Collaborative effort results in needed housing for Hāmākua kūpuna

HOPE Services Hawaiʻi broke ground for its new supportive housing project for kūpuna, Hale Ulu Lehua. The new housing will help address the critical need for housing for Hāmākua kūpuna.

In partnership with Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, HOPE Services transformed the former convent house into 10 single-occupancy, permanent, affordable rental units to address the critical need for housing for Hāmākua kūpuna.

The blessing on Wednesday commemorated the collaborative effort among the church, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and a committed hui of community businesses, Catholic parishioners, and donors.

“Our kūpuna deserve a safe place to call home, and we are so excited to finally offer this service in Honokaʻa,” said Dr. Kalani Spain, director of supportive housing for HOPE Services Hawaiʻi.

The facility is designed to provide not only a home but also vital wraparound services to help residents live independently and with dignity. Along with living accommodations, residents will have access to case management and tenancy support services provided by HOPE Services Hawaiʻi.

“Hale Ulu Lehua Kauhale provides other options to assist our elders find permanent housing solutions, build a sense of community connection, and live safely without the threats and challenges of being on the street each day,” said Jun Yang, the governor’s coordinator on homelessness. Yang, who Governor Josh Green appointed to lead the State Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions, continued, “Community connection is one of the primary indicators for personal and collective resiliency.”

Hale Ulu Lehua features renovated units, upgraded shared bathrooms, a fully expanded communal kitchen, and on-site laundry facilities. Accessibility was a key focus, with the addition of an entry ramp, expanded kitchen with a new dining room, and widened doorways.

According to Brenda DeLuz of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish, in the search for solutions to what had become an underutilized nuns’ convent with lots of history, they chose to partner with HOPE Services to give back to those in need.

“What began as a need to strengthen our parish finances became an opportunity for something greater. By working with HOPE Services, we’re meeting both the needs of our parish and those of the community around us,” DeLuz said. “This partnership not only helps our church sustain itself, but also allows us to live out our faith in a real and impactful way.”

According to HOPE Services, the project was made possible through the generous support of its funding, community and church, in-kind and volunteer partners.

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