Multiple outlets reported this week on the reopening of Kaiāulu o Kupuohi, an 89-unit affordable housing community in Lahaina that was destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires and has now been fully rebuilt and occupied. The complex at 258 Kupuohi Street reopened nearly three years after the disaster, marking one of the most tangible milestones yet in Lahaina’s long recovery. Developers, county officials, and community leaders celebrated the opening with a blessing and tours.
- The 89-unit affordable rental complex at 258 Kupuohi Street in Lahaina originally opened in December 2022, was destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires, and has now been fully rebuilt and occupied.
- The rebuilt community is LEED Gold-certified and was designed with energy efficiency and long-term resilience in mind, including solar-ready systems and durable finishes.
- Roughly half of the 89 households are returning residents; the other half are fire survivors, many of whom had lived in temporary housing for nearly two years.
- Developers were required to complete redevelopment within 24 months of the fire to preserve critical federal funding — a deadline complicated by FEMA controlling site access for approximately six months during search and recovery operations.
- The project was led by Hunt Capital Partners in collaboration with managing general partner Blieu Companies, LLC and co-general partner Ikaika ʻOhana.
- In the aftermath of the fire, the development team supported displaced families through donated funds, property reserve releases, and relocation assistance at affiliated properties in Kīhei. (Hawaii Free Press)
- The complex offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans with amenities including playgrounds, on-site management, and laundry facilities. (Hoodline)
- Hunt Capital Partners and Bank of Hawaiʻi provided predevelopment support and early insurance releases to help finance the rebuild. (Hoodline)
Sources
- Hawaii Free Press: Lahaina: Rebuilt Affordable Apartments Immediately Fill Up
- Hoodline: Lahaina Comeback, Fire-Scorched Complex Reopens With 89 Affordable Homes
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