KAPOLEI, Hawaii (KHON2) -- Hundreds of Native Hawaiian families are a step closer to securing a place to call their own after the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands awarded over 700 project leases on March 22. KHON2 spoke with some of the beneficiaries about what this life-changing moment means fo r them. Hawaiian Home Lands: Why is it taking so long? There were many smiles in Kapolei as the DHHL waitlist for Hawaiian homes shrunk by 735 on March 22. The first two awardees called had application dates from the 1950's. "I've watched for years, decades, really, where things just didn't happen, not because people didn't care, perhaps, but because they just somehow got stuck," said Gov. Josh Green. "Today that all ends." It is bittersweet for some, like Elaine Kekahuna -- her husband had been on the waitlist since 1976. "And so we waited all this time. The sad thing is that he just passed away last year," Kekahuna said. "I wish that he was here. I know that he is, you know, in the spirit." Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The leases awarded on March 22 connected those on the waitlist to specific locations -- or projects in development. Awardees also had the chance to choose successors who the homes will be passed on to. "They're the root of Hawaii, you know? And to get a final 'Whew,' final chance of our ground, and of our Hale. Oh, my God. You know, carry it on to the generation," Kekahuna said. "Plenty of different emotions, but all happy. Just finally getting my own place. And not just for me, but for me, for my kids and my grandkids," said recipient Kealii Hanohano. "That's major, that's more than big. That's the whole world to me." Billions to build Hawaiian homes: ‘The math is not mathing’ Several vendors were on site to offer help through the process, those who were awarded leases today will need to get qualified for a mortgage loan by the time the homes are ready. DHHL officials said the first homes will be ready in about five years. "Now more hope man, something to work more harder for," Hanohano said. Reps. Diamond Garcia and Darius Kila were in attendance along with Councilmember Andria Tupola. Project leases of this type were last issued in the early 2000's and more are planned in the coming months. Find more Hawaii, Oahu, Maui and Kauai news here "We're so grateful for DHHL, for all the people that have made this possible. Generations of Hawaiians will thank you for the work that you've done," Tupola said. "May we continue to strengthen one another. And God bless these families. Bless the land that they're going to live on. Bless us that we might be able to thrive." The next step for the awardees is to go through a financial assessment process to see what kind of home they can receive. About 400 more leases are set to be awarded on Hawaii Island in April and almost 1,000 will be awarded on Maui in the fall. ...read more read less