Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 2000 — Kupuna housing project breaks ground at Waimānalo [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kupuna housing project breaks ground at Waimānalo

fOR THE first time in its 80-year history, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is developing affordable rental units for native Hawaiian kupuna who meet ineome requirements and are at least 62 years of age. The $1 1.5 million Waimānalo Kupuna Housing Project, funded, in part, by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, will provide 85 one-bedroom garden apartments for kupuna on a 5.6 acre parcel on Hawaiian home lands in Waimānalo off Kalaniana'ole Hwy. at Nākini St. A ground-breaking ceremony on Oct. 30 attracted more than 100 people, including Congressional, state, county, DHHL and OFIA representatives. In his remarks, given in Hawaiian and English, OHA Interim Board Chair Clayton Hee acknowledged the good work of former DHHL Chair Kah Watson, also present at the ceremony. 'The journey has been a long one," said Hee of the development, "but it is a small price to pay for the wisdomof our kupuna." 'This project is made possible through the funding and assistance of several organization," said Hawaiian Homes Commission Chairman Ray Soon. Aside from

the $3 milhon of long-term construction financing by DHHL, OHA has contributed $250,000 for engineering and design, and pledged a $3 million grant toward construction. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle committed a $500,000 grant, and the developer, Pacif-

ie Housing O'ahu Corp. - Kupuna at Waimānalo, deferred over $400,000 of its expenses. In addition, the board of the State Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawai'i approved the allocation of $3.8 million in federal and state tax credits over 10 years, and a $1 million Rental Housing Trust Fund loan. In a statement to the press, Gov. Cavetano said, "The Waimānalo Kūpuna Housing P oject will be a ground breaking achievement. Not only is it the first DHHL construction project tailored or the housing needs of elderly native Hawaiians, but it is also the first rental apartment complex to be built on Hawaiian home lands." The project architect is Kauahikaua and Chun Architects, and the general contractor is Metcalf Construction Co., ine. Construction should be completed by Spring 2002. For project information, eall Darrell Ing of DHHL's Temporary Development Assistance Group at 5863888 or Audrey Yoshii of Pacific Housing Assistance Corp at 523-5681. ■

Kahu Joseph Koanui officiates the ground-breaking of the Waimānalo Kupuna Housing project, a joint venture of OHA, DHHL and many community partners.

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