The rebuilt Kaiāulu o Kupuohi affordable housing community in Lahaina includes 89 units and is fully occupied after being destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires. Courtesy photo

An 89-unit affordable housing community in Lahaina that was destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires has reopened and is fully occupied again.

Hunt Capital Partners, along with managing general partner Blieu Companies LLC and co-general partner Ikaika ʻOhana, celebrated the reopening of Kaiāulu o Kupuohi at 258 Kupuohi St. in Lahaina on June 23.

The community first opened in December 2022. After being destroyed in the 2023 fire, the affordable housing development is once again fully occupied, with about half of its 89 households made up of returning residents and the other half made up of wildfire survivors, many of whom had been living in temporary housing for nearly two years, according to a news release.

“Seeing this community open its doors again is a moment none of us will forget,” Hunt Capital Partners President Jeff Weiss said. “We are honored to stand with Blieu Companies and Ikaika ʻOhana in welcoming residents home to Lahaina.”

After the fire, the development team said it supported displaced families through donated funds, the release of property reserves and relocation support at affiliated properties in Kihei, while continuing outreach to residents who had moved elsewhere.

“From day one, our commitment was to the families who made Kaiāulu o Kupuohi their home,” Thomas Fischer of Ikaika ʻOhana said. “Every decision was guided by the goal of helping residents return to a safe, stable, and resilient community.”

Because the community provides affordable workforce housing supported in part by federal resources, the redevelopment had to be completed within 24 months of the fire to preserve funding. The developer said FEMA controlled site access for about six months during search, recovery and initial cleanup operations.

Hunt Capital Partners and Bank of Hawaii provided predevelopment support, including the early release of insurance proceeds.

Additionally, Maryl Construction Group assessed salvageable structural elements and had a construction plan ready when site access was restored.

The developer said Design Partners Inc. and D&T Designs worked with Maui County officials to expedite building permits, while Mayor Richard Bissen’s administration expedited cleanup plan review and secured gap funding through the Maui County Council.

“What kept us going was the resilience of the families themselves,” said Douglas Bigley, CEO of Blieu Companies. “They never gave up on Lahaina. Kaiāulu o Kupuohi reflects what is possible when residents, public agencies, construction partners, lenders, investors and the development team work toward the same goal. More than a rebuilt property, it represents the continued strength of this neighborhood.”

The reopening celebration included a blessing by Kahu Anela Rosa of Waiola Church, followed by the untying of a maile lei.

Remarks were delivered by Fischer, Bissen, West Maui Council Member Tamara Paltin, Weiss and Christopher Abbott of Bank of Hawaii. Residents also shared personal stories, and the event concluded with lunch and guided tours of the community.

The rebuilt community includes solar photovoltaic energy systems, solar thermal water heating, solar-reflective roofing, filtered drinking water in common areas, water conservation systems and recycled-content site furnishings.

For more about Kaiāulu o Kupuohi, go to kaiauluokupuohi.com.