Brady PieperA Hawaiian island is releasing a new affordable housing plan amid efforts to connect residents with multimodal transportation services and recover from disastrous wildfires in 2023.
Maui County Department of Housing has unveiled the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Affordable Housing Fund Annual Plan, which seeks to guide the county’s affordable housing appropriations for the next year. The new plan will allocate approximately $32.5 million in new funds to construct 843 new long-term rental housing units for the state’s low- and moderate-income residents.
The county’s plan is updated annually to pursue the short-, medium- and long-term solutions that assist families, at-risk individuals and kupuna—a native term referring to elders. Following the plan’s approval, the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) will sit at an estimated $43.5 million for FY26, which can be used for the development, acquisition or rehabilitation of housing units in Maui County.
Maui’s updated AHF Annual Plan will advance 12 affordable housing developments throughout the county. Among the developments, several projects are focused on improving accessibility to housing for seniors, homeless individuals and rental units dedicated to residents affected by the August 2023 wildfires.
The highest-funded projects in this year’s AHF plan, including funding allocations and project descriptions, are listed below:
- Kaiaulu O Napili Project – $12.4 million loan for the construction, planning and design of 120 new multifamily rental apartments for Lahaina residents and families who were affected by the August 2023 wildfires. The proposed units will be partially rent-stabilized to support the county’s affordable housing needs.
- Kaiaulu O Lana’i Project – $7.2 million loan to develop 36 rental housing units for families making between 30% and 60% of the area median income. Located in Lana’i City, the project will feature two dozen units for seniors.
- Kaiahale ‘o Kahiluhilu (Phase One) Project – $5 million grant for the first phase of a multifamily rental unit development in Kahului. Focusing on residents earning less than 60% of the area medium income, the project will add 197 units to the rental market.
- Kaiahale ‘o Kahiluhilu (Phase Two) Project – $5 million grant to support the second phase of the above project. The county funding will support an additional 106 multifamily rental units for low- and medium-income families.
- Kehalani Affordable Apartments Project – $3.5 million loan for the construction of affordable housing units in areas with workforce shortages in Wailuku. Vying for increased financial flexibility, the project will use the funding to construct a three-story development that includes 35 rent-stabilized units.
While the affordable housing plan includes grant estimates for projects, the Maui County Council will decide final approval on any housing development or project associated with the Department of Housing.
The Department of Housing works with local partners, developers and community organizations to ensure residents, tourists and businesses have access to the island’s economy and amenities.
Emphasizing the island’s commitment to connectivity, Maui County is also evaluating options for a new public ferry service to connect the islands of Maui, Moloka’i and Lānaʻi. Concluding a feasibility study, county lawmakers are in the process of considering a new “bus-like” ferry system with more ferries and times for passengers.
Photo Courtesy Griffin Wooldridge via Pexels
