Self-help affordable housing project begins road, utility construction in Waimea
This transformative project aims to provide 39 self-help homes, enabling families to contribute labor instead of down payments to enhance affordable housing on Hawaiʻi Island.
The Koaiʻe Self-Help Affordable Housing Project in Waimea is making significant progress, with subdivision construction slated to commence in November.
The Hawaiʻi Island Community Development Corp. (HICDC) hosted a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony with Kahu Danny and Anna Akaka to commemorate the start of the affordable housing project.
According to the nonprofit organization, all county zoning and subdivision plans have been secured and approved. Koaiʻe also has sufficient county water for the initial phase.
Road and utility construction for the subdivision is estimated to cost $8.8 million, with Ludwig Construction set to begin the work in November.
The overall project will include self-help housing, single-family homes for sale, and potentially low-rise multifamily housing. Future community amenities will include parks, open spaces, and gathering areas, accessible from Kawaihae Road via Waiula Drive.
The 440-acre project’s first phase will include 39 self-help homes, enabling eligible households to build a significant portion of their own homes together, substituting physical labor for a standard down payment.
During the nine-month road and utility construction, HICDC will monitor the subdivision’s progress, evaluate applicant eligibility, and process loan applications.
House construction, expected to last one year, will involve managing house plans and permits, procuring subcontractors, training and supervising self-help builders on safety and construction, coordinating subcontractors and inspections, and managing loan funds from receipt to home completion.
According to HICDC Executive Director Keith Kato, Marc and Lynne Benioff donated 282 acres in 2023 and another 158 acres in 2024 for the Koaiʻe project site. They also gifted $7.5 million to HICDC to facilitate site planning and infrastructure development, along with an additional unrestricted $1 million gift to expand capacity for more community housing.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to Marc and Lynne Benioff for their aloha spirit of giving to increase the supply of affordable housing in our community,” Kato said. “To say that we could not have done this without Marc and Lynne Benioff would be an understatement. This gift will keep on giving for years to come.”
HICDC has developed more than 900 affordable housing units on Hawaiʻi Island over the past 30 years. This includes collaborating with over 400 self-help builders who completed their homes in ʻĀinaloa, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Kailua-Kona, Kawaihae, Keʻāʻau, Keaukaha, Kohala, Mountain View, Panaʻewa, and Pēpēʻekeo.
The 40 existing self-help units adjacent to Koaiʻe were part of a previous HICDC project.
HICDC has completed more than 500 affordable rental units in Hilo, Waimea, Kapaʻau, and Kailua-Kona. This includes a 100-unit family rental project in Kailua-Kona completed in 2024, which is fully occupied.
