Senate inserts $1 million for affordable housing in Hana

The Maui News
Friday, April 15, 2005

HONOLULU – The state Senate has included $1 million in its version of the budget to build affordable housing on land earlier donated by Hana Ranch.

"I've watched this project for a few years and nothing has happened," said Sen. J. Kalani English, who introduced the bill. "This was a push to get some money there to jump-start it."

Dan Omer, chief operating officer for Hana Ranch Partners, thanked English for his efforts.

"We're finding it's taking so long – it's no one entity's fault – but it's been a very slow process," said Omer.

In mid-2002, Hana Ranch offered to give 100 acres in 15-acre increments for affordable housing in an area known as Niumalu located above the Hana Police Station. Omer said the Self-Help Housing Corporation of Hawaii, which is already moving ahead on a smaller project on the outskirts of Hana, will be involved with the development along with another nonprofit organization and a private contractor that he wasn't ready to identify.

Omer said he expected the project would seek approval under the state 201-G "fast track" process that allows a developer to bypass county land-use procedures for an affordable housing project.

Others in Hana were also pleased to hear about the appropriation. Hotel Hana-Maui General Manager Doug Chang said that affordable housing was a critical issue for the entire Hana community and vital to the success of the hotel operation.

"The lack of housing severely impacts our ability to recruit and retain employees," he said.

Chang said no affordable housing had been built in Hana since the 1970s.

Dawn Lono, a Maui County Council Services aide in the Hana office, said the community needed to pull together at all levels to make the project happen.

"If we can relieve some of the pressure that happens around housing, it will give our community a great deal of hope," said Lono.

The appropriation was designed with a broad scope to get the planning and construction process under way, said English.

Omer couldn't predict when groundbreaking would take place. He said once the initial 15-acre increment is out, an evaluation would determine if there was need for more affordable housing on another parcel. He said he envisioned the entire 100 acres being made available over time to serve future generations.

In a Hana community survey earlier this year, English reported that 88 percent of those responding said affordable housing should be a priority if development is inevitable and 75 percent said affordable housing should be accomplished quickly. Nearly half said they or someone in their family would qualify for and wish to purchase an affordable home in Hana.

Copyright © 2005 The Maui News

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