Waiehu affordable housing project gets pushback
Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua maintains that land owned by MEO
The proposed Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua 120-unit, 100-percent affordable rental project would sit on 11.5 acres of mostly vacant land owned by Maui Economic Opportunity, makai of Kahekili Highway in Waiehu. However, residents are raising opposition to the project, saying that kuleana heirs, not MEO, own the land. MUNEKIYO HIRAGA image
An illustration of building elevations for the proposed 100-percent affordable housing project Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua is shown. MEO, along with California-based affordable housing developer Highridge Costa Companies, is seeking county fast-track approval for Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua Affordable Housing Community, a $33.5 million project that would be managed by Hale Mahaolu and rented to adults of all ages who earn 60 percent or less of the area median income. Design Partners Inc. rendering
The proposed Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua 120-unit, 100-percent affordable rental project would sit on 11.5 acres of mostly vacant land owned by Maui Economic Opportunity, makai of Kahekili Highway in Waiehu. However, residents are raising opposition to the project, saying that kuleana heirs, not MEO, own the land. MUNEKIYO HIRAGA image
An illustration of building elevations for the proposed 100-percent affordable housing project Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua is shown. MEO, along with California-based affordable housing developer Highridge Costa Companies, is seeking county fast-track approval for Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua Affordable Housing Community, a $33.5 million project that would be managed by Hale Mahaolu and rented to adults of all ages who earn 60 percent or less of the area median income. Design Partners Inc. rendering
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A group of Native Hawaiians wants to press pause on a 100-percent affordable rental project planned for about 11.5 acres in Waiehu, alleging that kuleana heirs -- not the nonprofit Maui Economic Opportunity -- own the land.
Project representatives, though, maintain that MEO's title is clear, the group is occupying the wrong parcel and the plan should move forward to provide much-needed rentals amid Maui's housing crisis.
MEO, along with California-based affordable housing developer Highridge Costa Companies, is seeking county fast-track approval for Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua Affordable Housing Community, a $33.5 million project that would be managed by Hale Mahaolu and rented to adults of all ages who earn 60 percent or less of the area median income, which is $57,540 or less by 2021 county guidelines.
Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua would hold 120 multifamily residential units in 13 two-story buildings (28 one-bedroom units, 60 two-bedroom units and 32 three-bedroom units), along with a roughly 3,500-square-foot nonprofit building and an approximately 3,000-square-foot clubhouse. A total of 264 parking stalls and two loading stalls would be included.
The project site is 11.5 acres and is bounded by the intersection of Kahekili Highway and Waiehu Beach Road to the north, Kahekili Highway to the west, the Waiehu Heights single-family residential community to the east and Piihana Project District lands to the south.
As part of the process, the Maui Planning Commission heard the project Tuesday and offered comments on its draft environmental assessment.
Ten people testified Tuesday, with six opponents who allege the plan's draft environmental assessment doesn't address an ongoing legal battle over who actually owns it.
"I'm not against affordable housing projects per se, but I am for protection of kanaka maoli indigenous claims that are over thousands of years old," testified Kahala Johnson.
Johanna Kamaunu, who represents Wailuku on the Maui/Lanai Burial Council, also testified that she has "real concerns" over the project proposed for the area.
"I can understand the need for affordable housing for our families on Maui," she said. "But at what cost if we displace the families that already belong to that property and are a part of that property?"
MEO board member Peter Horovitz, a longtime Maui attorney who deals with land issues, addressed title concerns Tuesday, saying that he has "utmost respect for native claims" but that the MEO title is "about the cleanest title that I've seen for these types of properties."
The original owner of the MEO parcel was King Lunalilo, who deeded it as one large grant to Claus Spreckels. Because it originally was a royal claim, there were no subclaims within it, which is typically seen with kuleana land, he said Tuesday.
In the draft environmental assessment, Horovitz's letter discussing the title issues said that the Pehuino heirs claiming title to the land are actually occupying the wrong property.
"The LCAs (Land Commission Awards) that the heirs are claiming aren't on this property, they are a mile away," Horovitz said during Tuesday's meeting. "They are makai of Waiehu Beach Road on the backside of the harbor."
Pehuino family members have asked Maui County Council Chairwoman Alice Lee and Housing and Human Concerns Director Lori Tsuhako to deny funding for the project.
"The proposed project falls within the metes and bounds of lands granted by Kamehameha I to our 'ohana and registered during the Mahele, creating an issue of title that must be addressed," Ohana Pehuino said in the letter, which was included in the draft assessment. "While we are not opposed to truly affordable housing projects, we nonetheless stress the need to recognize our undivided interest in the lands in question."
Other public testifiers, all of whom pointed to the need for affordable housing, came out in support of the project.
George Kaimiola, homeless outreach worker for Family Life Center, Commission on Healing Solutions for Homelessness vice chairman and Maui Homeless Alliance Continuum of Care member, supported the project, saying it would offer units way below the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development fair market rate.
"Affordable housing is greatly needed in our community," he said.
Stephen Kealoha also said he supports the project and discussed the worsening affordable housing crisis on Maui, where inventory has been low for years.
Gladys Baisa, former executive director of MEO, discussed the land donation to MEO and said it's been sitting unused for 16 years.
"As we all know there are thousands of Mauians desperately seeking homes," she said.
Maui Planning Commission members Tuesday gave unanimous support to put forth comments for the draft environmental assessment, which ranged from improved map details, drainage mitigation, more native plants, flooding research in the northern part of the parcel, clubhouse parking, work hour traffic concerns and other feedback.
"I think the project's great," said commissioner Kellie Pali, who added that her son lives near the site. "Assuming your clear title, I think it will be a great project."
Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua Affordable Housing Community's draft environmental assessment, which requires commission comment, was published Sept. 23. A final environmental assessment will now be prepared.
The studies are part of the county's fast-track approval process, which requires that Maui County Council gives the plan a green light.
* Kehaulani Cerizo can be reached at kcerizo@mauinews.com.