Agreement Signed for Housing Development in Kakaako Makai

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) have finalized a deal to construct housing in Kakaʻako Makai, effectively lifting a prohibition against residential development in the area. OHA possesses nine parcels spanning 29 acres in this location, which have been under its ownership since 2012 when former Governor Neil Abercrombie transferred them as part of a debt settlement with OHA.

“This is a great day for Hawaiʻi… for everybody who loves Hawaiʻi,” Abercrombie remarked at the signing ceremony. Under the agreement, DHHL will lead the development, which includes plans for a multi-tower housing complex featuring 400 units for qualified Native Hawaiian families. DHHL’s authority to override earlier residential development laws was crucial in facilitating this project, which envisions additional amenities such as a hotel and a cultural center while addressing health concerns from local residents who oppose the high-rise development due to its proximity to a former dump site.