Blessing held for completion of Lima Ola Supportive Housing Project
Published on September 27, 2024
‘ELE‘ELE – The Kaua‘i County Housing Agency held a blessing ceremony on Friday to commemorate the completion of the Lima Ola Supportive Housing Project in ‘Ele‘ele.
“Whenever we gather at this ‘Ele‘ele site, I can’t help but reflect upon the years of planning, hard work and community partnerships that are now coming to fruition,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami, who offered remarks on Friday. “I think about our late Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste who launched the vision of Lima Ola, while feeling grateful to former Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and his administration for laying the groundwork. As we bless the land and housing in this location, we also can’t forget the generous support of our community partners Alexander and Baldwin. And then there are times like today, where we can see what these past four years have become since our first groundbreaking for infrastructure and my heart is filled with appreciation. Mahalo and congratulations to this amazing team, past and present, for crossing another finish line together as new housing continues to be more critical than ever.”
Friday’s blessing was officiated by cultural practitioner Kahu Sean Chun, and attended by about 50 individuals including members of the Kaua‘i County Council, representatives from the offices of Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono and Representative Jill Tokuda, and Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) Board Chair Gary Mackler who attended on behalf of Governor Josh Green, M.D.
“Providing housing is not just about creating a place for people to live, it’s about giving our people hope,” stated Governor Green. “Hope that they can come out of hard times and have a safe place to start over, to thrive, and to call home. My sincere appreciation goes out to all of our state and Kaua‘i county agencies, and community partners for their dedication to bring more housing to the island and help those who are ready to start a new chapter for themselves and their families.”
The Lima Ola Supportive Housing Project began construction in May 2023, with plans to model the County’s existing Kealaula Supportive Housing Project located on Pua Loke Street in Līhu‘e. The supportive housing model is intended to provide low-cost rental housing to Kaua‘i residents experiencing homelessness or who are at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Under this model, tenants receive on-site social services to assist them in getting back on their feet and prepare them to move to more permanent housing. While tenancy in supportive housing is not intended to be permanent, it also is not strictly time limited as are traditional, transitional housing models.
“The Lima Ola Permanently Supportive Housing Project is a valuable addition to the County’s low-cost housing inventory, but we must do more, and the Kaua‘i County Council stands ready to assist with future efforts to support our community’s most vulnerable,” said Kaua‘i County Council Vice Chair KipuKai Kuali‘i who expressed remarks at Friday’s blessing. “Through the building of these and other homes, it’s clear, together we’re helping change lives!”
This project consists of 32 units, studio and one-bedroom, with square footage ranging from 240 to 400 square feet. It also includes a community building with offices, a reception area, and laundry facilities.
A combination of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and State and Local Recovery Funds (SLFRF), Home-American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funds, and county Housing Development funds were utilized for the design and build of this project. The total cost of the Lima Ola Supportive Housing Project was $5.86 million, with Shioi Construction as the County’s contractor.
“We have seen how the supportive housing model has been a huge success in Līhu‘e and that is encouraging as we complete this project and embark on accepting applications for housing tenants here at Lima Ola,” said Housing Director Adam Roversi. “We extend our gratitude to HHFDC, Shioi Construction, our Housing Agency staff, state and county partners, and especially our west side community for sharing in this continued commitment to create more affordable housing opportunities for our Kaua‘i residents.”
Mayor Kawakami addresses the crowd at the Lima Ola Supportive Housing Project blessing on Friday.
Housing Director Adam Roversi provides opening remarks.
Kaua‘i County Council Vice Chair KipuKai Kuali‘i addresses attendees on Monday.
Cultural Practitioner Kahu Sean Chun gives a blessing over Lima Ola's Supportive Housing Project on Friday.
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