Hawaiian Community Development

Project Description

In response to overcrowded households, severely dilapidated houses, and the lack of affordable housing opportunities in the Nanakuli Homesteads, Nanakuli Hawaiian Homestead Community Association forged a working relationship with the nonprofit Hawaiian Community Development Board to develop a $15 million 48-unit affordable rental housing project in Nanakuli. The Hale Makana O Nanakuli project will provide safe, secure transitional and long-term rental housing designed to meet the needs of Nanakuli's low-income, with focus on Nanakuli's low-income Hawaiian families who earn 40% or below the adjusted median income. It will provide immediate relief to Nanakuli families with too many members living in the same household, to families living in dnagerous dilapidated houses, or families who have been forced to abandon their homes. Qualified tenants of Hale Makana may participate in the Kauhalepono Replacement Home Project. Hale Makana is primarily designed to help the Nanakuli homestead community by providing alternate housing, but within a major "Village Center" that also includes multi-purpose learning, community health, and commercial retail centers.

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Project Partners

Hawaiian Community Assets and University of Hawaii - West Oahu will provide financial counseling and computer classes primarily focusing on Nanakuli homestead residents and related members. This will help families prepare to meet the qualifying criteria and complete rental applications.

Families that become residents of Hale Makana who are on or can qualify for the Hawaiian Home Lands waitlist will receive financial counseling from Hawaiian Community Assets with the goal of being able to qualify for a mortgage and accept a residential lease on Hawaiian Home Lands.

Project Funding

HCDB has obtained Rural Development Federal rental assistance vouchers plus utility allowances for all the units which allows families in the 40% and below Area Median Income to pay no more than 30% of their adjusted income with the balance of the market rent covered by the federal government. Cost of construction is being funded by State and Federal low-income housing tax credits, a Hula Mae bond and a loan from the State's Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation along with Federal funding (RD 521 and HUD HOME) in the form of long term, low cost loans.

In partnership with University of Hawaii - West Oahu, NHHCA was awarded a $682,589 HUD grant which will be used to pay for the cost of constructing and equipping the Hale Makana's Resource Center.

This badly-needed rental housing project is one component of the "Nanakuli Village Center" development project intended to significantly improve the Nanakuli homestead community. It's location within the homesteading community will clearly facilitate easy access to cultural, educational, social, health, and economic opportunities. It will also facilitate surrounding family/community integration. At the end of the tax compliance period, it will be owned and operated by the Nanakuli Hawaiian Homestead Community Association, a step towards self-governance, economic independence and management of its own community resources.

Please click on the photos below to enlarge images of  the ceremony at the YET center.  HUD presentation of $682,589 grant by Senator Inouye and the Deputy Secretary for Hale Makana Resource Center.