The Ahe Group together with its partners – Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation, Citibank, and CREA, LLC are excited to welcome home the more than 180 residents of Waipahu Tower. The 64 unit apartment complex was acquired by Ahe Group in 2017. The acquisition ensures that the building will be maintained as affordable rentals for the next 61 years with rents restricted to less than 60% of the area median income.
The new renovations include the construction of a new, onsite community building, management office, and gathering space for residents. Additionally, the installation of a 148 kW photovoltaic system will help to offset the cost of utilities for the residents and reduce Hawaii’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Mākaha – a city contractor is scheduled to begin an extensive repaving project for various streets in the Mākaha area starting on Monday, July 2, weather permitting.
The allowable work hours for the project will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, and is expected to take up to 270 days. Motorists are advised to observe and obey all traffic controls, posted signs and special duty police officers and proceed with caution through the construction area. Drivers should anticipate delays due to detours, lane and/or road closures, and allow extra travel time while driving through the work areas.
The project includes, but is not limited to cold planning, resurfacing and reconstruction of asphalt concrete pavements; adjustment of utility manhole and covers; vehicle loop detectors; reconstruction of existing concrete curb and/or gutters; and installation of permanent pavement markings.
Contractor Grace Pacific LLC is responsible to coordinate local traffic, including access to homes by residents, deliveries, trash collection and emergency services. On-street parking will be prohibited during working hours. Please observe the dates and times on posted roadway signs as illegally parked vehicles may be towed if necessary at the owner’s expense. For any question or concerns, please contact Grace Pacific LLC at (808) 845-3991.
The Mākaha repaving project is part of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s focus on improving city roads and other infrastructure. Since the program began in January of 2013, the city has repaved 1,910 lane miles of the 3,517 lane miles under its jurisdiction. So far in 2018, a total of 136 lane miles have been repaved.
In 2017, Councilmember Pine’s Zoning & Housing Committee approved Ainahau Vista II, a 201 (H) project, bringing forth 62 affordable rental units to seniors. This project includes six units to seniors earning at or below 60% AMI, 53 units to seniors earning at or below 50% AMI, and three units to seniors earning at or below 30% AMI.
Monthly rates for studio units begin at $549 for 35% and below AMI. These rates include utilities.
Mahalo Hawaii Housing Development Corporation for proposing this affordable senior rental apartment building which will allow many of our treasured kupuna to live in town, walk to and from the store to buy groceries, and stay close to their family and friends.
Yesterday, our Wai‘anae community held a blessing ceremony as three formerly homeless families on the Leeward Coast received keys to their new future.
Kauhale Kamaile is a new modular permanent housing project on a formerly vacant parcel purchased and developed by the City and will soon serve as home to 16 Leeward Coast families. The name of the modular housing project harkens back to the former lo‘i kalo gardens (Kamaile) that flourished in the area and the community-based living (Kauhale) that old Hawai‘i is known for.
This project is part of my ongoing commitment to give Wai‘anae families the housing opportunities they deserve. All of the families who moved in yesterday shared stories of previously experiencing homelessness along the Leeward Coast. Now that they finally have a home, these families also have a safe place for their keiki to thrive in.
The 16-unit modular permanent housing project is for families and individuals who earn 50-percent of area median income (AMI). A housing subsidy covers a portion of the family’s rent costs.
As the Chair of the City’s Zoning & Housing Committee, I look forward to working with our community to bring more projects like these to fruition throughout O’ahu. With your support, we can continue to build communities of hope for our hard-working local families.
Thirty previously homeless families now have a place to call home! Kahauiki Village (located near Nimitz Highway) is a public/private partnership development with the State of Hawaii, the City & County of Honolulu and the aio Foundation. Together, we have built an affordable plantation-style community for previously homeless families. In January 2018, 30 families consisting of 115 previously homeless residents and their keiki moved in. Upon completion of this project, Kahauiki Village will be home to approximately 630 residents. I am inspired by this affordable housing project and hope to create more similar solutions like this that would alleviate homelessness along the Leeward Coast.
ICYMI: This morning, I joined Catherine Cruz and Chris Vandercook of Hawaiʻi Public Radio to discuss the City Council’s actions on “monster homes” in our communities. Other guests in this panel discussion include John Whalen of HCDA and Evan Fujimoto – President of Building Industry Association.
To listen in on the interview, visit here: http://hpr2.org/…/conversation-honolulu-moves-regulate-mons…
In 2017, Councilmember Pine met with members of the Ewa Neighborhood Board and representatives of Honolulu Police Department, Department of Parks & Recreation and the Department of Facility Maintenance to discuss ongoing safety concerns at One’ula Beach Park.
In response, the City’s Department of Parks & Recreation has recently erected “No Trespassing” signs at the park in an effort to deter crime and improve safety throughout the park.
By the request of community members, Councilmember Pine is now also working with DPR to implement additional signage at One’ula Beach Park to help address the longstanding community concerns including illegal dumping, camping, abandoned vehicles, and other illegal activities.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Councilmember Pine at kmpine@honolulu.gov.
As we enter into 2018, Councilmember Pine’s ongoing priority is to address traffic safety in the roads throughout ʻEwa Beach. In 2014, the City conducted a Complete Streets Study of Papipi Road. The transportation policy and design plan aims to create streets that are safe and convenient for all pedestrians, drivers and residents.
Since then, Councilmember Pine has been working diligently with the City’s Department of Transportation Services to implement long-term solutions to create safer conditions at Papipi Road. In the City’s FY18 Budget, Councilmember Pine added $5,300,000 to apply complete streets environment to Papipi Road in an effort to improve safety for all keiki and pedestrians throughout ʻEwa Beach. This was done in conjunction with the City’s Department of Transportation Services who also recently completed a site inspection, traffic survey and review of the area’s traffic collision history as well as issued a work order to install all-way stop controls with appropriate signs and marking are being considered for funding.
In an effort to improve safety for keiki in the area, the City also upgraded the School Crossing warning signs and installed “Higher Fines” along Papipi Road in the vicinity of ʻEwa Beach Elementary School.
As we approach a new fiscal year, Councilmember Pine is coordinating with the Mayor to get the release of these funds. She requested that funds be released so that the “Complete Streets” policy, and specifically the Papipi Road “Complete Streets” makeover be given the priority implementation that this project warrants and that this community deserves.
Councilmember Pine looks forward to informing our community with any updates she receives from the department. If you have any questions, feel free to email kmpine@honolulu.gov.
Waiʻanae – A capital improvement project to repair the leaking roof and replace water-damaged facilities at the Waiʻanae District Park gym is scheduled to begin February 15, 2018.
The scope of the work involved in this project includes the following: reroofing, repairing water damage to the second floor, and replacing the gym’s power roof ventilators and 48 light fixtures.
The project will require the complete closure of the gym’s second floor. All regular users have been notified by park staff and measures have been made to accommodate their facility needs. The ground floor of the facility is expected to remain open during this project. The construction work is scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The project is scheduled to be finished and the second floor reopened to the public later this summer.
The $548,000 contract for the construction project was awarded to MJ Construction Inc.
The second floor of the Waiʻanae District Park gym was closed about three-years ago after the leaking roof continued to cause damage to the gym. Upon inspection the floor of the gym’s second level was discovered to contain asbestos. An abatement project to address the asbestos was required before repairs to the roof and the resulting water damage could commence. That abatement project was finished in July 2017, at which time the second floor of the gym was reopened to the public.
We hope that following these repairs, the gym facility can remain useable and open to the public for years to come. We thank the public for their patience during this process.