Kīlohana Makai developer seeks up to $500,000 in county aid for water meters on workforce housing project

A representative for the Kīlohana Makai workforce housing project asked the Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee on April 22 to support a council-member priority earmark of up to $500,000 from the County’s Affordable Housing Fund to cover water meter fees and associated connections for the 28-unit workforce development in Kīhei.

“It's a 28-unit, percent residential workforce housing project,” testifier Jeff Huioka said, speaking on behalf of the project developer. He asked that the appropriation be “up to” $500,000 because permitting and utility fees can change, and developers often need a funding cushion to avoid returning to the council mid-stream.

Committee members asked whether the Department of Housing supported the request and whether the units would be restricted for affordable/workforce buyers. Huioka said the development carries a 20-year deed restriction and that the appropriation would be a one-time offset for water meters — including two additional irrigation meters required for landscaping — while installation costs were expected to be covered separately.

Council members pressed for more details on the financing, who would pay installation costs, and whether Housing had been involved in the discussions. Huioka said he believed the project lead had discussed the matter with the mayor’s office but that conversations with the department were still limited; one council member said she would support the project only because of the 20-year restriction.

No formal committee vote was taken on the request during the April 22 meeting. Committee members advised the testifier to coordinate with the Department of Housing and the administration to ensure funds could be used as intended and to return with specific numbers if necessary.