KAHULUI, Hawaii — The first residents of Ke Ao Maluhia at Maui Lani, a new interim housing complex for those displaced by the Maui wildfires, received the keys to their new temporary home on Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • The keys were handed over in a brief ceremony attended by Green, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, Hawaii Community Foundation senior vice president of Maui recovery Lauren Nahme and Council for Native Advancement CEO Kuhio Lewis

  • The $9 million project is a collaborative effort between the state, Maui County, HCF, CNHA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross. It is being developed and managed by CNHA on land owned by Maui County

  • The first phase will include 34 homes and is scheduled for completion in June. An additional 16 homes will be ready in July

  • Also on Tuesday, the governor broke ground on the $115 million Ka Lai Ola project, which will include 450 housing units, including studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom units, across 54 acres

Also on Tuesday, Green and Bissen joined community leaders in breaking ground on Ka Lai Ola, a temporary housing project that will serve wildfire survivors ineligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency aid.

“This is a day of progress for all of us, but most importantly, for the survivors of the tragic Maui wildfires,” Gov. Josh Green said. “Building affordable housing has always been a priority for me, but since August 8 and for our Maui residents in particular, its importance has become even more critical. Presenting actual keys to an ohana today brings hope and healing beyond words.”

The keys were handed over in a brief ceremony attended by Green, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, Hawaii Community Foundation senior vice president of Maui recovery Lauren Nahme and Council for Native Advancement CEO Kuhio Lewis.

The $9 million project is a collaborative effort between the state, Maui County, HCF, CNHA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross. It is being developed and managed by CNHA on land owned by Maui County. CNHA”s Kakoo Maui Relief and Aid Services Center is providing wraparound services, including financial literacy education.

The first phase will include 34 homes and is scheduled for completion in June. An additional 16 homes will be ready in July.

Each of the modular homes is just under 600 square feet, with two bedrooms. To apply for a unit, residents must be verified as having been impacted by the Maui wildfires; there is no income limit. Monthly rent is set at $2,500 and includes water, sewer and trash collection. Minimum occupancy per unit is two persons, with maximum occupancy set at five.

“This is another clear example of our commitment to support the needs of our displaced survivors, and evidence that through collaborative and innovative partnerships, we can do great things,” Bissen said. “We are making progress, and we will continue to work with our state, federal and private partners in addressing Maui County’s recovery efforts.”  

HCF President and CEO Micah Kane thanked the more than 250,000 donors from 76 countries who have donated money to assist wildfire survivors.

“We will continue to foster collaborative partnerships to deliver on the needs of survivors now and in the long-term​,” Kane said.

Lewis called Ke Ao Maluhia is “a testament to what can be achieved when government, the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and the community work together.

“Delivering the first home at Ke Ao Maluhia through the Maui Interim Housing Plan is a significant milestone for families and a clear indication of our collective commitment to addressing Maui’s housing crisis,” he said.

The Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters is providing labor for the project with furniture donated by Convoy for Hope. 

Besides building temporary housing, the Maui Interim Housing Plan’s phased approach to delivering housing includes various strategies such as residents returning to original unharmed residences, the Host Housing Support Program, direct leasing, short-term rental transitions to long-term rentals and new permanent developments.

Tuesday’s Ka Lai Ola groundbreaking marked another significant milestone in the effort.

The $115 million project — a collaborative effort by the state, Maui County, the state Department of Human Services, HCF and developer HomeAid Hawaii — will be the largest interim housing development for Maui wildfire survivors to date. The state has allocated $75 million for the project; the remaining $40 million will come from HCF’s Maui Strong Fund and community contributions.

Once complete, the project will include 450 housing units, including studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom units, across 54 acres.

The temporary homes can be occupied for up to five years.

“From the moment the wildfires began, our commitment to the recovery of every affected individual and family has been unwavering,” Green said. “We are especially glad to bring this project forward because it will serve a community that has not been able to receive disaster aid from FEMA. These residents have been especially vulnerable after the wildfires and to offer them this hope in the form of housing is particularly rewarding.”

Ka Lai Ola will provide comprehensive property management and community services, including access to disaster case managers, trauma-informed services, a resiliency center, child care, health care facilities, gardens and playgrounds.

“As we move into the ninth month of recovery efforts since the August wildfires, we are navigating some of the most difficult times Maui County has ever faced, but we are making progress,” Bissen said. “Ka Lai Ola is a huge step forward in recovery efforts.”

The HFDC has leased the land needed for this project to the DHS for five years. After this period, the land and its permanent infrastructure will be transferred to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, expediting the development of new homes for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries by 17 years.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.