Construction has started on a housing community for veterans and seniors in Hilo, Hawaii.
EAH Housing, in partnership with Hawaii Island Veterans Memorial (HIVM), is developing the residential component of a larger master-planned complex that will also include a community-based outpatient clinic.
Hale Nā Koa ’O Hanakahi is being built on 5.5 acres owned by the county of Hawaii. The 92-unit affordable housing community will be available to veterans, surviving spouses, and other income-qualified seniors 62 years or older.
“We are honored to be working with the county, state, HIVM, and the community to deliver affordable senior rental housing for veterans on Hawaii island,” said Laura Hall, president and CEO of EAH Housing. “This project will provide a comfortable place for our veterans and their surviving spouses, who live on fixed incomes, to thrive and have an improved quality of life.”
The project will feature three 24-plex two-story buildings, one 20-plex two-story building, on-site surface parking with 157 stalls, laundry facilities, a central community center with a common area lounge, a coffee bar, a fitness room, property management offices, and a multipurpose room for social and educational activities.
The one-bedroom apartments will be offered at rents affordable to individuals and couples earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income.
“When completed, Hale Nā Koa ’O Hanakahi will enrich the lives of many individuals by providing them with housing right here in the heart of Hilo,” said Michael Doolittle, board chair of HIVM. “We also want to say mahalo to all of our partners on this project.”
The nonprofit developers recently held a ceremonial groundbreaking and Hawaiian blessing to mark the start of construction.
The $58 million project is being funded through $30 million in Hula Mae multifamily bond financing along with $16.9 million in Rental Housing Revolving Fund loans and approximately $2.5 million in annual state and federal low-income housing tax credits from the Hawaii Housing Finance Development Corp. (HHFDC). The investor in those credits is Enterprise Housing Credit Investments, with permanent financing from Bank of Hawaii. Additional funding is provided by the county of Hawaii through its HOME and Housing Trust Fund programs as well as project-based Section 8 vouchers and a long-term ground lease for the land.
“We at HHFDC are pleased to partner with EAH Housing, the county of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Island Veterans Memorial on this thoughtfully designed and much-needed project,” said executive director Denise Iseri-Matsubara. “Many of our most successful affordable housing projects become reality when alliances are forged between the private sector and various branches of government—and this is the model we have here. EAH Housing has proven to be a reliable and quality partner in the development of affordable housing ventures on Kauai, Oahu and Maui. We hope that Hale Nā Koa ’O Hanakahi will be the first of many EAH Housing communities on Hawaii island.”
The development team includes architect Design Partners and general contractor Maryl Group Construction.
