HCDB News Release

Patti Tancayo Barbee, of Molokai, is the new president and CEO of the Hawaiian Community Development Board (HCDB). She has been senior vice president, working for over 20 years with Kali Watson, the outgoing president who has been appointed by Gov. Josh Green and confirmed by the Hawaii State Senate to lead the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, a post he first held in the Cayetano administration.

Barbee has many years of experience planning, executing and closing various types of housing projects throughout Hawaii. She is an expert in project and program management, mortgage financing, environmental reviews, government procurement and contract management. 

HCDB is a nonprofit established in 2000 to support and promote housing, community, and economic development projects that benefit families living in the Hawaiian Home Lands communities and throughout the state. As HCDB senior vice president she was actively involved with the development of all HCDB’s projects including Hale Makana O Nanakuli, Hale Makana O Ma’ili and  Hale Makana O Mo’ili’ili and is currently collaborating with the King Lunalilo Trust to build 10 affordable housing projects for kupuna throughout Hawaii. 

“I am honored and excited to continue working for the Native Hawaiian community,” said Barbee. “Projects such as the one in concert with King Lunalilo Trust will provide comfortable and secure living environments for kupuna that cater specifically to their needs.”

“Patti is by far the best person to continue the work of the Hawaiian Community Development Board. She has the experience and, as importantly, the deeply felt commitment and passion to carry on this work of strengthening and building Hawaiian communities and the fulfillment that comes with that,” said Watson.   

Barbee was born and raised on the island of Molokai and graduated from Molokai High School. She grew up on her great-grandfather’s Ho’olehua homestead that was passed on to her father, so her family has been in Hawaiian homesteading for almost 90 years. As a wait-listed would-be homesteader herself, Barbee has a keen understanding of the critical needs of her people and is passionate about creating meaningful solutions to help alleviate the homeland housing crisis.

Earlier in her career, she spent 10 years as housing and community development supervisor at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. She developed funding models, initiated housing projects and conducted extensive market research and analysis created solutions into the housing needs of native Hawaiian families throughout Hawaii. 

Barbee has a BA in business administration from Chaminade University in Honolulu and is a CCIM candidate.