After more than a decade of preparation, advocates for military veterans finally broke ground Friday on what will become the state’s only veteran-focused senior living center.
Construction of the Hale Na Koa ‘O Hanakahi housing project — which when completed will offer 92 single-bedroom units of affordable housing for Big Island seniors — technically began in November, but the project’s key partners held a formal groundbreaking ceremony Friday, accompanied by current and former state and county officials.
Work on the project, which is located on Kawili Street across from the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus, began with the Hawaii Island Veterans Memorial more than 16 years ago, explained HIVM board chair Michael Doolittle.
Doolittle said that his predecessor, Bob Williams, “distilled” the vision of HIVM into a singular project aimed at supporting veterans and their families, but it became clear that such a project would require numerous partners in order to become a reality.
The total project cost — $58 million — is borne through $30 million in bond financing, $16.9 million in loans through the state, and about $2.5 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.
“It’s taken a lot of partners and a lot of effort to get this far,” said Welton Jordan, chief real estate development officer for project developer EAH Housing.
EAH Housing will carry out the construction of the facility and manage the property when it’s finished, Jordan said, “So, we’re in this basically forever.”
Doolittle presented a pair of plaques to former Gov. David Ige and former Mayor Harry Kim, who were both in attendance Friday, in recognition of their help in advancing the project during their terms in office.
“I’m sorry it took so long,” Ige said. “I didn’t realize how hard affordable housing was before I became governor. … It takes everyone working together for something like this to come together.”
Kim, meanwhile, reflected on his involvement in the project and lamented that, always, it was the veterans who worked the hardest to keep the project moving forward and not the government.
“People like (Mayor Mitch Roth) and Gov. Ige, no offense to them, are working on this because it’s their job,” Kim said. “But it’s always the vets who keep pushing, demanding and begging for programs that serve them after they’ve served our country.
“It’s wrong to leave it all to them,” Kim continued. “We need to be more aware of what we can do for the veterans who have given so much for us.”
Gov. Josh Green did not attend the ceremony, but issued a statement congratulating the various partners for their work.
“I am very excited about this highly unique affordable housing community, and I hope many more can be developed in our state,” Green said in his statement. “This full-service senior living community … is one example of the many types of affordable housing that are so desperately needed across our islands.”
During the ceremony, kahu Kordell Kekoa explained that the project’s name comes from “hale,” meaning “home,” and “na koa,” meaning “for the warriors.” The additional “‘O Hanakahi” in the name refers to the ancient Hawaiian chief who, Kekoa said, has become synonymous with peace.
“So, it is a place for warriors to come to find a place of peace,” Kekoa said.
When the project is completed, it will include four two-story buildings with 92 units total, a 157-stall parking lot, a community center, coffee bar, fitness room, laundry facilities and more.
Marian Gushiken, Hawaii director of real estate development for EAH Housing, said the units will be offered at rates affordable for individuals and couples earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income, with preference given to veterans and surviving spouses of veterans.
Gushiken said currently there is no waiting list for prospective tenants, but interested parties can fill out an interest form online that will ensure that they are notified when applications open. She estimated that notification should go out about six months before construction is completed, which she said is scheduled to be June 2024.
Williams said the project still isn’t over for him. He eventually plans on developing a community-based medical clinic on adjacent land, although that portion of the project is separate from the residential component.
“Now that this is out of the way, I’m moving on to the medical center, and then I’m retiring,” Williams said.
The interest form for prospective tenants can be found at eahhousing.org/hilo.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.