Posted on: Monday, May 24, 2004

Efforts succeed in filling up kupuna homes

Advertiser Staff

More than two years after the first resident moved in, a Waimanalo kupuna housing project has finally exceeded 90 percent occupancy.

The Kulanakauhale Malu-hia O Na Kupuna housing provides homes to low-income elderly Native Hawaiians who might not be able to qualify for homesteads because of financial or other reasons.

However, despite a flurry of initial applications, paperwork issues and a lack of publicity left 68 percent of the housing vacant in January 2003, more than a year after construction on the $11.5 million 85-unit project was finished.

Now a new focus on filling the project has paid off for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands.

"We are projecting 100 percent occupancy by the end of this month," said Hawaiian Homes Commission chairman Micah Kane.

By exceeding 90 percent occupancy, the project triggers a $6 million tax credit from the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, the State Rental Housing Trust Fund and a private lender.

Spokesman Lloyd Yonenaka said the biggest challenge was letting everyone know the kupuna housing existed.

Then DHHL worked to find ways to get people interested and help them get in.

The department promoted the project on KCCN radio and the "Ka Wai Ola OHA" and "Ka Nuhou" newsletters.

In addition, an arrangement with the management partner, Pacific Housing Assistance Corp., allowed the department to use a flexible credit criteria that allowed some applicants to use their Section 8 vouchers.

Other incentives included Alu Like's weekly cultural services for kupuna, a rent-free first month and paying commissions to residents for referrals.

Kane credits the DHHL staff with getting kupuna into the homes.

"They did an outstanding job of working with our partners in making this project successful and a home for our kupuna," he said.