Honolulu Office of Housing details pipeline of city land RFQs, bonds and affordable units

Kevin Auger, executive director of the Office of Housing, told the Honolulu City Committee on Housing, Sustainability, Economy and Health on April 1 that the office provided an update on the Affordable Housing Fund, recent requests for qualifications (RFQs) and requests for grant proposals (RGPs) for city-owned land, and progress on several city-supported developments.

The briefing matters because the projects discussed — a mix of renovations and new construction on public land — are tied to private activity bonds, city grant money and RFQs that the city says could support hundreds to thousands of affordable units across Oʻahu.

Auger said the Villages project awarded to the Kobayashi Group covers roughly 10 acres of city land and “406 units in total. 67 of those units opened in phase 1 in January of this year, and 234 units is scheduled to open in September 2025.” He described Haleveliku (the Aiea Sugar Mill property), awarded to EHA Development, as a 39‑unit project reserved for residents age 62 and older, limited to incomes between 30 and 60 percent of area median income and supported by $6,000,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund.

Auger said the city partnered with Peter Savio and Habitat for Humanity on Verona Village in Ewa Beach, a multi‑phase effort to renovate about 35–40 existing homes in phase 1 and add up to 88 new homes and a community center in phase 2. He told the committee the developer had completed a condominium property regime application and was targeting phase‑1 construction in the fourth quarter of the year.

Auger also reviewed private activity bond activity. He said the council adopted resolutions in March that enabled a ground lease and private activity bond issuance for Kalaimao Village (identified in the presentation as a ground lease approved by resolution 25‑74 and private activity bonds approved by resolution 25‑73). He said the administration anticipates a bond closing on April 23 with a groundbreaking in June for that project. Auger said the city has also earmarked about $107,700,000 of private activity bonds scheduled to close in July to support 304 units in the first phase of a joint venture at Kuhio Park Terrace.

On the Affordable Housing Fund, Auger said the Department of Land Management (DLM) issued RGP DLM 1817502 for $8,000,000 with an intent to award to Kuhio Park Terrace. He said DLM also released RGP DLM 1859213, a $5,000,000 round seeking projects serving households at 30% of AMI or below; proposals were received and are under review. Auger said the department is considering a further RGP (RGP DLM 3) in July and may combine it with RFQs seeking development partners.

Auger summarized other solicitations: an RFQ issued Jan. 30 sought development partners for a portfolio that included 1615 Ala Wai Boulevard, 1421 Pensacola, 4306 Enner Road and 130 Baratonia; a pre‑proposal conference was Feb. 14 and the board received multiple proposals by the March 21 deadline. An RFQ for the 3.9‑acre “Ivolet Center” parcel was released March 3 with a March 21 pre‑proposal conference and an April 30 submittal deadline. Auger said the Department of Land Management plans additional RFQs for city lands in a tentative schedule beginning with Kapolei lands in April and continuing with other parcels later in the year, subject to title and title‑issue reviews.

Committee members pressed staff on timeline tradeoffs. Auger said RFQs seeking development partners can shave roughly a year compared with other routes because they help secure development partners earlier; he also walked through the remaining steps before occupancy, including entitlements (for example under Chapter 201H), financing (often low‑income housing tax credits), design and permitting.

Auger and council members discussed outreach plans after community pushback on one RFQ parcel (130 Baratonia); Auger said staff will meet neighborhood boards before issuing future RFQs and prepare informational pamphlets for those meetings. Council members also discussed clarifying which projects would be city‑led versus projects where the city primarily makes land available; Auger said RFQs are intended to identify development partners who would “do the heavy lifting” while the city provides land and, where needed, subsidy.

Resident testimony during the meeting included Lindell Pittman, who described living in temporary locations after arriving from overseas and cited storage, theft and difficulties receiving mail and identification documents while trying to secure stable housing; Pittman asked how residents can get involved in outreach. The committeeors invited him to contact council offices for local outreach opportunities.

Auger said the department is exploring programs to help developers with financing, including a potential community development equity loan program under review.

The committee did not take formal action on any of the projects during the briefing; members thanked staff and asked to receive further updates as RFQ and RGP reviews proceed.

Ending: Committee members asked for follow‑up briefings on awards from the 30% AMI RGP and for a schedule showing when individual RFQs would be posted and evaluated.