David Y. Ige

The right housing can change lives.  Just ask some of the thousands of local folks  who have been able to find housing they can afford in Hawai‘i during the past eight years. More affordable housing projects have been coming online every month for local residents — from seniors and working families to young, career-focused singles and couples. Many of HHFDC’s rental projects target those in the 30% to 60% Area Median Income (AMI) range. Local industry leader Stanford Carr is part of the group that has been advising the governor on how to build housing that can be rented or sold at affordable prices. “We’re from this community, and we want to help local residents: the teachers, the state and county workers, the single parents, and the young professionals just getting started,” he said. Here’s a sampling of projects statewide that opened before the pandemic and others that are in the pipeline for the future:

OʻAHU
• Keahumoa Place is a 320-unit affordable rental project in East Kapolei/Ewa that was developed in four phases and is considered a mixed-income project because it includes units that targeted folks in different income categories, up to 100% AMI. Phase 1 was completed in 2019 and the other three phases in 2020.
• Kapolei – Hale Moena Kupuna and Hale Moena ‘Ohana – 154 affordable rentals for seniors and 143 units for families at 60% AMI or less.
• Kaka‘ako – Ola ka ‘Ilima Artspace Lofts  – 84 units in Hawai‘i’s first live/work artist complex at 30 to 60% AMI.
• Kaka‘ako – Keauhou Lane (209 units) and Hale Kewalo (128 units)  – 30% to 60% AMI.
• Downtown Honolulu – Kokua Senior Living – 201 units, 30 to 60% AMI; Aug. 2023 completion
• Hale Makana o Mōʻiliʻili  – 105 senior rental units, 30 to 60% AMI; 2023 completion
AFFORDABLE FOR-SALE PROJECTS—OʻAHU
• Kaka‘ako – The Block at 803 Waimanu  – 153 studio and one-bedroom units with the most affordable listed at $298,300.
• Ala Moana -The Central – 512 units (60% of units affordable/ 40% market rate); completed in fall 2021.
• Ililani tower – 328 one and two-bedroom units for families earning up to 140% AMI – 2024 completion.

MAUI
• Hale Mahaolu Ewalu is a 61-unit affordable senior rental housing complex in Pukalani, Maui that was developed in two phases. Phase 1 was completed in 2019 and Phase 2 in 2020.
• Kaiāulu O Kupuohi is an 89-unit, all-affordable rental project in Lahaina that had its lottery scheduled for May 27 with units available in September. Households must earn 60% or less AMI in order to live there.

KAUA‘I
• Koaʻe Makana Workforce Housing is a 134-unit multi-family rental complex in Kōloa, Kaua‘i aimed at those who work in the nearby Poipu resort region. It was completed in 2021 and won the Building Industry Association of Hawai‘i’s 2020 Grand Award for best Affordable Multi-Family Development in Hawai‘i.

HAWAI‘I ISLAND
• Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood Phase 3 consists of 93 affordable senior rental units in upper Hilo. It welcomed tenants in May 2020. All three phases total 182 units.

For a list of contacts for affordable housing statewide, go to:

Affordable-Housing-Inventory-as-of-MAY-2022-PDF.pdf (hawaii.gov)

Read more in the June Capitol Connection newsletter.

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