This 100% affordable multi-family rental housing project is one component of the Kihei Downtown Development, promoting mixed-use sustainable development in Kihei to foster a closely-knit, live/work community environment. The project’s central location will facilitate convenient access to public transportation routes, health and social services, government offices, shopping, restaurants, and employment opportunities that support positive, healthy lifestyles for project residents. The site also ties into several bike lanes and walking paths for residents to utilize as alternative modes of transportation to the various community amenities nearby.

The recent Maui wildfires have intensified the already critical need for affordable housing on the island, displacing thousands of residents and devastating entire communities. The fires, which destroyed substantial portions of West Maui, including the historic town of Lāhainā, exacerbated the housing shortage by eliminating a significant portion of Maui’s existing housing stock, leaving families and individuals without homes. The fires have led to a surge in housing demand as displaced residents seek new, stable housing options, putting further pressure on an already strained market. This tragic event has underscored the urgent need for affordable rental units like those provided by Hale O Piʻikea, which will play a crucial role in rebuilding the community by offering long-term housing solutions for low-income residents. The project’s focus on affordability and stability aligns with Maui County’s immediate recovery and long-term resilience efforts, making it a vital component in helping families and kūpuna, particularly those with limited financial resources, recover and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the fires.

The proposed Hale O Piʻikea Project is being developed, pursuant to Chapter 2.96, Maui County Code, to help address the critical shortage of affordable housing for low-income Maui residents. The development will be completed in three phases totaling 223 units of affordable rental housing for kamaʻāina families and kūpuna. The $135 million project was awarded a combination of 4% & 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Rental Housing Revolving Funds (RHRF), and Hula Mae Multi-Family (HMMF) Bonds. In addition to this funding provided by the State of Hawaii’s Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC), this project was also awarded funds from the County of Maui’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP), as well as HOME, HOME-ARP, and National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) Programs. As a result, Hale O Pi’ikea has been placed as a tier 1 priority project in the County of Maui’s Affordable Housing Plan to help reach the goal of providing 5,000 affordable homes in five years.

Hale O Pi’ikea will involve the new construction of two 4-story buildings in Phase 1, one 4-story building with ground floor retail in Phase 2, and four 2-story garden style walk-up buildings in Phase 3. It will offer a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units for households earning no more than 60% of the area median income (AMI). 

The project will also include a large community resource center space, common laundry facilities,  computer labs, exercise rooms, a community garden, and onsite vehicle and bicycle parking spaces for tenants and guests. The project will be built as a LEED Gold certified project and its design will incorporate energy-efficient measures to help minimize operational costs including a Solar PV system for all common electricity and solar water heaters, energy-efficient fixtures and energy-star appliances for all units. Construction has commenced and all three phases are expected to be completed by the first quarter of