Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 9, 1 September 2003 — Renewed marketing efforts help fill Waimānalo kūpuna housing [ARTICLE]

Renewed marketing efforts help fill Waimānalo kūpuna housing

By Derek Ferrar Renewed efforts to attract Hawaiian seniors to a groundbreaking kūpuna housing project in Waimānalo have begun to bear fruit, according to Kaulana Park of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, whieh developed the Kūlanakauhale Maluhia O Nā Kūpuna project in a partnership with OHA, Alu Like ine., Prudential Locations and the Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation. Located across from Waimānalo Beach Park and adjacent to a community center intended to bring young and old together, the $11.5 million, 5.9-acre development opened in March 2002, featuring single-story, wheelchair-accessible units with landscaped gardens. A year later,

however, less than half of the 85 one-bedroom units had been rented, leading to criticism of the project. In response, DHHL and other partners renewed efforts to attract occupants, including reducing the eligibility requirement from 50 percent Hawaiian descent to any amount of verifiable Hawaiian ancestry. As a result, Park said, oeeupancy has climbed to about 65 percent in the last few months, with 55 units now rented. Officials project that the development's goal of 90 percent occupancy should be reached by December. However, Park said, occupancy numbers are just one measure of the project's success: "For us, success also means being taking care of our kūpuna in a truly enjoyable atmosphere as a way to thank and honor them. And we also feel that

having them there provides a really positive influence on the surrounding community." If the Waimānalo development proves successful, Park said, there is already a lot of interest in building similar projects in other homestead communities. "The need is out there," he said. Units at the Waimānalo site are available for Hawaiians at least 62 years old with a current ineome of less than $36,200 a year for a single individual, or $41,350 a year for a eouple. Rents are based on a sliding ineome scale, and a limit-ed-time incentive now offers the first month's rent free. Residency does not affect status on the Hawaiian Homes waiting list. Project representatives will have a booth at the Senior Fair at the Blaisdell Center Sept. 26-28. For more information, eall 738-3100. ■