Senior-living project in doubt

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

The developer turning the former Ohana Hobron Hotel into a senior-living condominium has informed interested buyers that it may drop senior-living elements of the Waikiki project.

Previous plans for the former Ohana Hobron Hotel envisioned a senior-living condominium with assisted-living units and a skilled-nurse facility for its residents. Advertiser library photo

But Oaktree is reconsidering the project, named HaleNohona, which would have offered residents recreation programs, meals, housekeeping and transportation to shopping centers, medical appointments and places of worship.

Sales staff last week began telling interested buyers about the potential change from senior-living to a traditional-market condo. A developer's representative said a decision was not final but would be made by the end of the week. A project spokesman did not return calls yesterday.

Jon Tapner, managing director of The Fountains, an Arizona-based senior housing operator that was to manage HaleNohona, did not respond to several messages earlier this week.

Sales agents have taken only refundable deposits from interested buyers, according to a developer's representative. Unit prices earlier this year ranged from about $300,000 to more than $700,000 for penthouse units in the 44-story tower.

Oaktree, a $24 billion California-based investment firm that owns several parcels in Waikiki near the Convention Center as well as the Turtle Bay Resort on O'ahu's North Shore, has been renovating the Hobron property at a cost of about $20 million.

As part of the work, Oaktree also tore down several rundown low-rise apartment buildings to make way for what was envisioned to be the construction of assisted-living units, a skilled-nursing facility or more independent-living condos.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.