Kahuku Elderly Hauoli Hale
64 UNITS · SENIOR HOUSING · ACQUISITION/REHABILITATIOn
Kahuku Elderly Hauoli Hale (KEHH) was constructed in 1979 on 6.06 acres of land leased from the City and County of Honolulu. The 75 year lease term started on September 18, 1978 and runs through 2053.
KEHH is a 64-unit senior affordable community located on the north shore of Oahu in Kahuku, Hawaii. The project consists of thirty-two (32) single story duplexes and one (1) 2,200 square foot community center. The community center contains a management office, public restrooms and a central laundry area.
Originally built to provide housing for former plantation workers, KEHH is located in a single family neighborhood adjacent to the Kahuku municipal golf course, beyond which is the Pacific Ocean. KEHH is an important part of the affordable housing market in windward Oahu, where market-rate housing is extremely expensive and demand for affordable rental housing is high. KEHH experiences consistently high occupancy and low turnover and is part of the fabric of the community.
The property was acquired in 2011 and rehabilitated. Rehabilitation focused on major systems repairs, Americans with Disabilities Act improvements, health and life-safety improvements and upgrades required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and City and County ordinances.
The interior of all 64 units were renovated to current market standards, including new kitchen cabinets, countertops and appliances, an upgrade of the electrical and plumbing systems including new fixtures, switches and flooring and bathtub replacements. Common area upgrades included improvements to the community center and common area lighting, as well as the addition of community gardens. Covered wraparound patios were constructed so the senior residents could enjoy the ocean breeze as they socialized with one another. Finally, sustainable measures were implemented at KEHH (solar hot water heaters and photovoltaic panels) to improve the overall energy efficiency.