Governor Josh Green, alongside community partners and local leaders, officially broke ground on Ka Laʻi Ola, a Maui housing project designed to support wildfire survivors ineligible for FEMA aid.

The project brings together the state of Hawai‘i, Maui County, the state Department of Human Services (DHS), the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) and HomeAid Hawai‘i (HAH) to create 450 temporary studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom housing units across 54 acres. The temporary homes can be occupied for up to five years.

The state of Hawaiʻi has allocated $75 million toward the $115 million needed for Ka Laʻi Ola, along with a recently announced $40 million contribution from Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund and community contributions.

In a statement Governor Green said, “From the moment the wildfires began, our commitment to the recovery of every affected individual and family has been unwavering. We are especially glad to bring this project forward because it will serve a community that has not been able to receive disaster aid from FEMA. These residents have been especially vulnerable after the wildfires and to offer them this hope in the form of housing is particularly rewarding.”

Ka Laʻi Ola will provide comprehensive property management and community services, including access to disaster case managers, trauma-informed services, a resiliency center, childcare, healthcare facilities, gardens, playgrounds and more.

The Hawaiʻi Housing and Finance Development Corporation has leased the land required for this project to the state Department of Human Services (DHS) for five years. After this period, the land and its permanent infrastructure will be transferred to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, expediting the development of new homes for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries by 17 years.

Photo credit: Office of Governor Josh Green