It’s no secret that O‘ahu will need thousands of additional housing units over a five-year period — and it is going to take a continued cross-sector commitment, with the City and County of Honolulu leading the way, to meet current and projected demand.
Last month, the Office of Housing submitted the City’s 2023 Housing Plan, which outlines how we will work with our partners in the private and public sectors to drive delivery of approximately 18,000 units between fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2029.
“We envision an O‘ahu where all residents, in each of our communities, have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing, regardless of income level, so today’s generation and future generations can continue to call our island home,” the plan reads.
October was marked by several key events that demonstrated our momentum when it comes to housing.
On Oct. 11, Mayor Blangiardi joined local and state leaders for a blessing ceremony at the Hocking Building in Chinatown, where dozens of affordable units are now under construction. The project received nearly $4 million from the City’s Affordable Housing Fund program.
Three days later, on Oct. 14, ground was broken at 1226 Kina‘u St., where developer Paul Lam is leading the effort to build 25 new affordable rental units as part of a project that takes advantage of Bill 1 and Bill 7 — initiatives that provide tax incentives and property tax exemptions to spur housing development. As construction begins on Kina‘u St., a similar project, located nearby on Ernest St., is set to open in early November, adding another 25 rental units to the market.
A project that has been in the works for decades took a major step forward on Oct. 17, when Mayor Blangiardi helped break ground on a 140-unit rental housing project for lowincome seniors called Aloha Ia Halewiliko. Located on 3.4 acres of City-owned land at the site of the old ‘Aiea Sugar Mill, the project also received roughly $6 million from the Affordable Housing Fund program for construction costs.
“Last week’s groundbreaking gives hope that Honolulu is entering a new era of action on housing and housing affordability,” wrote the Star-Advertiser, days after the ‘Aiea groundbreaking. With an entire team of dedicated and committed public servants, under the leadership of Mayor Blangiardi, the City stands ready to tackle this housing crisis head-on.
Read the full highlight here.