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Council finance committee forwards 29 project‑based vouchers for Kinaole Senior Residences amid management concerns
Summary
The Finance Committee voted May 4 to forward Resolution 549‑26 authorizing up to 29 project‑based housing vouchers for Kinaole Senior Residences — projected at up to $550,000 per year for up to 20 years — after councilmembers pressed housing staff about resident safety and property management.
The Hawaii County Council Finance Committee on May 4 forwarded Resolution 549‑26 to the full council with a favorable recommendation to authorize a multiyear Housing Assistance Payment agreement for 29 project‑based vouchers at Kinaole Senior Residences.
The resolution would authorize the mayor to enter a contract covering as many as 29 vouchers for the senior residence, with an estimated annual maximum cost of up to $550,000 and a term of up to 20 years. Jade Iokepa, existing housing division manager at the Office of Housing, said the projected contract would begin Aug. 1, 2027, after the current agreement expires July 31, 2027, and that the $550,000 figure reflects a top‑end projection based on tenant rent shares for 29 units.
Councilmember Onishi raised concerns on behalf of seniors living near the property, saying residents had reported poor management and safety problems. “This apartment building is next to my home… their safety conditions at that facility is lacking,” Onishi said, and asked why the county would continue long‑term voucher funding if it has no authority to relocate or directly remedy management issues.
Iokepa responded that the Office of Housing administers voucher subsidies and pays a portion of rent on tenants’ behalf but does not manage private property operations. “This property is owned by Kinaole Senior Residences and Hawaii Affordable Properties Inc.,” Iokepa said, and the program’s funding covers tenant vouchers rather than building management. She offered to meet with Onishi to review his concerns and the department’s procedures.
Committee members acknowledged the tension between preserving housing subsidies and responding to resident complaints. The chair urged staff and the councilmember to consult before the council hearing so the council has better information on conditions and any possible remedies. Onishi said he was concerned that voting against the resolution would remove voucher funding that seniors rely on, while approving it would not, by itself, change property management practices.
The committee voted to forward the resolution to the full council with a favorable recommendation. No amendment to the contract language or conditions was recorded in committee; the Office of Housing said it could schedule a follow‑up meeting with Onishi to discuss specific complaints and possible next steps.
The measure will appear on the full council agenda for final consideration.
