Phase 1 underway for Kukuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center in Kona

Hawai‘i County hosted a blessing ceremony on Thursday for the construction of the Kukuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center in Kona.

The center is a first-of-its-kind facility designed to provide both immediate relief and long-term support for people without housing.

The complex, now being built off Kealakehe Parkway near the West Hawai‘i Civic Center, will feature 16 emergency shelter units, a manager’s unit, and a 2,000-square-foot assessment center.

Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda said at the blessing, “Today is about bringing hope, care and aloha to our people. These facilities will give families and individuals a safe place to rest, get help, and start rebuilding their lives.”

The plans feature community restrooms equipped with showers, a shared kitchen, and a 1,400-square-foot community center, alongside open gathering spaces. There also will be overnight parking available for individuals currently residing in their vehicles.

Beyond housing, the center will integrate wrap-around services, including case management, behavioral health resources and hygiene facilities, with the goal of creating a pathway to permanent housing.

“Kukuiola will be a place of safety, healing, and opportunity for our unsheltered residents,” said Hawai’i County Housing Administrator Kehaulani Costa.

Kukuiola, meaning “light of life,” is being developed as a model for future projects across the island.

The initiative is unfolding in three phases. Phase 1 focuses on the shelter and assessment center, while Phase 2 will introduce 50 permanent housing units with supportive services. Phase 3, still in planning, envisions multi-family housing made possible by a recent $400,000 grant from the State’s Transit-Oriented Development Program.

Heartwood Pacific was awarded the $13.99 million construction contract following the lowest qualified bid. The project is expected to take about 18 months, supported by a $10 million federal grant secured by Hawaiʻi’s U.S. senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono.

County officials anticipate Kukuiola will open in 2027 and emphasized that community engagement will remain central to the project.

 “We are grateful for the partnerships that brought us to this moment, and we remain committed to building with care, compassion, and community,” Costa said.