development
- Operational Excellence
- Operations Management
- Word
- Excel
- Utility Star
- Employee Relations
- Staff Management
- Incident Management
- Data Analysis
- Emergency Preparedness
- Risk Management
- Asset Management
- Property Management
Timeline
Acting District Operations Manager
State of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
2023.01 - Current
West Hawaii District Office Supervisor
State of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
1992.05 - Current
Applications Branch Chief
State of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
Jan1989 - 1992.05
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Seattle University
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