$25 million native Hawaiian
home project kicks off
in downtown

The 87-unit development will
accommodate some who've
waited 40 years

By Star-Bulletin staff

State and federal officials today will break ground for a $25 million residential subdivision for native Hawaiians in downtown Honolulu, the first in the area in 40 years.

Kalawahine Streamside is an 87-unit development on 26.5 acres of Hawaiian home lands on the eastern slope of Kalawahine Valley, between Papakolea and Roosevelt High School.

More than 950 of the 6,117 Hawaiians on the Oahu residential lot waiting list were interested in the subdivision, with 210 pre-qualified and invited to a selection meeting Oct. 10, said Louis Kau, president of Kamehameha Investment Corp., the developer for these homes.

Kau said the unique condition of the hillside property made the development a challenge, but he believes the project strikes a balance between the design and natural conditions of the land, and providing quality affordable homes for native Hawaiians in downtown.

"Some families have waited about 40 years for an offering in Papakolea, so with Kalawahine Streamside, we worked hard to get this project off quickly," Kau said.

Hawaiian Homes Chairman Kali Watson said the project includes mauka and makai parks, a streamside pathway, a pavilion and an imu pit. The design, he said, instills in the homesteaders a sensitivity and stewardship for the land.

Marketing for the project began last June. Three models will be offered: 12 uphill duplex homes, 42 downhill duplex homes and 33 single-family homes.

Prices range from $174,900 for the uphill duplex to $225,900 for the three-story, single-family homes.

Construction begins this fall, with the first homes to be completed next summer. The entire project is expected to be done by July 2000.

The project budget is $25 million, with $7 million from the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for infrastructure and site-related items.

This is the fourth Hawaiian home lands project Gov. Ben Cayetano's administration has worked on with private developers.

Cayetano said the project helps the state fulfill a promise to native Hawaiians to implement an accelerated program with nearly 3,100 homes being built or under development.