Affordable housing was the focus of a meeting held this week by state Sen. Gary Hooser. Hooser, D-Kaua‘i, gathered 40 community leaders and key players from both the public and private sector to discuss the issue. He said that the
Affordable housing was the focus of a meeting held this week by state Sen. Gary Hooser.
Hooser, D-Kaua‘i, gathered 40 community leaders and key players from both the public and private sector to discuss the issue.
He said that the focus on the meeting was to take steps to immediatley build up the supply of low to moderate price housing available on Kaua‘i.
Representated at the meeting were county, state, and federal government officials, landowners and developers, officers of financial institutions, and members of specialized housing programs.
Speakers told how the housing shortage was affecting them during the four-hour meeting.
Issues discussed included barriers to timely development of housing, along with updates on various housing projects now underway.
Ken Rainforth of the County of Kaua‘i’s Housing Agency presented an overview of the county’s housing supply issues and needs. Rainforth reported that a recent study showed that 350 new affordablee housing units are needed to meet the housing needs of local residents.
Rainforth said within about five years 500 units will be needed.
Representatives of Habitat for Humanity said they have a waiting list of 150 applicants for their ‘Ele‘ele housing project.
Some 40 units at Kalepa Village Phase II are to be completed in May, a self-help housing project should add another 42 units, and Habitat for Humanity’s first phase of 18 units is underway in ‘Ele‘ele.
Representatives of the Kaua‘i Island Utilities Cooperative reported the non-profit co-op is exploring ways to provide support for development of additional community housing programs.
The USDA Rural Development agency reported that a 30 percent increase in available funding is in the works.
Alexander & Baldwin reported they have 40 to 60 residential units planned for the Port Allen area, and Kikiaola Land of Waimea is considering a new residential development on the Westside, but need to solve wastewater management infrastructure problems first.
Speakers said barriers to developing affordable housing on Kaua‘i include the lengthy and cumbersome zoning and permitting processes; lack of infrastructure, primarily water and sewer; outdated development plans; the high cost of land and building materials; and the need for new and affordable financing sources for both developers and buyers.
Hooser said a follow-up action plan includes the development of a public/private working group dedicated to finding ways to streamline the zoning and permitting processes, plus support for development of infrastructure for new housing, plus work on other areas behind the lack of affordable housing.
Participants in the Kauai Housing Summit included Department Head of the Office of Community Assistance Bernard Carvalho, representing Mayor Bryan Baptiste; Ken Rainforth and Gary Mackler from the County Housing Agency; Doug Haig from the Department of Public Works; Gregg Fujikawa and Wynne Ushigome from the Department of Water; and Keith Nitta from the Planning Department. KIUC was represented by Ron Kouchi and Darney Proudfoot. Kaua‘i County Council Chair Kaipo Asing and County Clerk Peter Nakamura attended, along with State Representatives Bertha Kawakami and Hermina Morita.
State and Federal agency representatives included Department of Transportation Kaua‘i Manager Steve Kyono, HUD’s Director of Public Housing Michaeal Flores, and Thao Kamoui, Program Director of the USDA Rural Housing Service. Louis Abrams represented Congressman Ed Case.
Non-profit organizations in attendance were Habitat for Humanity, Self-help Housing Corporation, Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation, the Kauai Housing and Development Corporation (KHDC), and the state sponsored Hawaii Community Development Corporation (HCDC). Private sector funding resource representatives included Curtis Tom of Bank of Hawaii.
Landowners, developers and builders included Michael T. Jones, Executive V.P. for Schuler Homes, and event co-sponsors Grove Farm Company, Princeville Corporation, A&B Properties, O’Connor Realty, and Kikiaola Land Company.
