Hawaii’s growing population has caused housing, and more critically affordable housing, to become a main focal point of community leaders. On Maui, the Lahaina Wildfire of 2023 made an already difficult situation dire.
Ikaika Ohana, a non-profit affordable housing developer, has committed to supporting Hawaii’s low-income families with affordable housing and social services. As part of the state’s Villages of Lei’alii master-planned community in Lahaina, Ikaika Ohana and Goodfellow Bros. are constructing the Kaiāulu o Kūkuʻia Affordable Housing project which will provide rental residences for 200 workforce families and households earning under 60% of Area Median Income (AMI). The project received assistance through Hawaii’s Housing Finance & Development Corporation’s (HHFDC) Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), Rental Housing Revolving Fund (RHRF) and Hula Mae Multi-Family (HMMF) Tax-Exempt Bond programs.
Situated on 28 acres of DHHL (Department of Hawaiian Home Lands), the Kaiāulu o Kūkuʻia Affordable Housing project consists of twenty-five two-story plantation-style buildings, each comprised of eight units containing two, three, and four-bedroom apartments. The complex will be supported by six on-site laundry rooms, playgrounds, BBQ/picnic areas, and two community centers. One community center will have kitchens, technology centers, game rooms, lanai dining, and will offer services with on-site management. The second community center will be a tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschool sponsored and operated by the Bezos Academy. The preschool will consist of two classrooms, a management area, and a kitchen providing the children with breakfast, lunch, snacks, and a take-home dinner. The year-round preschool program will offer full-day programming for 40 children, focusing on hands-on activities to teach literacy, math, sensory development, and social-emotional learning.
Goodfellow Bros. was contracted by Ikaika Ohana to perform the heavy civil site work for the entire project. The scope of work consisted of mass excavation (380,000 CY of excavation and crushing, 170,000 CY of embankment, and export of excess material), utility installation (8,000 LF of sewerline, 8,000 LF of drainline, 17,300 LF of waterline and firelines, and 11,000 LF of underground electrical), hardscapes installation (35,400 SF sidewalk, 11,000 LF curb/curb and gutter, 1350 LF of GRS, CMU, CRM retaining walls), paving (21,000 SY asphalt, 504 CY concrete) and off-site utility/roadway improvements in both the State and County roadways. As part of the off-site improvements, GBI worked closely with local concrete supplier HC&D to ensure tight deadlines were met.
The biggest challenge of this project was the very tight contract schedule with aggressive building pad turnover dates while working alongside the vertical contractor, Maryl Construction. The project team worked overtime and on weekends to meet building pad turnover dates and multiple schedule milestones. The project will be turned over in two phases: Phase 1, 16 buildings with 128 units by the end of 2024. Phase 2, 9 buildings, 72 units, community center #1, community center #2, in the first quarter of 2025.
In light of the August 8th , 2023 Lahaina wildfire events, the Kaiāulu o Kūkuʻia Affordable Housing project brings much needed permanent affordable housing to the town of Lahaina. Goodfellow Bros. is honored to contribute to the Maui rebuilding efforts.
Check out this video showing a hyper-lapsed progression of the installation of the entry road to this community!
